This new venture began June 23, 2013, and it has been so much fun (a lot of hard work, but a lot of fun!). At age 69 and 72 most people are not starting a new venture, but we aren’t “most people.” Owners Curtis and Kathy Rickart never dreamed they would own thousands of costumes. If they wanted a costume, they visited Curt’s cousin, Dorothy Buderus, in Fort Collins. Curt, who never browses thru the newspaper ads, was the one who spotted the advertisement “Costume Business for Sale.” He recognized his cousin’s phone number. He told Kathy about it and she didn’t say much but the seed was planted. She thought about it for two full weeks and then finally confessed, “I can’t get it out of my head.” At the time the house was on the market but it was not a seller's market. So Kathy finally said, “What do you think about us buying the costumes?” Curt said, “I’ll support you” and Kathy said, “No, you have to be with me as a full partner” and he gave it a nod. Of course, both thought the costumes would be sold already since it had been two weeks. Like the house Dorothy had “no bites.” So an offer was made. Dorothy said, "Sold" and cancelled her ad, but Curt and Kathy kept the house on the market and said "Whatever will be will be." Did either know what they were getting into? Probably not, but it seemed destiny was the hand that was being dealt and sometimes one just has to walk in when a door is opened. So with the help of grandkids and friends, the costume moving began. Little by little - load after load of costumes, hats, wigs, masks, along with a ton of accessories - it all got moved. Shelves were disassembled, hat pegs removed and garment racks were rolled out. The transformation of the “big” basement in their home began. It was like a puzzle, but all the pieces and parts seemed to just “fit perfectly" in the basement. Again, it was like it was meant to be. On the last trip we asked Dorothy “Do you have an inventory of the costumes?” Dorothy pointed to her head and we said, “Figured so!” The fun began the day, daughter, Kim, organized a photo shoot. In 3 hours she took over 300 pictures. Kathy and Kim, being the super organizers they are, arranged for 14 volunteer models (all ages), 35 different scenes (all shot at the Windsor home) and some 80 costumes (picked out of the thousands) to take pictures for a website. What a blast! Everyone laughed and laughed and laughed! All had to hold their tummies and some fell on the floor from laughing so hard. Smiles were everywhere. In 2014 Curt and Kathy bought 13 acres across from Tigges Farm, (Kathy's growing up home) and the house in Windsor sold. But the house on our rural acreage was not going to be started until 2015. So that required a move to a rental (just two houses down) and little by little, for the 2nd time, all the costumes were moved to the basement of the rental home. In June of 2016 we moved into our new home in rural Weld County that Kathy designed, with two oversized garages (one for vehicles and one for costumes). Once again, family and friends pitched in and everything was moved. At the end of the day Kathy was overwhelmed looking at the costume room (although blessed with no stairs - everything on one level and laundry room next to the costume room). But it was a hap-hazard stack of boxes so high one couldn't see over and a zig-zag of racked costumes no longer in any logical order one couldn't weave through. So little by little, for the 3rd time, the task to organize began again. The website was revamped with all the information on the new location and the Costume Castle was soon open again. In April 2020 the Costume Castle became an official Class II Home Based Business (with the ever grateful help of a customer who navigated the way through the tangle of government requirements). Ironically this happened the same time the castle was voluntarily closed due to COVID-19 and Kathy was not willing to risk the health and safety of any customer. Spring of 2021, the "castle" (and it is frequently referred to) slowly re-opened with a mission clearly re-defined. Between 2016 and 2020 it was becoming too successful and the hours were getting too long. So the COVID closing was the opportunity to prioritize and set parameters. Thus it evolved to an educational, community and church costume resource center. The general public sector was reduced so Kathy and Curt could return to being semi-retired (after all we are now in our late 70’s and early 80’s). The Mission clearly states the intentions we had from the beginning. We never intended it to draw so many general public customers or become so popular at Halloween. Kathy, having a background in youth development and an advocate of the arts, it just seemed right to clarify the intent and define the parameters for borrowing from the vast collection of costumes. Now to digress (are you still with me?). When did the costumes REALLY BEGIN? Well, a fellow childhood friend of Kathy’s commented in the beginning, “It seems just natural from all the costumes that came out of that home,” (and pointed to Kathy’s parents’ home where she grew up - Tigges Farm). Yup! Mom made costumes for the Windsor Labor Day parade and we rode our tricycles down Main Street as little kids. Then we joined 4-H and there were Talent Shows (Kathy is 2nd from the left with sister, Gale, next to her - 1954 "Singing in the Rain"), 4th of July Parades and Demonstration Contests (Kathy below in 1956 doing a demonstration on Artificial Respiration. Dummy "Elmer" sitting, never did breathe). There were roller skating costumes for the Warnaco Skating Follies and competitions. In college, both - Curt, 2nd on the left and Kathy, 1st on the right, (now married over 50 years) - were on the Colorado State University Aggie Haylofters Square Dance Exhibition Team and appropriately costumed. There was a history of costumes leading up to this venture, one has to admit. Now for one of our webmaster's tricks - If you get this far, shoot a text to 970-576-8970 saying "I read your Costume Castle website About Us page" and you will get a token of appreciation that won't be revealed so it can change from time to time.

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