Rex Martin dies at 72

Rex Martin, an infamous Kentucky developer, died August 5 2003, according to a report in the Lexington Herald-Leader.

Martin will be remembered popularly in the folk legends surrounding the enormous gothic castle he built in Woodford County, Kentucky, just west of Lexington and the Bluegrass Airport.

It sits high on a hill above US-60 (Versailles Road) and has dominated the landscape since construction began at the 60-acre site in 1969. Martin and his wife had just returned from a vacation in Europe when he was inspired to start the project. Work on the massive residence occupied his spare time (on and off) from business construction projects throughout the 1970's. He was primarily in the business of building apartment complexes.

Contained within its 12-foot-tall perimeter wall is a 6-bedroom, 10,400-square-foot house with central air, three dining rooms and a dozen baths, a smaller guest house, a 20x50-foot swimming pool, three-car garage, and space for tennis courts and greenery. The castle was never fully completed and has never been occupied.