A North Carolina man's castle-building project nearly lost in legal battle after failed romance
Robert Mihaly spent three decades building Castle Mont Rouge on a mountaintop in North Carolina. After meeting Julie Seel through Match.com, the two began a brief romantic relationship and quickly launched a joint business venture to turn his home into an event venue. They moved in together and signed what they called a 'basic castle understanding,' under which Mihaly retained 51% ownership of the property while Seel lent $250,000 with the castle as collateral. The relationship soured quickly, leading to a two-year legal battle over control of Castle Mont Rouge. Both parties accused each other of fraud and financial manipulation—Mihaly claimed he was targeted in a romance scam, while Seel alleged she had been used for her money. A judge ultimately dismissed all claims before the case reached a jury. Despite no clear winner from the court's decision, both Mihaly and Seel reportedly suffered significant financial losses. The story highlights risks of informal business arrangements with romantic partners or friends, particularly when high-value assets are involved.