Rostraver Twp. ‘castle’ on tap to become a winery
BELLE VERNON – A sprawling mansion complete with a golf hole and nanny suite is on tap to become a winery and event center in Rostraver Township.
The township’s zoning officer gave preliminary approval Feb. 16 for Walter and Roxanne Vinoski of Ruffs Dale to open a winery at the mansion at 333 Castle Drive, pending a conditional-use hearing Wednesday, Rostraver records indicate.
The Vinoskis have a sales agreement to purchase the mansion on nearly 33 acres from Huntington National Bank in Columbus, Ohio, through foreclosure. The sales price has been redacted from township records, but the property is listed online for sale at $2.5 million. It has a market value of $1.4 million, according to Westmoreland County tax records that are included in the township filing.
The mansion was built in 1997 by investor Jay Lustig. It features eight bedrooms, 13 bathrooms, a marble foyer flanked by two circular stairways, a pond, an outdoor pool, a Major League-style baseball field, a pond and a basketball court, the listing states.
The Vinoskis, who operate Greendance Winery in Mt. Pleasant, hope to take possession of the property April 6, according to their application for a permit under the township’s agritourism ordinance, which was approved Feb. 15 by township commissioners.
The site plan shows the creation of two growing areas and the construction of parking lots connected by a new driveway.
The property is zoned for agriculture. The Vinoskis also want to use the property for a residence, musical performances, food sales and a gift shop, the application indicates.
The couple could not be reached Friday for comment.
Township commissioners will hold a public hearing on the conditional-use application at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the municipal building at 201 Municipal Drive, Belle Vernon.