12/14/2024
IMPORTANT NEWS:
After almost 25 years of shepherding many interested couples, non-profit groups, corporate groups, and celebrations of all kinds, Julie (Parlaman) Castleman, Owner and Director of Mountain Memories at ThorpeWood, LLC will be closing her business July 1, 2026! Julie began this journey November 2000 when hired by the then Executive Director of ThorpeWood, Sam Castleman … now her wonderful husband and partner.
Fast forward to 2013 when Julie was asked by the ThorpeWood Board to take over the “events” side of ThorpeWood. The new arrangement provided that a significant portion of the Mountain Memories at ThorpeWood income would be dedicated to ThorpeWood’s non-profit mission.
After much consideration, she did just that and renamed HER business, Mountain Memories at ThorpeWood, LLC – a separate business, not falling under the ThorpeWood umbrella. Julie took off running and continued to welcome many people to tour and often booking their weddings and other non-wedding events since going independent.
As you might imagine, this decision comes with much sadness, but with memories full of joy, love and amazing connections … all created during these past 20+ years. Julie looks forward to these next 18 months when weddings will continue to fill the amazing ThorpeWood lodge and property.
You might ask why is this happening? As some of you may know, there is a new ThorpeWood Team, led by the new Executive Director, Kaili van Waveren. Kaili has been a friend of ThorpeWood for several years bringing Camp Jamie participants to the Lodge for weekend events. (https://www.frederickhealthhospice.org/grief-loss/camp-jamie/). Sam hired her in August of 2023 to take over the reins as Executive Director.
Kaili has a deep connection to the Frederick community especially in the area of Mental Health. Because of this connection and outreach ThorpeWood is connecting with many current and new Non-Profit organizations. These groups are filling the Lodge and calendar and therefore having weekend events, like weddings, has become impractical. Julie understands this more focused direction, but the process is challenging to say the least.
So, if you have been dreaming about having your wedding with us at Mountain Memories at ThorpeWood, now is the time. Over these many years Julie and her team have shepherded upwards of 1,000 couples through the wedding process. Plus hundreds of wonderful non-profit organizations, corporate groups, special events like memorial services for friends and family, birthdays, baby and bridal showers and more!! Wow!! We have touched SO many lives during such important times! We feel so blessed!
We have several dates in 2025 and early 2026 still open! We are ready to schedule your tour and work with you to create an amazing memory with us!! Let’s get a few more celebrations in the books. If you have any questions, please reach out to Julie, [email protected]. If you want to schedule a tour, please reach out to Cara, [email protected] (an amazing connector and also married at ThorpeWood)
Julie’s connection with her clients over these years is a special one…keeping in touch with many, becoming close friends with many…it is personal for her!! So much so that the plan is to invite all those who have celebrated with us over the years…whether a wedding, an anniversary, a baby arrival, a celebration a life well-lived…to a party! The date is Saturday, August 8, 2026!
For now, we will continue helping to create the most beautiful weddings…until we don’t!! So, give us a call, send an email…come and visit!!
Thank you!!
