Girls’ Fairytale Night Out
PCT says “thank you” to its staff
STORY & PHOTOS BY TYLER MASK
I
SEPTEMBER 2015
PA R K E R C O U N T Y T O D AY
t was a night like any other “girls’ night out,” except
spent in a massive castle nestled on a country hillside,
encompassed by thousands of acres of land. Life isn’t
all about hard work at Parker County Today Magazine,
and the summer-night adventure in July was testament —
a “thank you” to the magazine’s female staff members,
who dined like queens for an evening at Greystone Castle
in Mingus.
Upon arrival at the castle, the six women in attendance
were met by evening hostess Jennifer Miller. Light refreshments were served during a brief tour of the facility’s lodging areas before the ladies were treated to a chef-inspired,
three-course meal.
First on the menu were rolls that melted in the mouth
quicker than butter along with fresh salad complete with
homemade vinaigrette. The main course, a tenderloin
served atop wild mushroom raviolis and asparagus, was
only bested by the dessert – a chocolate pudding covered
generously with frosting. Much to the ladies’ chagrin, the
chef refused to reveal his secrets.
Greystone’s hunting guide, Greg Miller, took the reins
following supper and provided a tour of the more than
6,000-acre property filled with white-tail deer, birds and
exotic game.
With more than 40 types of exotics on site, includ-
64
Exotic at Greystone
Melanie McCrary, Christina Loveless, Kathy Jones, Susan Davis,
Marsha Brown, Darleen Green
ing Axis deer, Fallow deer, Sika deer, Red deer, Aoudad
sheep, Impala and Blackbuck antelope, there was something new around every turn. Small, tall, antlers, no antlers, cameras seemed magnetized to the creatures hailing
from all over the world. Some were camouflaged behind
the trees, while others openly munched on grains in the
fields.
Before the tour ended, the guide paused the vehicle so
everyone could see a Canadian Bison within 100 feet of
the vehicle, standing completely still. Manners abandoned
from both parties, the nearly 1-ton creature stared down
the onlooking women as they did the same. After the
“close encounter,” Greg swung a right to head back to the
castle as the sun went down.
Reconvening in the castle for another hour, the women
reminisced about their fairytale evening.
“The whole evening was memorable,” Publisher Marsha Brown said. “I loved the dinner and the private dining
room. I loved the way they treated us, and I loved that my
staff was really having a nice time. I enjoyed seeing their
faces as we drove through the exotic reserve.”
“The castle itself felt like it was from a different time
even though it wasn’t,” Editorial Assistant Christina Loveless said.
“The hospitality, the food – I cannot even say enough