Our Team

Linda Mueller – Owner

Linda Mueller has always had a special love for castles. While dating Richard, her childhood sweetheart who had family ties to the Charlevoix area, Linda had an opportunity to visit the Castle…and promptly fell in love. Years later, happily married to Richard, Linda found herself able to fulfill a lifetime dream when the Castle was offered for sale. Purchased in 2001, Linda’s extensive renovations were completed in 2005, restoring the Castle to its original beauty. Today, Linda often can be found in one of her favorite places: strolling through one of the extensive gardens on the Castle grounds and dreaming of another garden. Linda’s vision of developing a world-class historic property incorporating old-world charm and timeless elegance continues to enchant visitors to this day.

Kristin Frazho- General Manager

Kristin, a native of Michigan grew up in Houghton Lake, a 1995 graduate of the University of Findlay in Ohio, emphasizing on Business and Farm Management along with equestrian studies. She brings to the table an Extensive understanding of operational intricacies, entrepreneurial mindset, empathetic and generous with a compassionate and expansive nature. When she’s not at Castle Farms or Hungry Ducks Adventure Farms she enjoys spending time with her family, and her animal farm, the camel Pistol Pete and if time allows jumping in to referee roller derby for the Small town outlaws.

Peggy Kusina – Castle Ambassador

Peggy Kusina has been with the Castle since 2006. Her former responsibilities included managing and buying for the Gift Shop, as well as marketing historic tours. Under her direction, the Gift Shop and Welcome Center grew to be a proud showcase for Castle Farms. In 2013/2014, Peggy stepped down as Gift Shop and Tour Director, and now serves in an official capacity as Castle Ambassador. Peggy is also an Ambassador for the Charlevoix Chamber of Commerce. Her passion for the Castle and the Charlevoix community serves her well in her role as avid spokeswoman for both Castle Farms and the Northern Michigan area.

Jessica Anderson – Director of Guest Experiences

A 2012 graduate of Lake Superior State University, Jessica Anderson has been a driving force at Castle Farms since 2013. With more than a decade of experience in the travel and hospitality industry, she plays a vital role across all departments, ensuring every guest enjoys an exceptional and memorable experience.

As Castle Historian and Group Tour Director, Jessica brings the property’s rich past to life for visitors from near and far. She plans and executes a wide range of events throughout the year and is currently leading the Castle’s exciting concert revival, booking bands and reintroducing live music to this iconic venue. Her energy, creativity, and keen attention to detail have helped shape unforgettable experiences for thousands of guests. When she’s not at the Castle, Jessica enjoys spending time with her family, reading, crafting, gardening, and traveling to her family home on Drummond Island, where she loves to unplug and embrace island life.

Mandy Fehrlen – Gift Shop Director

Mandy grew up in Boyne City and remains a native of Northern Michigan. She loves assisting guests! Her warm and friendly energy makes her the perfect fit to share her passion for Castle Farms History. Mandy manages the gift shop employees and many details regarding Castle Farms Welcome Center including the selection of inventory and helping tour and wedding guests have a great visit while on property. She accepted the position of Gift Shop Director in the winter of 2022 after working as Assistant Gift Shop Director for the 2022 season. In her free time, Mandy loves spending time with her husband, five sons, daughter, and several grand babies as well as her beloved cats.

Rebekah Moser – Lead Sales Coordinator

Rebekah grew up in Charlevoix and is a graduate of Central Michigan University. She has been with the Castle since 2015 and has primarily spent her time working with prospective wedding couples. She has a passion for the history of the Castle and absolutely loves helping couples choose the perfect location for their wedding. When not at work Rebekah is spending time with her family and enjoying the gorgeous Charlevoix beaches!

Terri Damm – Sales Coordinator

Terri hails from Grosse Pointe Woods, MI, and holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree from Western Michigan University. She is married, with two adult children and two delightful grandchildren. Terri enjoys the great outdoors, especially lake living, boating, and snow skiing. Her favorite part of working at the Castle is immersing herself in its rich history and helping brides and grooms plan their perfect day

Karagan Kasubowski – Events Beverage Manager

Karagan originally from the Mancelona area, has built the Castles Beverage department from the ground up. With her background in customer service paired with her management skills, she is the perfect match for the Castle. Not only does she help every wedding couple at the Castle curate their perfect bar, she also is an animal lover, and you can see many of her animals including Cheddar the water buffalo at Hungry Ducks. It is her drive, dedication to detail, and perseverance that make her the perfect fit. When she isn’t at the Castle or on the farm you can find her relaxing with her husband and playing with their dog Leroy and their cat Binx.

Taryn MacInnis – Corporate Events Manager

Born and raised in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Taryn is a proud alumna of Lake Superior State University. Her passion for event management led her to Walt Disney World, where she became a Convention Coordinator in the parks after graduating from the Disney College Program. Taryn’s career has taken her across the country and around the world — from working aboard a Princess Cruise ship and sailing internationally, to roles on Mackinac Island, in Chicago, and throughout Wisconsin. No matter where her career has led, the Great Lakes have always been home, and she is thrilled to be back to Northern Michigan. With a strong background in conventions and corporate events, Taryn is passionate about delivering seamless, strategic, and memorable experiences for her clients.

Outside of the office, you’ll find her reading, hiking with her dog Nelly, traveling, or spending time with family up north.

Nicole Glover – Operations Manager

Nicole is the Operations Manager with over 10 years of management experience and more than 20 years of leadership experience guiding and developing teams. New to the venue, she brings a strong foundation in team building, organizational excellence, and strategic problem-solving. Nicole is passionate about fostering collaboration, creating efficient systems, and delivering seamless experiences through strong leadership and a people-first approach. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time outdoors, making memories with her family, and caring for her animals.

Bella Batkoski – Events Director

Having moved up North from the Detroit area, Bella brings a fresh and upbeat energy to the team with her array of skills in management, customer service, attention to detail, organization, and crafting. Her world travels, adventurous personality, and family upbringing rich in unique culture lends to her personable nature and ability to connect well with people easily, as well as being innovative and creative. In her free time, she loves to spend time with her dog Tito, as well as diving into a variety of crafty projects and reading books.

Kenzie Dallos – Social Media Manager & Venue Coordinator

Kenzie, a native of Petoskey, studied at Grand Valley State University to receive her bachelor’s degree in communications. Her journey through GVSU’s communications program paved the way for a defining internship as a Wedding Event Coordinator in Grand Rapids, sparking her passion for event management. Castle Farms first welcomed Kenzie as an Assistant Venue Coordinator, where she grew to become a Venue Coordinator and Social Media Coordinator. In her free time, she enjoys playing board/card games with her family, hiking, playing with her cats (Boo & Bear), and working on projects at home. Kenzie is all about bringing people together and making every event memorable. She’s always ready to dive into new projects and add a bit of her own sparkle to everything she does.

Madeline Shaw – Venue Coordinator

Maddie is an enthusiastic and creative venue coordinator who thrives on bringing people together through memorable, well-crafted experiences. With a degree in Event Planning from Liberty University, she combines her education with a natural talent for organization and a deep love for helping others celebrate life’s biggest moments.

Growing up nearby in Petoskey, Michigan, Maddie brings a warm, personable approach to every event she plans. Whether it’s a wedding, corporate gathering, or community celebration, her attention to detail and genuine care for her clients shine through in every aspect of her work. Outside of her career, Maddie enjoys staying active with a competitive game of pickleball, spending quality time with her family, and winding down with movie nights among friends. Her love for connection and creating memorable experiences both personally and professionally makes her a trusted and enthusiastic partner in any event.

Laenie Backus – Venue Coordinator

Laenie, a Michigan native, grew up in Harbor Springs. She attended Delta College to play soccer while she earned her associate degree before transferring to Grand Valley State University to earn her bachelor’s degree in marketing. Her personability, loving touch, and organized mind give her the tools she needs to make every wedding successful. Her favorite part about her job is being able to make someone else’s big day truly special. There is no better reward than seeing smiles on the bride and groom’s face all night! In Laenie’s free time she enjoys adventuring with her dog (Rory), golfing, crocheting, and spending quality time with loved ones.