In the paradise of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, amid the sun-drenched beach and the rhythmic sound of waves slapping against the shore, one will find children and adults alike gathered around a man whose passion for sandcastles has blossomed into a thriving business.
Kevin Lane, inventor of Create A Castle, tells his inspirational story of creativity, family influence, and entrepreneurial victory that stretches from the sands of Connecticut’s beaches to the welcoming sands of the Virgin Islands at Magens Bay Beach.
For Lane, it all started in 2017 during a simple family beach trip. “I saw a dad and son using a flip mold that didn’t work successfully, which got me thinking about how to improve it,” Lane recalls.
Frustrated with the ability to create fun but, more often than not, flawed sandcastles with his children, he set out to invent a better way to make these short-lived masterpieces. In a year, Lane had a working model of the product. His designs are revolutionary. With them, it is possible to create complex and durable sand castles without the usual collapses of classic flip mold methods. Word quickly spread about the prototypes, and within three years, by 2020, Create A Castle was a household name, including a nomination as 2020’s Toy of the Year. The molds even made a debut on the popular television show “Shark Tank.”
He recognized that it was an idea in which others could share their enthusiasm with higher numbers of people. “My kids are truly the inspiration,” Lane said with a smile.
“Building with them all the time made me realize there had to be a better way to do this, especially when traveling to different beaches where carrying bulky tools wasn’t practical,” he said. That realization became a reality with the development of split molds and a way to make castles equally intricate, even on beaches with less-than-ideal sand conditions.
But the adventures of Lane that led him to the U.S. Virgin Islands sprouted from a promising partnership with Disney Cruise Lines. “We got here because Disney was looking for something new and exciting for their excursions,” Lane said. “Our friends at Tropical Treasure Hunt introduced us, and now we’re part of their excursion offerings.”
But the allure of the Virgin Islands goes beyond business for Lane. St. Thomas and its beautiful beaches and vibrant culture have become a second home for the unique offerings of Create A Castle. With custom sand sculpture weddings, birthday parties, or lessons in a backyard, Lane is ready to bring laughter and imagination to life one sandcastle at a time.
He demonstrates how easy his product is at Magens Bay Beach: it’s durable and all about the right amount of moisture level in the sand — enough to be formed into a ball without being overly wet. “We always tell people to use low tide beach sand,” Lane said, referring to the high clay content of Magens Bay sand, which makes it ideal for building.
As he finishes his demonstration, Lane is almost giddy with enthusiasm. “We’re overjoyed to be here in beautiful St. Thomas. We want to build lots of sandcastles and teach everyone how to do it,” he said.
With products available at major retailers like Barnes and Noble, Amazon and Target, Lane’s message is clear: “Come and play with us. Whether it’s through cruise lines, weddings, or birthday parties, we want to help you have some fun.”
