 The Apponyis appear not to have lived there but rented it, to the local Rosenthal brothers until 1906.From 1906 the castle was rented to American businessman (and in 1912 "Titanic" survivor) Thomas Cardeza, a grandson of the founder of Fidelity Trust Company in Philadelphia, and his French-born wife Mary (née Racine and descendant of Jean Racine), both of whom had lived between 1903 and 1906 in nearby Nitrianska Streda.The Cardezas also made transformations, including building the southern wing's second floor, and kept a small zoo including bears and monkeys in the castle's garden.