Boldt Castle

While in the Thousand Islands on the Saint Lawrence River in New York, I took a side trip to Boldt Castle on Heart Island with my daughter Shanna and grandkids Logan and Haydyn. 

I first saw this castle with my husband over twenty years ago.  An admission was charged and visitors were allowed to roam the island and empty, unfinished castle interior on self-guided tours.  The interior was a disgrace!  Every plastered wall was covered with graffiti.  Signatures of those who had visited before were scrawled everywhere defacing every inch of the interior walls.  The castle was a very melancholy place back then.

 

History

At the turn-of-the-century, George C. Boldt, millionaire proprietor of the world famous Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, set out to build a full size rhineland castle in Alexandria Bay, on picturesque Heart Island.  The grandiose structure was to be a display of his love for his wife, Louise.

During the Gilded Age, many millionaires built enormous "summer homes" on the Saint Lawrence River.  It appears that Boldt set out to build the most magnificent home of all.

Beginning in 1900, the Boldt family spent summers in the Thousand Islands at the Boldt family's Wellesley House near Mr. Boldt’s Wellesley Island Farms while three hundred workers including stonemasons, carpenters, and artists fashioned the six story, 120 room castle, complete with tunnels, a powerhouse, Italian gardens, a drawbridge, alster tower (children’s playhouse) and a dove cote. Not a single detail or expense was spared.

In January 1904, tragedy struck. Boldt telegraphed the island instructing the workers to immediately “stop all construction.” Louise had died suddenly.  Three hundred workmen dropped their tools and left the island, never to return.  The sculptures, Italian mantle pieces, imported tapestries and fine furniture never reached their intended places in this ill-fated, melancholy mansion.  Boldt never returned to the island, leaving the castle unfinished.

For 73 years, the abandoned castle and various stone structures were left to the mercy of the wind, rain, ice, snow and vandals. When the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority acquired the property in 1977, it was decided that through the use of all net revenues from the castle operation it would be preserved for the enjoyment of future generations.

Since 1977, several million dollars have been applied to rehabilitating, restoring, refurbishing, and improving the Heart Island structures.

The Dove Cote

Rear View

Arch of Triumph

Alster Tower - The Playhouse

The Boat House

Alster Tower and Arch of Triumph

The Power House

Front View

The Thousand Islands Bridge Authority has been criticized by architects for their many errors in restoring and refurbishing the castle in a way that is not accurate to the Edwardian era.  Though this is apparent to those who have studied that period, (I won't be pointing out the errors) most visitors probably won't mind that the restoration is not completely accurate to the time period of the Gilded Age.  However, I was pleased to see that the graffiti was a thing of the past.  Gone are the defaced walls of room after empty room.  With many of the rooms finished the castle is warm and inviting.

Front Hall

Stained Glass Ceiling Dome

Shanna, Logan and Haydyn in the basement near the swimming pool.

 

I could live here comfortably ~ No problem.