Outside of Europe it is rare to find island castles as incredible as Boldt Castle.  Located in upper New York State in the Thousand Islands Boldt Castle was built by George Boldt, owner of the famous Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York. In 1900 the Boldt’s launched an ambitious plan to build one of the largest private homes in America,  a six-story castle.

However, construction on the castle stopped abruptly in 1904 after the death of Boldt’s wife Louise. For 73 years, the castle and other stone structures of Heart Island were left exposed to the harsh winter weather and occasional vandals. In 1977 the island was purchased by The Thousand Islands Bridge Authority for just $1. Over the years revenue’s generated from the castle’s operations have gone to the restoration of the island so as to preserve it for future generations.

Accessibility:

Boldt Castle is accessible by ferry from Alexandria Bay; Gananoque, Ontario; Rockport, Ontario; and Ivy Lea, Ontario; and most of the grounds and buildings can be explored by the public for a fee. The boat-owning public may also dock on Heart Island for free and there is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection office on Heart Island.