Boldt Castle, on Heart Island, near Alexandria Bay, was begun as an act of love and abandoned in the wake of tragedy. In 1900, George Boldt, the millionaire proprietor of NYC’s Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, wanted to build a summer palace for his beloved wife, Louise. Hundreds of craftsmen labored to construct the six-story, 120 room castle—complete with tunnels, a powerhouse, Italian gardens, a drawbridge, towers and a dove cote—but construction was abruptly halted in 1904, after Louise’s sudden death. The heartbroken Boldt never returned to the island, and the castle and grounds deteriorated for almost 75 years. (Boldt did go on to make Thousand Islands salad dressing famous when, after sampling it in the region, he put it on the menu of his famous NYC hotel.) Now, with the restoration of castle, outbuildings and grounds, it makes for a magnificent visit, and you can even rent it for your wedding.
Virtual Tour
The Boldt Castle and the Boldt Yacht House can be experienced virtually via “Boldt Castle” available through the App Store or Google Play. With this platform, visitors can tour the Castle by way of audio and imagery effects while learning about its rich history. Get information on the Castle’s restoration plans and plan your next trip with Boldt Castle’s virtual tour.
Take Amtrak to the Boldt Castle
Experience Boldt Castle and the Boldt Yacht House via Amtrak to Syracuse Station in Syracuse. Don’t forget to use Amtrak’s See New York and Save 15% discount!
Get picked up from Syracuse Station and taken to your reserved NY TRAIN Enterprise Rent-a-Car! Click here to reserve your car or call the Syracuse office today at: 315-423-0002.
