Boldt Castle

This is a classic rags to riches story with a tragic conclusion. George C. Boldt immigrated to the US from Prussia in 1864 and began working in the kitchens of  New York City hotels. He proved to be an exceptional employee and was soon managing the dining room at an exclusive men's club in Philadelphia. He also married the daughter of the club's steward. He was well liked by the club members who provided backing for his purchase of the Bellevue, a small hotel that under Boldt's ownership became known for its fine cuisine and high standard of service.  In 1897 he leased the Astoria Hotel in New York City and managed the adjoining Waldorf Hotel. The Waldorf-Astoria catered to the extremely wealthy with the latest conveniences in every room. He continued the tradition of providing excellent service and luxurious accommodations in his new hotel, the Bellevue-Stratford, that he built in Philadelphia. Along the way Boldt became as wealthy as his clients. 

With this new wealth, Boldt began buying property in the Thousand Island area of the St. Lawrence River. His holdings included Wellesley Island, Heart Island, Hopewell Hall, and Belle Island plus a couple of other islands and property in Alexandria Bay. Boldt, his wife, Louise, and their two children enjoyed vacationing on Wellesley Island where Boldt built a large summer home and managed a model farm which supplied hundreds of pounds of fresh beef, chicken, milk. eggs, and produce to the Waldorf-Astoria and the Bellevue-Stratford hotels every day.

 In the early 1900s construction began on a six story, 120 room castle located on Heart Island. It was intended as a present from George to Louise. The exterior of the castle was complete and finish work had begun on the interior when Louise died suddenly in January 1904. All 300 stonemasons, carpenters, artists, and other workers were sent home. George Boldt never visited the island again. The castle remained unfinished and open to vandals and the curious for 73 years before it was acquired by the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority and officially open to the public. All net revenues from the castle operation are used to rehabilitate, restore and improve the Heart Island structures. The rooms on the first floor and several on the second floor of the castle have been finished by following the original plans and blueprints. The smaller structures scattered around the island have all be renovated and restored to their original condition. 

 

The only way to get to the island is by boat. Uncle Sam Boat Tours, which offers five different tours, seems to be the most popular provider. Shuttle service runs back and forth from 10:30AM until the last person is ready to leave the island. We took the shuttle rather than a long tour so that we would have plenty of time to explore the island. Tickets are required for the boat ride and the island, Both can be bought at the boat ticket booth. There are a full five floors in the castle with a short film and exhibits on the second floor. The upper floors have not been restored but debris has been removed from most of the rooms and they've been cleaned to make them safe for visitors. 

The castle website states that the island is fully handicapped accessible. This is misleading. Although the castle itself is very accessible, getting there may pose significant problems for many people, starting with the boat ride as the boat does not fit flush to the dock. I think the crew may have a portable ramp but we just bumped down so we weren't offered that option. Once on the island the paths are all paved but very steep. A strong assistant is required. The Astor Tower and the Dove Cote are not accessible due to steps. 

Uncle Sam Boat Tours has a small handicapped parking lot which fills early and may not be suitable for RVs. The main parking lot is large and graveled. If you arrive early enough and request to be parked in the nearest section, close to the road, the trip to the boat will be paved and fairly level. Otherwise you may end up at the top of the parking lot in the gravel. Castle  44.3385, -75.91786