Boldt Castle

July 3, 2019


Bolt Castle, stands as a tribute to the love story of famed hotelier, George C. Boldt.  George Boldt lived one of America's greatest rags-to-riches stories. He was only 13 when he immigrated to America from the small Prussian Isle of Rugen. He started at the bottom, working in hotel kitchens throughout New York City. With ambition and a gift for diplomacy, George became the millionaire proprietor of New York City's Waldorf-Astoria and owner of the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia. in the 1890's George and his wife Louise began vacationing in the 1000 islands region of northern NY state. George purchased now famous Heart Island and planned to transform the property into the ultimate gift of love for his darling wife. In 1900 he hired the most skilled masons and architects money could buy to create his own version of a Rhineland Castle. Wellesley island, as it was called then, was the summer home for the Boldt family for four years, while their six story 120 room home complete with tunnels powerhouse, Italian gardens and a drawbridge was being built. In 1904 George sent his workers a telegram saying, stop all work, Louise has died. Heartbroken, he never returned to Heart Island. For 73 years Boldt Castle was abandoned to the elements and vandals. In 1977 the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority was gifted the historic Boldt properties. Since then the TI Bridge has transformed the ruins of Boldt Castle into one of the premier attractions in the 1000 islands international Region.
It was amazing to me that someone would have a castle built on a small island as a summer home, especially back in the 1900's.

                                                                   

                                          This was the entrance for guests of the Boldts

                               The remainder of a bowling alley that has not yet been restored

                        The third floor has not yet been repaired so there is graffiti on the walls and walls not yet repaired. This photo reminds me of the first house my first husband and I bought. It was a repossession that had holes in the walls with broken slats like these. Does that make me old that I owned a house with slats?

                                              Guess they were planning on lots of guests

                                               Notice the way the toilet is flushed

                               We were not able to see the antique boats or boat house as it was under water