An Amazing Love Story

While in New York last month we ventured up to the Thousand Islands.  Yes, this is where Thousand Island dressing came from.  We didn't go up there for the dressing though, we went to visit Boldt Castle located on Heart Island in the middle of the St. Lawrence River.

George Boldt started as a penniless immigrant from Prussia who became a multi-millionaire as proprietor of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York.  He wanted to build a castle reminiscent of the castles on the Rhine River for his beloved wife, Louise.  Construction started in 1900 and 300 masons, carpenters, artists, etc. began work on the 6-story 120 room structure.

In 1904 Louise expectedly died and heartbroken George called for an immediate end to construction.  He never again returned to the island.  For 73 years the castle sat empty and unused and was subjected to deterioration caused by harsh weather conditions and vandalism. In 1977 the Thousand Island Bridge Authority purchased the property for $1 with the understanding that all funds raised from tours of the island would be used to finish the construction.

 

The picture below is the Yacht House.  It's like a 4 car garage for boats, really big boats.

On one end of the island is the "Playhouse" or Alster Tower.  It's not a playhouse like I would think of--it was planned to have a bowling alley, a dance floor, billiards room, café, etc.  It has a rather whimsical architecture.

 

The other end of the island has the Power house which contains a generator to power the island.

 

The 1st and 2nd floors of the castle appeared to be mostly finished; however, on the upper levels there are several rooms that remain in an untouched state.  In this room there is evidence of some of the vandalism that occurred when the structure was abandoned.

So this is where I was in 1975.  Funny, I don't remember this at all.

 

This grand staircase was added after the restoration started.

 

 

Below is what some of the unfinished areas look like.

 

 

Little  by little as funds are raised, the restoration continues.

 

 

 

The tour was completely self-guided so we got to wonder around pretty much wherever we wanted.  In a "secret" passage we found a slithery guest.  How do snakes get on an island???

 

Irv told us we had to go around it instead of turning back,  He didn't have a triangular-shaped head so I decided we could do it.  Jillian gave him as much room as possible.

 

The grounds were lovely.  Weddings are held here and I bet they're beautiful.

 

After spending a couple hours it was time to load back onto the ferry and head back to the mainland.

 

 

 

This is the grand entry gates that George built to welcome guests.

 

 

So this is called one of the greatest love stories of all times.  It seems unbelievable that it was abandoned for 73 years.  I like to believe in love stories and romance so the story of the Boldts touches my heart.  I can't wait until the love of my life starts construction on my castle.  It won't be in the middle of a river though, it will be at the base of the Tetons.  He better hurry though so that I don't drop dead before it's finished.