A Century of Splendor and Neglect
Bringing Boldt Castle back to life
Boldt Castle on Heart Island near Alexandria Bay, NY, was built by George C Boldt for his wife Louise as an expression of his love for her. Construction started in 1900, but Louise died unexpectedly in January of 1904, before it was completed, and she never saw it.
Construction was halted when she passed, and the property remained abandoned for over 70 years, exposed to the elements and vandals. In 1977, it was purchased by the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority. It has since been opened for tourism, and restoration is underway.
My wife and I visited Boldt Castle again a few weeks ago. We had not been here in over 15 years.
Getting off the boat, we were again struck by the size of this castle as we looked up at it from the dock. The outside of the castle is beautiful, with flower gardens lining the walkway to the main entrance.
Inside, you are greeted by a large entryway with a grand staircase leading to the upper floors. This view of the interior can almost take you back in time. The details in the wood, the walls, and the furniture are a snapshot from over 100 years ago.
The first and second floors are fully restored and furnished, showing the grandeur that was intended when the castle was built. I did not recall seeing the rooms completed and fully finished on the second floor when we were last here. It gives you a full sense of the love that went into the castle when it was built.
The third and fourth floors are in progress and show exhibits of the property's history, as well as putting the amount of work that has gone into the lower floors into perspective.
Above the fourth floor, the building has been made structurally sound, but otherwise left alone. It no longer feels like the splendor of 1904; it feels like the neglect that followed.
These areas give you the true sense of what the structure endured through the years it was left… exposed. I was going to say it was from the years it was untouched, but that’s not quite accurate. On the walls you can see signs of the people that visited the place before the restoration. People who visited and left their mark on the place as it sat waiting.
Off one of those top floors are a few balconies where you can step outside at that top level and take in the view of the river and the surrounding area. As I stood there looking out over the river, I realized that view was a big part of the plan. That view was the true gift. It was what George Boldt wanted his wife to see.
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