Just Got Back From the Castle and Feeling Like a Princess!

We went to Boldt castle today.  It is on a island in the 1000 island region of New York.  (Yes there are literally 1000 islands in this little region on the the St Lawrence river between the US and Canada)  It was beautiful!! And the history of it was such a sweet love story.  So rather than retell it badly, here it is from their website:

At the turn-of-the-century, George C. Boldt, millionaire proprietor of the world famous Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, set out to build a full size Rhineland Castle in Alexandria Bay, on Picturesque Heart Island.  The grandiose structure was to be a display of his love for his wife, Louise.

Beginning in 1900, Boldt's family shared four glorious summers on the island in the Alster Tower while 300 workers, stonemasons, carpenters, and artists fashioned the six story, 120 room castle, complete with tunnels, a powerhouse, Italian gardens, a draw bridge, and a dove cote. Not a single detail or expense was spared.

In 1904, tragedy struck. Boldt telegrammed the island and commanded the workers to immediately "stop all construction." Louise had died suddenly. A broken hearted Boldt could not imagine his dream castle without his beloved. Boldt never returned to the island, leaving behind the structure as a monument of his love.

For 73 years, the castle and various stone structures were left to the mercy of the wind, rain, ice, snow and vandals. When the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority acquired the property in 1977, it was decided that through the use of all net revenues from the Castle operation it would be preserved for the enjoyment of future generations.

Since 1977, several million dollars have been applied to rehabilitating, restoring and improving the Heart Island structures.

OK, me again.  What this doesn't tell you is that the island was originally called Hart Island and he had it reconstructed into the shape of a heart and renamed "Heart" Island.  Talk about a romantic!!  There are hearts everywhere in the architecture and in the gardens. 

It was really warm today, so it was gorgeous walking around enjoying the flowers, the lily pond, and the girls had so much fun playing in the leaves.  We had such a fun day and really felt like princesses, well, except Rolland.  

After ice cream and a relaxing boat ride home, the girls passed out on the way home.  Royalty is tiring I guess!   Enjoy the rest of the pictures!!