Monument of Love
Boldt Castle is known as the monument of love which is
located in the Heart Island and was commissioned by George C. Boldt for his
wife Louise. It is remembered as the magnificence of a bygone era and in the
1000 Islands Region of the St. Lawrence River. This castle is linked with the
saddest of love stories ever told. This Castle began its grounds in early
1900’s.
Boldt Castle
construction, other related structures and the tragedy
In addition to the Boldt Castle, a medieval styled power
house and also a tall tower called “Alster Tower” was built to entertain the
crowd while the construction work for the mansion was going on. The mansion
carries number of heart shaped designs. In the year 1904, when Louise passed
away, the family was still living in the Alster Tower and George was devastated.
He immediately ordered to cease work in the mansion and he took his family away
from the island, vowing never to return back. After the work was stopped and
grounds people sat empty for around 70 years it was decided that the rotting
estate might turn up into a profitable business opportunity. In the year 1977,
finally, the castle was built by the new owners of the land and now is used for
events like weddings which are popular on the Boldt Castle grounds. Also, the
other famous structures built on Heart Island along with Castle are the
Hennery, the Arch and a stone Gazebo. The first floor of the Castle has been
restored to reflect the lives of George and Louise, which has finished
interiors with furnishings. The newly renovated custom made doors and many of
the windows enhance the beauty of the entrance. The Castle is six stories tall
from the foundation level to the highest towered room.
The Alster Tower
It is a defense tower similar to the ones built on Alster
River in Germany. Initially, it was built to entertain the guests. The so
called “Shell Room” was used for dancing and was called as “Shell Room” because
of the shape of the roof. The basement of the tower has a bowling alley, while
the upper floors contain billiard room, bedrooms, library, grill, café and
kitchen. The Playhouse is closed for renovation as for now. However, the
exterior view of the tower is truly amazing and provides a picturesque setting
for a grand wedding.
The Entry Arch
This monument is modeled after the Romans; stones were
cut and delivered for double rows of columns which would enclose a covered walk
giving an opportunity for each side of the arch to be extended. There were
future plans for a drawbridge to provide a promenade on the embankment of Swan
Pond but is still incomplete due to work ceased on the island.
The Gazebo
It is the favorite wedding spot, dozens of weddings
ceremonies are held in it every year.
The Gardens and
Grounds
Heart Island has over 10,000 annual flowers planted each
year. These flowers are provided with spectacular colors and beauty each
season.
The Wine Festival
Boldt Castle will host its 5th annual Wine
Festival and also the famous farmers market in the year 2014. There will be
many wineries participating in the event and there will be food, drink and live
entertainment there throughout the festival. Some of the famous names of
wineries participating are: Forbes Farm, Grandpa Pete’s Gourmet Sauce, River
Myst Winery, Cross Island Farms, Junga Honey, Tug Hill Vineyards, Venditti
Vineyards, Americana Vineyards & Winery, Thousand Islands Winery, Coyote
Moon Vineyards, Glenora Wine Cellars & Knapp Vineyard and many more.
The Yacht House
It is open for public at a very modest fee. Visitors are
invited to take the free shuttle boat from the Heart Island for easy access to
this imposing structure on the river’s edge. The houseboat is 128 feet long and
was specially meant for Boldt’s family. Interiors of Yacht have a collection of
antique wooden boats on display. The Yacht House is open from May 11th
to September 29th at 10:30 am to 6:30 pm for the local public.
Online Ticketing
Enjoy both locations, i.e. Boldt Castle and Boldt Yacht
House for one low price. Round trip shuttle services are available between the
Castle and the Yacht House which is included in the cost of the ticket. Tour
boat transportation not included for below:
Adult- $11 (13 + years)
Child - $7 (6 years to 12 years)
Infant – free (upto 5 years)
You can also avail the individual tickets for Boldt
Castle and Boldt Yacht House for a separate set of prices. This gives you the
chance to enjoy both things individually.
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