![]() ![]() ![]() Wikimedia Commons George Boldt wanted his castle to resemble the ones he had seen as a boy growing up in Prussia.īut Louise's unexpected demise put a stop to the construction. Other than the main Boldt Castle building, there was also the Alster Tower, the Dove-Cote, the Power House, an entry arch, and a gazebo. And to really emphasize the theme of love, he had the island itself blasted into the shape of a heart.Īfter a few years of construction, six buildings began to take form on the island. While this isle was initially named Hart Island, Boldt would rename it to Heart Island. When he first envisioned her castle, he wanted it to look like the ones he'd seen along the Rhine in Europe.īoldt Castle would sit on a small island in the Saint Lawrence River near Alexandria Bay in New York. With plenty of money saved up, George Boldt would spare no expense when it came to the love of his life, Louise. Eventually, he would own and operate some of the most luxurious hotels in the area, such as the Bellevue-Stratford in Philadelphia and the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City. Moving up in the ranks of the hospitality industry, he became a prominent businessman on the East Coast. And while he started out as a humble dishwasher, he would go on to earn millions in his later years. At the tender age of 13, he immigrated to New York with the hopes of finding success in the New World. Wikimedia Commons A Prussian immigrant and self-made millionaire, George Boldt was one of the richest Americans of his day.īorn in Prussia in 1851, George Boldt was raised on an island surrounded by castles - which would later inspire him to build one of his own. And while it was eventually renovated for visitors, no one has ever called this place home. The castle was then left to rot for about seven decades. Heartbroken, George could not bear to return to Heart Island to complete the palace. She would have likely been over the moon if she saw the castle.īut in 1904, George suddenly ordered his workers to drop their tools - because Louise had unexpectedly died at age 31. Louise was also a doting mother to the couple's children, George Jr. She also helped him with his hotel business, adding a feminine touch to rooms, like candles and fresh-cut flowers. Throughout their marriage, Louise Boldt was a constant companion to George. George originally planned to give the castle to Louise as the ultimate Valentine's Day present once it was completed. So he ordered the construction to take place on Heart Island in the Saint Lawrence River near Alexandria Bay. And as it turns out, there's a heartbreaking reason for that.īack in 1900, an American hotelier named George Boldt was determined to build a dreamy castle for his beloved wife Louise. But no one has ever lived in it, even though it's been standing for over a century. Boasting 120 rooms and a glorious facade, it looks like something straight out of a fairytale. On a five-acre private island in New York, there lies a stunning abandoned palace known as Boldt Castle. ![]()
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