BOLDT CASTLE RENOVATIONS

Ongoing restoration and preservation efforts at Boldt Castle on Heart Island have celebrated one of the Thousand Islands’ most enduring love stories. Boldt Castle, commissioned in the early 1900s by hotel magnate George C. Boldt as a grand tribute to his wife Louise, was left unfinished after her untimely death in 1904. For decades, the castle stood abandoned, a haunting symbol of love and loss slowly overtaken by nature. Under the stewardship of the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority, the island has been revived as one of the region’s premier historic and tourist destinations—carefully balancing preservation, accessibility, and interpretation of this remarkable legacy.

The Bridge Authority’s commitment to restoration has focused on bringing the property back from years of neglect while honoring its unfinished story. Projects have included repair of the stained glass dome, water-arch and bronze statuary restoration, interior master plan and elevator reconstruction, Powerhouse foundation stabilization, Alster Tower masonry restoration, and reconstruction of the veranda, gazebo, overlook, and Swan Pond area. Each phase of work preserves another piece of the castle’s legacy while recognizing that, in the spirit of George Boldt’s story, the work on Heart Island will never truly be complete—ensuring its magic and mystery endure for generations to come.