New York's Heart-Shaped Island In Alexandria Bay Is Home To A Gorgeous, Historic Mansion

Sitting within the banks of Alexandria Bay in New York State is an early 20th-century castle built by a millionaire and meant to be a show of his love to his wife. Today, the 120-room Boldt Castle is a tourist destination, open seasonally for visits of its restored sections and the island upon which it sits. The castle is also an official port of entry for those coming into the United States from Canada.

Heart Island, home to Boldt Castle, is part of the Thousand Islands region — a portion of the St. Lawrence River along the border of the United States and Canada. The Thousand Islands Bridge Authority is responsible for the castle and its renovation, which has been ongoing since 1977. The expansive grounds also include a historic yacht house, which was originally constructed as storage space for massive boats and quarters for the crews who manned them. Today, it houses a boat collection that includes models dating back to the late 1800s.

Boldt Castle is a popular tourist stop from mid-May to mid-October. In addition to self-guided and guided tours, the castle is also a popular wedding destination. The romantic setting is an impressive way to exchange vows, especially since its visionary, George C. Boldt, built it specifically for his wife, Louise, who unfortunately passed away in early 1904. This tragedy caused George Boldt to halt construction on the castle and never return — meaning the building sat empty and exposed to the elements for decades.

Tragic love stories and a belief in the paranormal have been tied together for centuries — and Boldt Castle is no exception. And whether you believe in ghosts or not, multiple reports of paranormal activity have been made in the past. While it's a far cry from America's "most haunted hotel" in Colorado, the sound of phantom footsteps allegedly echoes within the castle's empty corridors. Guests have even reported seeing the wispy figure of Louise Boldt appearing in various areas of the massive castle, and odd glowing lights emanating from the windows of the building's higher floors.

The tragic love story between George and Louise Boldt has endured at Boldt Castle since America's Gilded Age. While it is unclear what exactly caused Louise Boldt's demise, reports indicate she could have suffered from tuberculosis or a weak heart. Though George Boldt halted construction on the castle and never returned to Heart Island after losing his wife, he lived for more than a decade after Louise's death, and died in 1916 after suffering a heart attack.

Ghost stories vary, of course, and the grounds of Boldt Castle, its yacht house, and gardens are an ideal location for urban legends to evolve. One thing is for certain at Boldt Castle, however: Tourism revenue collected is reinvested into the island and its buildings in hopes that the castle will finally be completed to George Boldt's original design.

Visiting Boldt Castle is not only restricted by season, but by transportation options as well. The only way to explore the grounds of the castle is to arrive by boat. That said, several tour companies provide transportation to the island, and personal watercraft are welcome as well. However, a ticket is required to visit the grounds and the castle.

Heart Island and Boldt Castle are just a few miles from the Canadian border, meaning it's a convenient stop for Americans on their way to visit Canada's top 10 attractions for tourists. Similarly, accommodations in the Thousand Islands region are vast for those hoping to spend time exploring the waterway. Hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, and campgrounds are dotted along both sides of the border and offer convenient access to the many attractions on the islands. Clayton, New York, for example, is considered the "gateway to the Thousand Islands," making it a popular base for exploring the region.

For anyone hoping to fly in, Watertown International Airport (ART) in Dexter, New York, is the closest international airport to Boldt Castle, located just 35 miles away. Additionally, less than 100 miles south of the castle is Syracuse Hancock International Airport in Syracuse, New York. That said, no matter how visitors choose to arrive, they will likely find that Boldt Castle and Heart Island are both under continuous renovation — a long-term effort that brings them one step closer to the gilded paradise George Boldt envisioned when he began construction more than a century ago.