The Real “Love Island”

Perhaps it is a common assumption that most beautiful castles are in Europe.

The grandeur of Boldt Castle sitting on Heart Island, surrounded by the natural topography of Thousand Islands, easily rivals the best from Europe. It is only a 3-hour drive from Toronto, or 10 minutes by boat from Rockport, Ontario.

The Boldt Castle was built during the “Gilded Age” in the late 1800s.

It was an era when vast fortunes were created and names like JP Morgan, Cornelius, Carnegie, Rockefeller and Vanderbilt rose to their reputed fame.

In New York City, the richest would congregate at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, which George Boldt owned.

It was a time when money was no object. As a gift to his dear wife, George Bolt simply gave architect W.D. Hewitt a blank cheque. The whole island was built on a theme of love.

The name of the island was changed from Hart to Heart Island. The topography of the island was altered to form the shape of a heart.

At almost every corner of the castle, there are hearts shaped with wrought iron, sculpted in stone, formed with stained glass and craved with wood.

The heart of the castle was also pioneered by the latest technology. Equipped with one of the earliest batteries, they would be charged via steam generators, providing electricity to the island.

Although George wanted to gift the castle to his wife Louisa, she died in 1904. The construction of the castle grounded to a halt, without Lousia ever living in it.

Heart Island, Thousand Islands, State of New York
Boldt Castle is on the US side of Thousand Islands. Please remember to bring your passport if you are traveling from the Canadian side of Thousand Islands.