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empire state road trip

Boldt Castle

6/4/2021

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PictureBoldt Castle (NPBL Photo)
It's our second day in Clayton, and today's agenda starts with a visit to George Boldt's castle.

Yesterday, we toured La Duchesse, Boldt's houseboat, now permanently docked at the Antique Boat Museum. Boldt was the ultra-rich New York hotel magnate who spent his summers in the 1000 Islands. Apart from the 106-foot houseboat, Boldt commissioned a 127-room, six-story residence on Heart Island for the love of his life, his wife, Louise. It would be one of the largest private residences every built in this country. At least, that was the plan.

Work began in 1900, involving hundreds of workers and tradesmen. Then, unexpectedly, in 1904 Louise Boldt died, and Boldt ordered all work to cease. Boldt himself would never return to Heart Island.  Almost 75 years later, a group acquired the deteriorating structure and started restoration.  Today you can get a sense of Boldt's vision .

Tours of the castle are only available by boat, so we begin by visiting Clayton Islands Tours.  Adjacent to the tour office is Kay’s Kitchen, a food truck that offers passengers picnic lunches to go. Pam and I opt for chicken tenders, and just the aromas make me ready to eat right now. It’s another gloriously sunny day, and not quite as hot. Picture perfect for a boat ride. 

Normally, Heart island would be crowded, but since Canadians are in lockdown in response to COVID, it's not quite as busy. We depart the boat and head for the castle, tour tickets in hand. The first two floors have been restored to their original design, as have the grounds around. One can only imagine the full opulence Boldt had in mind to honor his wife.

One question visitors ask is the origin of Thousand Island Dressing. There’s some dispute, but the prevailing story is that it was the creation of a fishing guide’s wife in the early 1900s. Regardless, it did come to the attention of Boldt, who ordered it placed on the menu at his Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York.

Ready? Let's start the tour...

Photos by North Palm Beach Life
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    Pam and I were invited by the Harbor Hotel Collection to take the Empire State Road Trip, visiting three of their resorts in western and upstate New York. Join us on our 3,245-mile journey!

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  • Home
    • Weather >
      • Hurricane Readiness
  • Cruise/Travel
    • Cruise and Travel Stories
  • Gigi in the 561
    • Gigi's Wine Shelf
    • Gigi in the 561 Interviews
    • Cora
    • My Father's Tales >
      • My Father's Tales - Photo Album
    • Travel Bistro
  • Blogs
    • Gerry Pronounced Gary
    • Rock and Roll Rewind
    • Susan Goldfein -- Blog >
      • Susan Goldfein
  • Video
  • Explore
    • October Odyssey >
      • Cartagena, Columbia
      • Panama Canal
      • Antigua, Guatemala
      • Cabo San Lucas
      • Birds and Bees Speakeasy in Los Angeles
      • We Love LA
      • Coast Starlight
      • Napa Wine Tour
      • California Zephyr
      • California Zephyr Part Two
      • Chicago
      • Amtrak Capitol Limited
      • Washington DC
    • Pam - Traveling in Style
    • Road Trip! >
      • Road Trip! -- Tucumcari, New Mexico
      • Road Trip! -- The Painted Desert
      • Road Trip! - Sedona, Arizona
      • Road Trip! - Sedona Wineries
      • Road Trip! Tonto Natural Bridge State Park
      • Road Trip! - Mogollon Rim
      • Road Trip! - Verde Canyon Railroad
      • Road Trip! - Jerome, Arizona
      • Road Trip! - California
      • Road Trip! - Palm Springs Celebrity Tour
      • Road Trip! - Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
      • Road Trip! - Festival in Palm Springs
      • Road Trip! - Willcox, Arizona and Apple Annie's Orchard
      • Road Trip! Willcox Wineries
      • Road Trip! Chiricahua National Monument
      • Road Trip! Tombstone, Arizona
      • Tombstone, Part Two
      • Road Trip! - Epilogue
    • Traveling With Joe >
      • Beartooth Highway
      • North Cascades National Park
      • A Visit to the Philippines
      • Grand Canyon National Park
      • Glacier National Park
      • Yellowstone National Park
      • Hiking in Bear Country
      • Crater Lake National Park
      • Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta
      • The Kerrville Folk Festival
      • Building Hope in the Rio Grande Valley
      • Yellowstone Camping Tales
    • Unknown Yellowstone >
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Heart Lake
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Summit Lake
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Shoshone Lake
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Grizzly Lake
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Riddle Lake
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Pelican Cone
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Mt. Washburn
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Specimen Ridge
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Avalanche Peak
      • Unknown Yellowstone - Divide Creek
  • Contact
    • Media Kit
    • Pamela Barker - Author
    • The Story of StarText
  • Search