If you’re a fan of the Harry Potter series of books by J.K. Rowling, then you’ll love Boldt Castle in New York’s Thousand Islands Region near Alexandria Bay. This castle was built long ago and it was built for love, but sadly, the woman it was built for died before it was completed; she never had the chance to enjoy it. Today, it’s a big draw for tourists of all kinds, but in recent years, it’s been especially attractive for people who are looking for something that looks like Hogwarts in New York. This castle-on-an-island has many similarities to the castle and school in the Harry Potter books – all coincidental, of course. Boldt Castle was built long before J.K. Rowling was born. Read on to learn more about this special place.

Boldt Castle and its related structures take up all of Heart Island, a five-acre island in the middle of the St. Lawrence River.

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Back at the beginning of the 1900s, it took 300 workers to build this six-story, 120-room mansion. The property included the main house, tunnels, Italian gardens, a powerhouse, a drawbridge, a tower that was to be a children’s playhouse, a structure to house a collection of birds, and more.

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The interior of the main building was designed to include a glass dome, marble floors, a grand staircase, servants’ quarters, a grand ballroom, and dozens upon dozens of other rooms and amenities.

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Unfortunately, work on this castle stopped abruptly in 1904. The woman for whom it was being built died suddenly in her early 40s. Her husband never returned to the property. It then sat vacant for 70 years until the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority bought it in 1977 for $1. Renovations began soon after that.

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The doomed couple was George and Louise Boldt. George Boldt was the general manager of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City and of the Bellvue-Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia. Boldt Castle was a passion project for his wife who helped support him in the hotel industry. They were a team; when she died suddenly, he was lost. He died 12 years later.

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Fortunately, it was possible to restore Boldt Castle for public enjoyment. The Thousand Islands Bridge Authority has spent $15 million on it over the past few decades. It’s open to the public for a fee. Not only was it possible to restore it to the point where construction had left off in 1904, but renovations have now surpassed that point. As the years go by, it gets closer and closer to the beautiful site George and Louise Boldt imagined it would someday be before Louise’s untimely passing.

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It certainly looks a bit like Hogwarts. There would be more than enough room for all the students, teachers, classes, and events inside. It even has a tower.

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There is also a fancy gate entryway that vistors must pass through. And, Boldt Castle is on the water, like Hogwarts is (even though Hogwarts isn’t on an island - it’s on a lake).

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The rooms in Boldt Castle that have been renovated so far are set up to look like they might have in the early 1900s. But you could also see this room being used as a dorm room at Hogwarts.

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This is the main foyer; this photo was taken from the grand staircase. If this was Hogwarts, you can imagine watching the Hufflepuffs, Slytherins, Ravenclaws, and Gryffindor students passing through on their way to classes.

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Boldt Castle is a beautiful and amazing place. If they ever remake the films, it would be an excellent stand-in for Hogwarts!

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Boldt Castle is a wonderful place to visit. It’s only open during the summer months so be sure to check its schedule first before you try to go there. Whether you love Harry Potter and are seeking out a property that looks like Hogwarts, or if you simply love old buildings, castle-homes, and tragic love stories, then you’re going to love this place. Plan a trip today.

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If you’re Harry Potter-obsessed, you can also travel to New York to the Harry Potter store, which you’ll also love! There Is A Place In New York That Serves Butterbeer… And You Will Want To Visit

 

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Address: Boldt Castle & Boldt Yacht House, 1 Heart Island, Alexandria Bay, NY 13607, USA