NEW

P.O. Box 428 43530 Interstate 81 Alexandria Bay, NY 13607 Contact: Shane Sanford Director, Boldt Facilities Telephone: (315) 482-2501 Date: May 7, 2012

BOLDT CASTLE & BOLDT YACHT HOUSE OPEN MAY 12th FOR THE 2012 SEASON Historic Boldt Castle and Boldt Yacht House open for the 2012 season on Saturday May 12th marking the 35th year of ownership and operations by the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority. The Boldt facilities will operate daily through Sunday October 14th. Boldt Castle: Let Your Thoughts Transport You to another World Romantic Heart Island in Alexandria Bay provides the setting for the saddest of true love stories ever told. In 1900, George C. Boldt, millionaire proprietor of the world-famous Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, set out to build a full-sized Rhineland Castle on Heart Island. The magnificent 122-room structure was to be a monument of his love for his wife, Louise. Work was well underway, with more than $2.5 million invested, when tragedy struck. In January of 1904, Louise died. Boldt commanded all work on the castle to cease immediately. He never returned to the island, leaving behind the nearly completed castle. For 73 years, the castle and its buildings were left to the mercy of the wind, rain, ice, snow and vandals. In 1977, the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority acquired the property and since then has invested millions of dollars into the restoration of the Heart Island structures and the Boldt Yacht House on Wellesley Island. Recent restoration has focused on the castles interior as well as the grounds. The island is easily accessible, has complete restroom facilities, brick-paved walkways, a gift shop, picnic areas and a food and beverage concession to serve the public. You may have seen Boldt Castle before, but have you seen Boldt Castle lately? In the past years numerous improvements have been accomplished, including rehabilitation of the Power House, Dove Cote, Heart Island Gazebo, Alster Tower, the Boldt Yacht House and the main

castle including the Heart Island Entry Arch which is adorned with three seven-foot tall stags (or deer), which are symbolic of the Boldt family crest. Interior improvements to the main castle include the installation of 1,700 square feet of marble flooring in the Grand Lobby, completion of the grand staircase and the magnificent stain glass dome in the Castles fourth floor ceiling. Visitors will also enjoy a tour of the recently refurbished second floor reception room and bedroom suite of Clover Boldt, daughter of George and Louise. The rooms feature herringbone hardwood flooring, a reconstructed fireplace mantel, period lighting and furniture and decorative plasterwork. Ms. Clovers rooms compliments previous improvements made to Mr. and Mrs. Boldts bedroom suites. Other recent improvements to the castles interior include completion of the Library, Billiards Room, Reception Room, Ballroom, Dining Room and Elevator. Beginning with the 2012 season Boldt Castle will present a new movie theater and movie to entertain its visitors with show times throughout the day. The theater room itself is a remarkable interpretation of the 1000 Islands gilded age and the newly produced movie translates this era through the life and times of George Boldt, Boldt Castle and the 1000 Islands International Region. 2012 projects include imitation and rehabilitation of the castles kitchens which will complete first floor renovations of Boldt Castle. Always a fun time is the Boldt Castle Wine Festival & Farmers Market, slated for Saturday, Sept. 15. Visitors to the castle can sample and enjoy New York State wines and 1000 Islands foods for no additional admission charge. More than two dozen wineries and food producers are expected to attend; live music and farm animals make the festival an enjoyable autumn day in the islands. Visitors to the Boldt properties will also be able to tour the increasingly-popular Boldt Yacht House located on nearby Wellesley Island. It is the largest and last remaining yacht house on the St. Lawrence River. A number of antique boats are on display, including the 63-foot steam yacht, Kestrel, which made the Yacht House its home in 2009. Boat tours from both the U.S. and Canada include Boldt Castle as a stop on their scenic cruises. Visitors can also take a shuttle boat from Heart Island to visit Yacht House. In the village of Alexandria Bay, NY, tour boat shuttles make regular scheduled trips to Boldt Castle or you can use your own watercraft docking is free with your paid admission to the Boldt facilities. Fairy tale weddings are a reality on Heart Island! Weddings have become very popular on Heart Island with over a 1,000 performed at this historic site with its own love story. Bookings for wedding ceremonies come from all over the U.S. and Canada and even as far away as Europe, introducing many guests to the 1000 Islands International Region for the first time. There are dozens of weddings scheduled for the 2012 season with 2013 weddings also being schedule at this time. Historic Boldt Castle opens for the 2012 season on May 12th, marking the 35th season of ownership and operations by the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority. The Boldt facilities will operate daily through October 14th.

Please call 315-482-2501/315-482-9724 or log onto www.boldtcastle.com for more information about Boldt Castle, admission rates, weddings, Wine Festival and links to scenic cruise operators offering stops at Boldt Castle. For general information, including lodging call 800-847-5263 or log onto www.visit1000islands.com