Visit Boldt Castle this summer
Boldt Castle is one of the most romantic and famous landmarks in New York State. Located on Heart Island in the Thousand Islands, the castle was once an extravagant and heartfelt gesture of love from hotel magnate George C. Boldt to his wife Louise. When tragedy turned that dream into a haunting ruin, it sat empty and in decay for decades until a remarkable restoration brought it back to life. The Boldt Castle renovation is more than just a story of architecture—it’s a rebirth of history, passion, and purpose.
When Louise Boldt died unexpectedly in 1904, George Boldt was devastated, and construction on the castle immediately ceased. Workers were told to leave the island, and George never returned. The castle, exposed to the harsh Northern New York winters, vandals, and the slow decay of time, was left to the elements for more than seven decades.
Windows shattered, floors rotted, mold crept in, and ivy climbed over what was meant to be a castle of love. For decades, it stood as a haunting reminder of what might have been—a romantic corpse that captured imaginations but seemed destined to crumble.
In 1977, the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority (TIBA) acquired Heart Island and the unfinished castle for just one dollar on the condition that all proceeds from admission and tourism had to go directly back into restoring and preserving the property.
Now, the decades-long labor of love is not unlike George Boldt’s original vision. The restoration of Boldt Castle has been one of New York’s most ambitious historic preservation projects to date. The TIBA and hundreds of craftsmen, historians, and artisans have carefully worked to preserve the castle’s original design, all the while making it accessible and safe for visitors.
So far, restoration is finished on:
The First and Second Floors are fully renovated and furnished to reflect the early 1900s, giving visitors a wonderful glimpse into what life in the castle might have been like.
The Grand Staircase & Entry Hall, that was once open to the sky and weather-worn, is now beautifully restored, with intricate woodwork and a stained-glass dome.
The Power House has been reconstructed to house exhibits on how electricity and water were brought to the island.
The Gardens and Grounds have been painstakingly landscaped with colorful blooms, marble walkways, and fountains that mirror the castle’s original plans and has become a prized venue for weddings.
The Boldt Yacht House on nearby Wellesley Island has been preserved, displaying antique boats and Boldt family memorabilia.
Alster Tower, known as the “Playhouse,” was used by the Boldts while the Castle was being built. Its whimsical structure, with intentionally slanted walls, is being restored to show the creative personality of George Boldt and his love for entertaining.
And there’s more to come!
What makes the Boldt Castle renovation so special is that it’s meant to both preserve history and continue a love story. The entire island a tribute to the vision George Boldt had for his wife Louise—a vision that, though interrupted, has finally been honored.
The restoration continues to this day, so every year I visit the castle and Heart Island to experience its new and exciting developments. As new rooms are opened and old ones are improved, the goal is not to complete the castle in the traditional sense, but to tell its story—to let visitors walk through love, loss, and legacy.
Today, Boldt Castle welcomes nearly a quarter million visitors annually. Couples wed. Family frolic, history lovers learn. And romantics come to Heart Island to not only admire a castle, but to feel the love through a story that never truly ended. Boldt Castle is a living monument—a place where craftsmanship, dedication, and memory meet on the shores of the St. Lawrence River.
Boldt Castle is accessible seasonally from mid-May to mid-October by ferry or tour boat from various locations, including Alexandria Bay, NY, Clayton, NY, and Gananoque, Ontario. Private boaters can also dock at Heart Island. As the island is a U.S. port of entry, visitors arriving from Canada must present appropriate identification for customs processing. For more information on planning your visit, including hours of operation and admission fees, visit the official Boldt Castle website: https://www.boldtcastle.com/visitorinfo
About Madison’s Mission:
Step into the captivating world of Boldt Castle in 1903, where dreams are forged in the fires of adversity and love.
Madison Murray, the devoted maid to the legendary Louise Boldt, harbors a singular mission—to care for her ailing mistress while hiding her own painful past. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she meets Emmett O’Connor, the distinguished foreman overseeing Boldt Castle’s extravagant construction. Their connection sparks with promise, yet the chasm of class difference and hidden secrets loom large.
Just as their budding romance begins to flourish, tragedy strikes, shattering their world. A deadly accident leaves Emmett wrestling with guilt and at the center of an investigation that could unravel everything he holds dear. Then Madison finds herself ensnared in a dangerous coverup that threatens her very life.
When Mrs. Boldt passes away, Madison is left reeling—jobless and burdened by the weight of her perceived failures. In a world filled with uncertainty, can she summon the strength to move forward and confront her past? Will Emmett rise above his challenges to forge a future alongside the woman who has captured his heart?
Meet author Cate Touryan
Cate Touryan’s storytelling is deeply rooted in coasts—from the Mediterranean coast of her birth to the Central California coast, where she lives near the beach that inspired her first novel. With a career in education and editing, she brings a lyrical, literary voice to her work. When she’s not writing, she enjoys walking seaside trails, reading old classics and discovering new ones, conjuring joy with loved ones, and looking for stars to put in her pocket. Both her fiction and creative nonfiction are marked by rich atmosphere, compassion for conflicted characters, and a faith that sees the invisible.
Tell us about your newest book.
Turning Toward Eden is my debut coming-of-age novel, a historical mystery. Set in Harford Beach, California, the story unfolds during the summer of 1971 when a rash of petty crimes escalates to bloodshed on the beach and suspicion falls on a strange girl with a Soviet past. It’s a summer infused with Cold War intrigue, both in the small coastal town and in Eden’s family, newly displaced from the South.
What inspired you to write your story?
While not autobiographical, Eden’s story does draw from my own. I grew up on California’s central coast in the 70s, the Cold War casting a chill over summer fun. Like Eden’s parents, my father was a university professor, my mother a nurse. Harford Beach is modeled on Avila Beach, a ten-minute drive from my home, though I reshaped the geography to create the shantytown of Gulch Run and the estates of Vintage Heights. Both Raven and Dex are spun from actual people, Raven from a mysterious high school classmate, Dex from my disabled half-brother, to whom I dedicate the novel. Though rooted in the real, their stories took on lives of their own. In certain ways, I wanted to right the wrongs they suffered through story.
What genre do you focus on?
Although it took me three decades to complete my first novel, I wrote continually over the years, submitting a historical novella as my master’s thesis in English. I especially like the challenge of flash fiction and enjoy writing short stories and creative nonfiction essays.
My stories rarely arise from plot ideas. Instead, they arise from characters and the choices they make. It’s people I love to write, and if I do that well, these characters will write the plot. They need to—I haven’t nearly the imagination I’d like. But I do have an endless fascination with the intricacies of the human heart. To encourage reflection, Turning Toward Eden includes discussion questions for parents, teachers, and book clubs.
Why do you write?
No matter the format, I write to discover—and share—the Story beyond the story. My writing motto stems from Colossians 1:17: for in Him all stories hold together. Sometimes I write to make sense of the world. Sometimes to make sense of others, of their worlds. Other times to make sense of myself.
What’s the best part of your author’s life?
The settling into hours without time or care, the immersing into a quiet that is a special kind of creative communion with the Lord. Writing is almost a sacred act—apart from the frequent temper tantrum, cries of despair, and wringing of hands. It’s my happy place, where I can leave myself behind and invite discovery and creativity, like a child before a sprawl of butcher paper and fingerpaints. The second-best part is engaging with readers, learning their stories, sharing mine, and encouraging them toward something deeper, that Story beyond the story.
What’s one thing your readers should know about you?
I live in a house made of glass. I mean that both metaphorically and literally. When we bought our 1950s house, we remodeled it, adding an upstairs with more windows than walls so that the sun would pour in by day and the moon by night. I live for light. When I write, I shine a light on it all—the truth of the human experience, the good, the bad, and the ugly. For without seeing ourselves as we truly are—that’s the bad and the ugly—we have no hope of seeing the Good.
What is your favorite pastime?
Playing Scrabble on the ScrabbleGO app with my younger daughter who lives in Austria, a 9-hour time difference. Though we can’t do daily life together, we can reach out across the globe with a Scrabble word, anticipate the return play, reply with another (and usually unknown) word, the letters a kind of bridge between us throughout the week. She started me on it about five years ago, saying, “I will not allow you to get Alzheimer’s.” She’s trying to keep my brain sharp, but it’s our hearts that are connected.
Do you have other books? We’d love to know.
Not yet. But I do have many short stories and essays available to subscribers on my website, including “The Gulch Run Gangster,” which tells the story of Anna and Jake as children.
What are you working on now?
The novel I’m shaping in my head (and on scraps of paper littering my desk) is another historical mystery, set in the 1960s. The novel I’m writing on my computer is an adult coming-of-age retrospective, with a precocious narrator (much like Eden), blending humor and self-acceptance. Then there’s the creative nonfiction piece in which I rail against the third-party intruder now present in every interaction with my mother: dementia. It may have the last earthly word, but the Story beyond the story promises an ending redeemed.
Website: https://catetouryan.com/
Link to book: https://a.co/d/046hDiBI
Social media links: https://www.facebook.com/CateTouryan
https://x.com/CateTouryan
https://www.instagram.com/catetouryan/
Julia’s Joy is out! Book 2 of the Love at a Lighthouse series
Julia’s Joy is book 2 of the Love at a Lighthouse series, and this book is set on Sister Island in the Thousand Islands. Check out the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rq7XLUohjrA
In Julia’s Joy, the emotional landscape is profoundly shaped by Julia Collins’s experiences of loss. As readers journey with her, they witness the deep scars left by her parents’ deaths and the subsequent passing of my grandmother. This backdrop of grief not only defines Julia’s character but also influences her decisions and relationships throughout the story.
Inflicting pain on beloved characters is always a delicate endeavor for writers. Julia’s sorrow is palpable; her parents’ untimely deaths left her with a void that’s hard to fill. This loss manifests in various ways—through her reluctance to connect with others and her initial determination to leave Sister Island after claiming my inheritance. Her journey is not just about physical relocation but a deeper emotional struggle to reconcile her past with her present.
Julia’s confusion following her grandmother’s death adds another layer to her character. She arrives on Sister Island intending to lay claim to my inheritance, but she quickly finds herself grappling with questions of identity and belonging. The island represents both a sanctuary and a reminder of her losses, creating a tension that is difficult for her to navigate.
William Dodge, the lighthouse keeper, becomes a pivotal figure in Julia’s healing process. His own past betrayal mirrors Julia’s struggles, allowing them to connect on a deeper level. As Julia begins to open up to him, the walls he has built around his heart start to crumble. This vulnerability is both a relief and a source of pain as it forces both of them to confront their unresolved grief.
The journey toward healing is rarely linear, and Julia’s path is fraught with setbacks. As she starts to embrace the peaceful, faith-filled environment of Sister Island, she is faced with moments of profound joy and deep sorrow. This duality reflects the complexity of grief—how moments of happiness can coexist with lingering pain. Julia’s internal conflict amplifies the emotional stakes of the narrative and keeps readers invested in my journey.
Ultimately, Julia’s pain and growth are central to the story’s emotional core. By exploring her struggles with loss, confusion, and the possibility of love, Julia’s Joy invites readers to reflect on their own experiences with grief and healing. It’s a poignant reminder that even in our darkest moments, the potential for hope and connection exists, often in the most unexpected places.
Buy links: Amazon | Barnes&Nobles | Wild Heart Books
About Julia’s Joy:
She came to claim her inheritance, but the mysterious scarred lighthouse keeper makes her question all her plans.
When Julia Collins reluctantly sets foot on Sister Island, compelled by her wealthy grandmother’s will, she is intent on claiming her inheritance and moving on. But when she experiences the peaceful, faith-filled island life, and connects with the handsome lightkeeper, William, Julia finds herself confronting her open wounds from her parents’ deaths.
William Dodge, lightkeeper of Sister Island, harbors a heart hardened by a past betrayal. Between that and his chronic pleurisy, he wants nothing to do with love. But when Julia arrives on the island bursting with vitality and unconventional notions, William’s world is turned upside down. As she chips away at the walls William has built for himself, he finds his reluctance waning.
But just as love begins to blossom between them, Julia is faced with a tempting proposal from a prominent Brockville family. Will she succumb to societal expectations or choose the richness of her island life and the love of the steadfast lightkeeper?
About Susan:
Susan G Mathis is an international award-winning, multi-published author of stories set in the beautiful Thousand Islands, her childhood stomping ground in upstate NY. Susan has been published more than thirty times in full-length novels, novellas, and non-fiction books. She has thirteen in her fiction line including, The Fabric of Hope: An Irish Family Legacy, Christmas Charity, Katelyn’s Choice, Devyn’s Dilemma, Sara’s Surprise, Reagan’s Reward, Colleen’s Confession, Peyton’s Promise, Rachel’s Reunion, Mary’s Moment, A Summer at Thousand Island House, Libby’s Lighthouse, and Julia’s Joy, the second in her three-book lighthouse series. Her book awards include three Illumination Book Awards, four American Fiction Awards, three Indie Excellence Book Awards, five Literary Titan Book Awards, two Golden Scroll Awards, and a Selah Award.
Susan is also a published author of two premarital books, two children’s picture books, stories in a dozen compilations, and hundreds of published articles. Susan makes her home in Northern Virginia and enjoys traveling around the world but returns each summer to enjoy the Thousand Islands.
The Irish Rose Girls Step Into Service
In the Irish Rose Orphans’ Christmas, the girls of the Irish Rose Asylum prepare to say goodbye and discover the truest meaning of service—not servitude, but strength born of love and faith.
In Brooklyn, 1876, the snow falls softly on the roof of the Irish Rose Orphan Asylum for Girls, where seven young women prepare for their final Christmas together. Soon, each will leave the only home they’ve ever known to enter service among the elite families of the Thousand Islands.
For these seven spirited young women—Annie, Taryn, Fiona, Vivian, Cassie, Isabel, and Gloria—the future glitters with promise and uncertainty. In the Gilded Age, service is often the only path open to orphaned girls, yet it is also a doorway to independence, adventure, and perhaps redemption.
Each assignment will test them in new ways. Annie and Taryn, twin sisters once inseparable, must confront their silent rift as they are sent to different households. Fiona, whose heart still aches from abandonment, wonders if she will ever belong anywhere. Vivian hides her fear behind a bright smile, determined to make the best of whatever comes. Cassie, the would-be teacher, strives to be the steady anchor for them all. Isabel and Gloria cling to one another as the reality of separation looms.
Stepping into service means more than scrubbing floors or polishing silver—it means entering a new social order where one’s worth is often measured by obedience and grace. The girls will serve the very people who dine under chandeliers and sail gilded yachts, glimpsing a life of luxury from the other side of the parlor door.
Before they part, Sister Rose gathers them for one final Advent reflection. She reminds them that service, when done with love, becomes a calling rather than a burden. Each girl receives a small tin locket adorned with the Irish Rose, a symbol of hope and belonging—a promise that no matter how far they travel, they are never truly alone.
This prequel to Irish Rose Orphans: A Thousand Islands Gilded Age Series is more than a tale of historical fiction—it’s a celebration of resilience, sisterhood, and the quiet heroism of those who serve. As these seven young women take their first steps into a world defined by class and elegance, readers will be drawn into their courage and grace.
My Rock Island Lighthouse story, Emma’s Engagement
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Have you read the third novel in my Love at a Lighthouse series? Here’s what it’s about:
Emma Row embarks on a journey that will test her resilience and love. She marries Michael Diepolder, the Rock Island Lightkeeper and widower, a man who seeks a companion for both himself and his eleven-year-old daughter, Ada. But as she steps into the role of lightkeeper’s wife with a heart full of hope, little does she know that the idyllic setting conceals challenges that will shake the foundation of her happiness. Isolation creeps in, compounded by Ada’s determination to keep her father all to herself. As a storm looms, Emma must grapple with the difficulties of being a stepmother and lightkeeper’s wife. Will she find her place, or will the tumultuous waves of doubt and isolation tear them apart?
For Michael, Emma is not just a wife but the hope for his future. But the lighthouse life and being a stepmother proves harder for Emma than he ever imagined, and Ada’s animosity only intensifies it. When the lighthouse inspector questions Emma’s place due to her Canadian heritage and Ada become deathly ill, the very foundation of their family is shaken. Can their family find solace and unity on this tiny island? Amid the swirling tempest of challenges, Emma, Michael, and Ada must discover the strength within themselves and each other to weather the storm. Emma’s Engagement is a poignant tale of love, resilience, and the enduring bonds that can form in the most unexpected places. This fictional story is based on the actual lives of Michael and Emma Diepolder.
Here’s an excerpt: The Night Sky
When they reached the parapet, Emma poured them each a glass of tea and handed them a cookie. The night sky unfolded before them, a vast canvas of twinkling stars. The cool breeze tousled their hair, and Ada’s eyes sparkled with excitement. She studied the sky and pointed. “Look, Emma. Over there is Orion, the mighty hunter. See those three bright stars in a row? They make up his belt. And if you follow the belt down, you’ll see his sword hanging from it.”
Emma’s eyes widened, captivated by Ada’s enthusiastic explanations. “That’s incredible, Ada. I’ve heard of Orion, but I never knew how to identify him in the sky. You truly are an expert.”
Ada beamed with pride. “Papa taught me all I know. He’s the brilliant one. But thank you. Orion is my favorite constellation. Cassiopeia is my second. See that group of stars over there? It looks like a big ‘M’ or ‘W’ depending on how it’s positioned.”
Emma stared at the sky for several moments and frowned. Michael helped her see it by coming behind her and pointed within her field of vision. Finally, she exclaimed, “I see it! I see it, Ada! Show me more.”
Ada grinned wide. “Your turn, Papa. I want to eat my cookie.”
Michael chuckled. “You can have mine, too. You need to put some meat on those bones, my girl.”
She rolled her eyes and took a bite, while Emma waited expectantly, her eyes trained on the stars. What a glorious night, having both of his girls with him on this clear, still summer’s eve!
He searched for the next constellation he could introduce her to. “Look there, just above the horizon. That is Ursa Major, the Great Bear.”
Emma nodded. “I only knew one until now. There…those seven stars are the Big Dipper.”
Ada clanged her glass on Emma’s, almost making her spill it. “Good for you. That’s a start. And now you know lots more. Won’t your friend be pleased?”
“She will indeed.”
The hour slipped away as they immersed themselves in the celestial spectacle above them. They marveled at the beauty of the stars, connecting the dots to form mythical creatures and heroes of ancient tales. Laughter and whispers filled the air, blending with the distant sound of crashing waves.
Suddenly, a streak of light shot across the sky, leaving a trail of shimmering stardust in its wake. The three of them gasped in unison, their eyes fixed on the falling star.
Emma cheered. “Quick, make a wish!”
Meet author Rachel Medefind
Rachel Medefind is Director of the Institute for Family-Centered Healing & Health at the Christian Alliance for Orphans. With a background in physical therapy and a Master’s in Psychology and Neuroscience of Mental Health from King’s College London, she specializes in early adversity and supports families facing complex parenting challenges. Rachel has served on boards supporting vulnerable children, helped found Tyndale Christian School in Arlington, Virginia, and is the author of When There Is Crisis. She and her husband, Jedd, have welcomed children through birth, adoption, and foster care.
Tell us about your newest book.
When There Is Crisis: A Handbook for Christian Foster & Adoptive Families Facing Serious Struggle was written for families walking through deep distress and for those trying to support them well. It offers practical guidance for immediate steps during a crisis, thoughtful help for families considering residential care, and encouragement toward everyday practices that support healing and long-term growth. My hope was to offer honest language, a path forward grounded in Christian wisdom, and reminders of what is most true even in very hard places.
What inspired you to write your story?
Over the years, my husband and I have had the privilege and heartache of walking closely with many foster and adoptive families. Again and again, I saw parents facing serious suffering with very little trustworthy guidance. Many were caught between emergency-level interventions and shallow advice that did not meet the depth of their need. I wanted to write something that was honest about the pain, practical about the decisions families face, and deeply rooted in the hope and wisdom of the Christian faith.
What genre do you focus on.
I write practical Christian nonfiction, especially about the small choices that contribute to flourishing over time within families and surrounded by church community. There is no shortage of information available to parents today, but practical wisdom grounded in age-old Christian practice, high-quality research, and common sense is often drowned out by the loud, frenetic flood of competing ideas.
Why do you write?
I write to help people think clearly and live faithfully in difficult circumstances. In particular, I want to serve families who feel overwhelmed, isolated, or unsure what to do next. Writing allows me to put words around hard realities, offer practical help, and remind people of what is most true: God is with them, and good can still come even through very painful seasons.
What is the hardest part of being an author?
One hard part is writing about suffering in a way that is truthful, careful, and genuinely helpful. When families are in crisis, the stakes are high. I feel a deep responsibility not to oversimplify, exaggerate, or speak beyond what is wise. I want my words to be both honest and useful, and that requires a great deal of thought, restraint, and care.
What’s the best part of your author’s life?
The best part is hearing that something I wrote helped someone in a practical way, giving them clearer footing in a hard season. Parenting is difficult for most of us and, at times, can be truly distressing or deeply painful. If, through my writing, a parent gains a clearer sense of what is most needed, feels freer to let go of lesser things, and is encouraged that many have walked a similar road before them, that is deeply meaningful to me.
What’s one thing your readers should know about you?
I care very much about offering guidance that is both compassionate and clear-eyed. I do not want to minimize suffering, but I also do not want to leave families without direction. I believe we need to hold together deep sympathy for human pain with confidence that growth, healing, and meaningful change are still possible.
How have you changed or grown as a writer?
I think I’ve grown in my willingness to bring forward ideas that are often not being talked about. Sometimes that is because a topic is being addressed too narrowly. At other times, it is because others take the easy way out and are not willing to speak honestly about the full scope of contributing factors when addressing problems. I have had to grow in courage and confidence as a thinker. For me, that courage comes from a deep desire to best support families by offering as plain and truthful a presentation as possible and then leaving them to think it through. I do this out of a deep confidence that God intends for healing and flourishing to grow and has made pathways by which this can be pursued. Though it is not easy, and never simplistic, it is indeed available. I think I have also become more comfortable presenting a vision for this.
Do you have other books? We’d love to know.
This is my first book-length resource, though I have written and developed a range of materials for foster and adoptive families, churches, and organizations seeking to support healing and health in children and families.
What are you working on now?
Right now, I’m continuing to develop resources that help families move from crisis toward greater stability, healing, and long-term flourishing. That includes a practical toolkit to accompany When There Is Crisis for parents and for those walking alongside them, to use together as a means of learning, encouragement, and growth. I’m also in the process of writing another anchor resource that lays out a vision for cultivating flourishing in the context of the home through small, daily practices.
Website:
https://cafo.org/family-institute/
Link to book:
https://cafo.org/family-institute/when-there-is-crisis/
Social media links:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-medefind