Do you ever wish you could live in a Magical world? What if I told you it was possible?
The Highlands Castle, located in Bolton Landing, New York, provides quite possibly the most surreal and magical getaway one can experience.
What is the Highlands Castle?
The Highlands Castle was built from scratch by the owner’s John and Yvonne. The inspiration behind this massive project began when John promised his then three-year-old son that he would one day build him an amazing home. Fast forward 40 years later, and John and Yvonne stuck to their promise; The once empty piece of land had now transformed into a magical fairytale-like castle!
For many years, this castle had been kept a total secret (as it was the private residence for the family). In 2010 however, John and Yvonne decided it was time to share their masterpiece and let the rest of the world enjoy it. The castle is now open for anyone to stay.
Wondering if you should stay? Let me help convince you.
Arriving at the Highlands Castle
Let me caveat this article by saying that I am biased towards the magical beauty of this castle. The property has a special place in my and my fiancé’s heart as it was the location and setting for her surprise Disney-themed proposal (see below for video). That being said, I honestly could not imagine a more surreal and incredible place to celebrate such a big moment.
If you plan to stay at the castle, the experience starts with a windy road up the mountain, and you will almost certainly feel like you have the wrong address. After much anticipation and buildup, you come across two royal-like gate doors which assure you that you are on the right track. Still, however, at this point, you are unable to see the castle. As you pass the gates and work your way up the gravel road, the incredible castle finally appears in front of you. You will be stunned, I promise. The castle sits at the top of the mountain like the home of a grand king, and behind it, you will also notice a surreal scenic backdrop of clouds and mountains. At this point, you will realize just how magical of a stay this is going to be.
First Impression
The experience only gets better as you get out of your car. You hear nothing but peaceful birds and see nothing but beauty around you. It honestly feels like you have found heaven on earth. After taking probably a thousand pictures, you will enter the property ( experience varies depending on where you are staying). As soon as you open the old but majestic squeaky castle door, you realize that this castle is no joke. This is not some gimmick-looking castle, but rather the full-on experience. Stone walls, wooden knights, Romeo and Juliet doors, copper tubs, lion-head faucets, secret passageways, and the most stunning living room one will ever see. Honestly, no words can describe the attention to detail in this place. I had seen endless pictures of the property before visiting for my proposal, and I was still taken aback by just how amazing of a place this was.
Once you are situated, settled, and realize you are not dreaming, the experience is all that you make it. The castle is simply a lodging place, so you are free to use it how you like. My recommendation is you do not leave! Bring your food/wine/drinks up to the castle, and do what you have to experience everything you can on the property. No bar, restaurant, or experience in the area can match the vibe that this property provides.
The Castle's Lodging Options
There are four lodging options available on the property, however, only two of them are part of the main castle.
1) The Royal Bedroom (2 people) is my recommendation for couples or party sizes of 2. This is by far the best booking option in the castle. With it, you will receive access to the upper terrace (which has the best views of Lake George), as well as the entire Grand Hall. If you want to feel like royalty, the Royal Bedroom is your best bet.
2) The Kings Suite (2-4 people) is on the lower level of the castle. The suite is good for couples but also has extra bedding space for additional people. There is also has a lower-level terrace as well as a covered sunroom.
The King’s suite is incredible, and you can’t go wrong with either option, but the Royal Bedroom still gets my vote.
The other two lodging options are in the vicinity of the castle, but not part of the main building. These properties are better suited for larger groups as they can accommodate more people and have more amenities such as a kitchen.
3) The Castle Cottage (6 People) is located on the side of the castle, and still offers the same scenic views of the lake and mountains. The Cottage is more modern looking, so if you want the authentic feel of living in a castle, I’d go with one of the first two options.
4) The Castle Gatehouse (7 People) is on a different plot of land entirely (a short two-minute drive away from the castle). It does not offer the same view or ambiance as the main area, but the inside of the property is still beautiful. This option is better suited if you have an event or large family gathering at the castle and need extra rooms.
Hosting Events
You may be looking at this property and wondering, can you have events here? The answer is yes! I hosted an engagement dinner on the terrace as well as a friend’s celebration. Several people (including John and Yvonne) have hosted their weddings here as well! Generally, large weddings or events will not work on this property, but if you have a smaller-sized party, you can certainly use the castle to celebrate any important event. For those not staying on the property, but who you plan to invite, there is a per-person fee to enter. For more information, I recommend contacting John through the Highlands Castle website.
The Owners
I wanted to put a special section in this post just to point out how special John and Yvonne are. The two of them will go above and beyond in any way in which they can to make sure your experience is an amazing one for you. Both of them do stay on the property, and you will run into them (especially if you book the Royal Bedroom) several times during your stay. That being said, they respect your privacy and have their own section of the castle that does not interfere with your stay. In the end, part of what made our experience so memorable was simply getting the chance to meet both of them. We will never forget the pure and genuine kindness of John and Yvonne (thank you both!)
Is the Highlands Castel Worth It?
If you have read any of my other posts, you know I am not a big advocate of spending money on lodging. Generally, I encourage travelers to spend as little money as they can on lodging and spend as much as they can exploring the surrounding area. That being said, certain, out-of-this-world lodging experiences can be worth it. The Highlands Caste? 100% worth every penny. Of all the places I have traveled to, I am not sure I have ever found a place as magical as this property.
If you plan to stay here, I encourage you to prioritize enjoying this property over every other itinerary item. There are many lakes, bars, and fun towns in this world, but staying at a property like this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Anmol and I brought dinners, drinks, and everything else we planned to do up to the castle. In fact, during our three-night stay, we never actually visited Lake George! We spent three full days just enjoying every intricate detail of this masterpiece, and don’t regret a minute of it.
The Highlands Castle experience was quite possibly the most magical weekend of our life.
Check out our proposal video below!
