Boldt Castle – A 1900 Unfinished Castle

In 1900, an American hotelier named George Boldt was determined to build a fairytale castle for his beloved wife Louise.

Over 300 of the finest stone masons and craftsmen were hired, and worked on the castle ten-hours each day (for only $1.50)

But in 1904, he suddenly ordered his workers to drop their tools — because Louise had unexpectedly died at age 31.

Heartbroken, Boldt never returned to the palace to complete the construction and it was left to rot for nearly seven decades.

While the castle was eventually renovated for visitors, no one has ever lived in it and it remains unoccupied to this day.

As long as he lived, George Boldt never again stepped foot on Heart Island.

He passed alone in 1916 in his room at the Waldorf Astoria where he managed in 1893.