Reviews

John & Yvonne,
What a beautiful property you have. Eighteen of us renting the castles for the Mystery Murder/Birthday Party was amazing! We came from as far away as California, Virginia, N. Carolina, and New York. I plan on telling all my friends about this place!

Potsdam, NY

Dear John & Yvonne,

Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful home with our family. It's amazing what you guys created! This is a piece of heaven. We will definitely be back again. We loved the mugs! Thanks!

May God bless you and your castle,
Yipsy, Giosvanis, Rachel & Daniel

Lake Worth, FL

Jim's birthday celebration was not simply at a cabin in the woods but at a castle in the woods! Our friends Rita and Brian came along for the fun. It's a lovely place, and I loved the bear paintings. Yvonne & John were the best hosts. Even the dogs were welcoming. Great place and we would love to return someday!

Jim & Anne Ouimette

Westfield, MA

Dear John & Yvonne,

Thank you so much for having us in your home. Although it is a castle, it felt like home. Your story inspires us, and we hope to meet again.

Kind Regards,
Win Rodormer & Shannon Gillen

Skaneateles, NY

John & Yvonne,

Good morning! As we return to our daily lives, we will remember watching the beautiful sunrise this morning together. We will remember gazing into each other's eyes, how God brought us together, how beautiful the mountains are, and how crisp the air is here. We will remember your hospitality.

Thank you for allowing us to stay in your home. It was nice talking with you about the castle and your life. We wish you health and happiness as you continue building your home.

Respectfully,
Henry Manley & Beth-Leite Manley

East Falmouth, MA

Dear John & Yvonne,

Thank you so much for the spectacular stay and top-notch hospitality. Your property is breathtaking and absolutely a fairytale! Thank you for the tours and for making us feel so welcome! We felt like real princesses this week! We'll be back next year!

Emily Garey and Heather Moynihan

Hamburg, NY

Dear John & Yvonne,
Your place is extravagant and we had such a wonderful time! Dave and I loved the castle and the view of Lake George. We also loved the town of Bolton. Folks were so nice and we met a lot of friendly people during our two-day stay. Great meeting both of you and would love to come back in the summer months!

Lisa & David Roy

Dear John & Yvonne,

Thank you for helping us make all our dreams come true!! We truly felt like a King & Queen in your beautiful castle! The views are spectacular and will be a great memory until we visit again! Thank you for your hospitality. You are both amazing hosts!

Michael & Elizabeth Sebold

Benardsville, NJ

John & Yvonne,

When we got here, I knew this was going to be an amazing getaway! You guys are perfect hosts and your kindness will never be forgotten.
Best regards.
Leticia

Thank you for allowing my family and I to stay here. And thank you for letting us meet Bella & Major. They are the best dogs on earth!
Take care,
Evangelina

John - I am very amazed by your design for this castle and without a doubt it is so beautiful.
Regards,
John

The Monteiro Family

Bryan, Leticia, Evangelina, Valentina, and Marcus

Dear John & Yvonne,

Thank you so much for making our 40th Anniversary so special, and for allowing us to be a small part of your story. What you have created here is truly magical. Your attention to detail is masterful and everything is truly stunning and done with love.

They say "If you dream and are willing to put forth the effort - The Universe will reward you beyond measure!" This is proof "They" are right! You truly live a blessed life!

Can't wait to come back to see what else the Universe has in store for you.

With love,
Andrea & Doug

P.S. We loved your official greeters Major & Bella

Andrea & Doug Young from Phillipsburg, NJ

Thank you for making Shawn and Dawson's birthday so magical! We love everything here and we will cherish our time together with you & Yvonne for the rest of our lives until we meet again.
Love,
Beth, Shawn, Dawson & Pat Murphy

New Hampshire

John & Yvonne,

Thank you for sharing your amazing castle with us. Everywhere you turn, there's another clever, cool, and interesting detail. We had a wonderful weekend and hope to visit again!
Lauren, David & Larry Lezak

Montclair, NJ

Our stay at Highlands Castle was truly beyond anything we could have imagined, and it was made all the more special by the incredible hospitality of John and Yvonne (as well as Major and Bella!)

The views of Lake George from the castle were nothing short of breathtaking. My fiancé chose the perfect surprise stay for us and John was an integral member of the surprise. We approached the castle and immediately was surrounded by the beauty of the lake and the castle’s enchanting architecture—it truly felt like we were living in a fairytale.

We often found ourselves watching the sunrise and sunset paint the sky with all its beautiful colors. It was the kind of peaceful, awe-inspiring beauty that makes you just want to sit and soak it all in.

The castle itself is also just as stunning inside as it is outside. My fiancé and I spent hours just taking it all in, feeling like royalty as we enjoyed the beautiful scenery around us.

John and Yvonne, we can’t thank you enough for making our stay so memorable. From the delicious honey iced tea Yvonne made, the custom mugs, to the thoughtful gesture of bringing us plates and utensils when you saw us having dinner on the balcony, every moment felt special because of you.

We can’t wait to come back one day, hopefully with our future children, so they can experience the magic of Highlands Castle and the wonderful memories we created here. Thank you for making an unforgettable weekend even more special with your involvement and care. We are honored and blessed to have met you both. ❤️

Morsal Abawi

Thank you John & Yvonne!

We had a wonderful stay at your home (The Castle Gatehouse) and fell in love with Lake George!
We will definitely be back!

Igor & Mila Finkelshtein,

Rachelle, Irina & Masha from Swormville, NY

John & Yvonne,

You are genuinely warm people and that comes through in the beauty of your home. Jordan & I are deeply grateful for you opening your home and all its little details and stories to us. Your home and kindness provided a dream-like scene for our engagement. It was truly a magical experience that we will never forget.

Thank you,

Dustin Teander & Jordan

John & Yvonne,

Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful property and all your hospitality! We thoroughly enjoyed our girl's weekend away. You are both lovely & gracious hosts and we love Bella & Major's visits too! Thank you for helping us create some great memories!

Sarah Higdon & friends

Ashley, Kaitlyn, Lindsay, Nikki, Lindsey & Maddox

John & Yvonne,

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit! What a masterpiece! Exquisitely crafted yet very warm and welcoming at the same time. You were so accommodating and made us feel so comfortable. You're a lovely couple. This place is truly a treasure and we look forward to visiting again!

Lawrence & Kelly Rhew

Galveston, TX

Yvonne & John,

Thank you so much for your hospitality. Our stayover was totally unexpected (a surprise to my husband Larry) but much appreciated, and we felt like we were staying at a friend's house. Your estate is magnificent! The best part of the stay was our two evenings together. We can't wait to see you again soon.

Thanks again,
Sharon & Larry Goldberg

St. Louis, MO

John & Yvonne,
What a great weekend with you both! The castle has changed since the last time I was there 15 years ago. Looks better & better. We really enjoyed our stay - the view, the castle, but mostly your friendship and visits on the patio. Theresa & I will, without a doubt, stay here again!
Your friends from Wisconsin,

Jeff & Theresa Breunig

John,

I wanted to thank you for sharing your beautiful home with us. Absolutely breathtaking for sure!
I read your website and looked at all the construction pictures of the castle, just amazing ❤️!
Again, thank you for the beautiful tour. My Dad really enjoyed it and that’s what I was looking for on his 70th birthday!!!

Best Regards,
Missy, Tammi-Jo, Craig & Kathleen Vail

The Vail Family

Greetings John,

We just wanted to share our gratitude once again regarding today's tour. Your home is very beautiful and we were so glad that we visited. Wishing you the best and hope to see you again someday.

Regards,

Chris Shields & Andrea

What a magical place! We stumbled upon this beautiful castle in Lake George and it was truly magical! From the spectacular views from the highest spot to the stunning architecture, every detail inside and out was breathtaking. What made this visit unforgettable was the personalized guided tour by the owner who built the castle. Hearing the story behind each piece that now forms part of the castle was priceless. John, the owner, shared his passion and it felt like he was building the castle anew right in front of us. Thank you, John, for your time, the amazing pictures you took, and your kind soul! Whether you are in the area or not, it is worth the visit.

Teresalina Liz & Jared

Thank you, John and Yvonne, for a lovely stay at the Gatehouse and the perfect way to celebrate a 60th birthday. The castle is beautiful, the view is breathtaking, and listening to John speak about the history was mesmerizing. We hope to see you again!
Cheers,
Lori & Carmine
Michele and Rob
Cyndy and Robert

Lori & Carmine Fazzolari

This was a very beautiful and unique property! Highlands Castle has an incredible view of Lake George and the surrounding mountains. It was very private and the Castle Gatehouse, where we stayed, was nice. John was very responsive and very friendly during our stay. I would strongly recommend this castle for a unique stay in Bolton Landing!

Tony & Sphoorthi Chiaravotti

John,
My fiance, Anushka, and I got engaged! She was thrilled with the weekend and even told me, "Wow, this is really the perfect place for a proposal", much to my chagrin. The Castle Gatehouse is very unique and made for a memorable stay for both our families. Enjoy the rest of your summer. We can definitely see ourselves returning in the future! Sashank.

Sashank Parigi & Anushka

John & Yvonne,
Turning 50 is definitely a milestone, and being here with my husband was truly a dream come true. There is something so calming and refreshing about being surrounded by nature and water. I will be forever grateful for staying here. Thank you for welcoming us into your home. This stay will forever change my life.
With Love,

Kristine & Karl Kazmierczak from Florida

John & Yvonne,

Thank you so much for this fairytale experience. The attention to every little detail in this castle is astounding. Your passion and creativity are evidenced in every nook & cranny.

The time we spent reminiscing and reconnecting will be a memory Mary and I will cherish for a lifetime! Thank you for your kindness, generous hospitality, and willingness to share this magical place with others!

Sincerely,

Mary MacIntosh & Jess Pickowicz

John & Yvonne,
Thank you for a wonderful getaway to celebrate our 13th anniversary and our 39th birthday. The decor, the view, the quiet... it was everything we were looking for!
Thanks again,

Matt & Melanie Schwartz

Thank you for opening up your beautiful home to us and for allowing us to feel like royalty this weekend. Highlands Castle is absolutely beautiful, from the breathtaking views of Lake George to the actual castle itself. We had a wonderful time here. Thank you again for your kindness and hospitality. We've made lifelong memories during this trip.
From Sweta, Samali, Samir, Sonal, and Sanaya

The Shaw Family

Alexzander & I love real architecture, traveling the world, and scenic views. We often tour castles, most are museums open to all visitors.

John greeted us upon our arrival and I was in awe that this was his home. He started to explain the heartwarming history of the castle as we walked to the scenic balcony and John mentioned a photographer was visiting that day to take pictures of the property that he needed to speak with briefly (and walked away). I paid it no mind and continued to soak in the view of the lake! Aexz went down on one knee and popped the question! What a surprise, a beautiful ring, view, and fiancé!

Not only was their beauty in the moment, the stone of the castle and the view - but the beauty of John & Yvonne made our special weekend an experience to remember, deeply engraved in our hearts.

John & Yvonne, you both are unforgettable people that Alexzander & I will remember forever. Thank you for treating us like family. We will be back, hopefully, one day with our future little ones!

Love,
Morsal & Alexzander
PS: Kiss Major & Bella for us!

Morsal & Alexzander Thompson

I told my Mom I knew this would be the highlight of our trip, and it most certainly was! The house is almost as beautiful & wonderful as its owners. We are so grateful for the kind hospitality. We love you all (pups included)!

Caitlin & Mom (Lori) from New Mexico

Caitlin & Lori Allen

This has truly been an incredible getaway.

Adam's 40th birthday will be unforgettable. Your castle is amazing and the love story behind why you created it. We love the detail and thought put into each room.

Thank you for sharing your amazing home with us. It was a pleasure to meet you both and the pups. We would love to come back again!

Adam, Samantha, and Alden
Jericho, VT

Adam & Samantha Ovitt-Boyer

John & Yvonne,
We can't thank you enough for sharing your beautiful home with us, Sam, Adam, and Alden. Your vision and imagination are inspiring and truly made this weekend magical. The hospitality you, Yvonne (Bella & Major) have shown us is second to none.
Thank you for a special weekend,
Joe & Brandy
North Hero, VT

Joe & Brandy Latimer

John & Yvonne,
Thank you for a wonderful stay at eh Castle Gatehouse. This beautiful home, lovingly built and adorned with magical treasures, enchants the heart and soul of those so lucky to stay here. This was an idyllic setting to give my mother the opportunity to escape from the worry of her failing memory and aging body to indulge in the wonder and beauty of the castles and the special solitude of this spectacular setting.
With Joy and Gratitude,
Wendy
San Diego, CA

Wendy Roy

John & Yvonne (also Bella & Major!),
You are all such gracious hosts. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay with you. Your castle is amazing a obviously a true labor of love. It was a wonderful experience staying here. The Solar eclipse 4/8/24 was spectacular and we could not have chosen a better place to celebrate this celestial phenomenon! (We'll miss Bella!)
Joe & Laura,
New Ciry, NY

Joe & Laura Alfassa

John & Yvonne,

We cannot express enough gratitude for your caring & generosity throughout these past couple of days.

The Highlands Castle will forever have the most wonderful memory in our hearts celebrating my 30th birthday!

Your castle has been an absolute dream come true, with the most beautiful backdrops inside and out, to every little detail in the house! It's way cooler than Disney!

How incredible is it to actually stay at the castle with our families and then get to keep a memory mug! We wish you many years to come hosting and we look forward to staying again for an anniversary!

Always,
Jacob & Sarah
Utica, NY

Jacob & Sarah Hadity-Stouffer