Reviews

John is an incredible, down-to-earth person who has a true passion and lifetime commitment to making his dreams come true.

The property is immaculate, and no detail was without proper thought or purpose. It was absolutely stunning.
It truly was like stepping into another time, where passion, taste, and elegance shone, and where passion met creativity.
We booked the walking tour, and it’s an absolute must when staying in the Lake George area - especially for couples.

His wife, Yvonne, was lovely as well, and I couldn’t have been happier with the experience.
We will definitely be returning to stay a night or two in this special little corner of paradise.
Thank you, John and Yvonne, for a wonderful experience.

Robert Brett

Piermont, NY

John - I wanted to thank you again for yesterday's Site Visit.
This was Eric's second Father's Day without his dad after losing him unexpectedly in October of 2024.
So last year and this year, I've tried to plan something a little extra special for him to make the day memorable.
Your time and kindness are so appreciated... it truly turned out to be the perfect kind of day.

Thank you and we hope to see you again, 🤍
Stefanie, Eric, Tanner, and Grason Ackernecht

Canajoharie, NY

John & Yvonne,

Thanks so much for a wonderful 10 Year Anniversary stay in your wonderful home. We’re not far away and look forward to coming back.

Happy Father’s Day,
Roy & Amy Hadden

Waitsfield, Vermont

John & Yvonne,

Thank you for sharing your home and castle with Jevon & me.
It was a weekend full of adventure and amazing memories.
Don’t change anything.

Until next time, be well,
Jodi Sellie & Jevon Garrett

Schenectady, NY; Troy, NY

John & Yvonne,

What an absolute pleasure it was to stay at your beautiful castle!
This place will remain special in our hearts forever.

We got engaged with the most amazing view and ended our perfect night watching the stars, meeting Major, and seeing the New York Knicks win the NBA finals!!!
Talk about a perfect weekend!

Thank you again for everything you did to help make it happen.

XOXO. We’ll see you again…
Kevin Bodell & Sandra

Brooklyn, New York

My husband and I stayed here to enjoy & renew our 20th Wedding Anniversary! The owners were delightful & down to earth.
They showed us the entire property & it was beautiful (just like the view of Lake George, the beautiful mountains, and tiny islands).
Our preacher went along with us during the tour; he stayed on the top terrace & enjoyed the weather & scenery.
When we went back to get him for dinner, he hadn’t moved. He told us that he could spend the rest of his life there!

I’m glad that I chose this wonderful place for such a wonderful occasion!

John & Yvonne,
Thanks for all the phone conversations and for helping us plan this significant 20th Anniversary vow renewal.
Your hospitality is second to none!

All the Best,
Travis & Henrietta Locklear

Lumberton, North Carolina

Dear John & Yvonne,

Thank you so much for making our Golden Wedding Anniversary special by sharing your beautiful home with us!
Staying in the Castle Cottage was a dream come true and exceeded our expectations.
Lake George is a beautiful area and offered us a variety of experiences from rail biking to sailing on the Mohican and visiting Ticonderoga. We enjoyed our visit with you at the main castle and, of course, loved meeting Major.
The Castle Cottage has felt so much like home over the past few days, thanks to your hospitality.
Warm wishes to you and Major. We will miss all of you.

Eric and Jeri Van Leer

New Hartford, CT

Dear John and Yvonne,

Wow, wow, wow! This actual castle is more magnificent in person than in any of the pictures we saw before we arrived.
The views of Lake George from virtually every corner are incredible and difficult to walk away from, almost as much as the amazing details throughout the castle.
We could have spent our entire time examining each “museum” piece and absorbing the obvious meaning behind them all.
We hardly saw John and Yvonne, and then only when they made sure we had everything we needed.
They are wonderful, welcoming, and genuine people.
They made us feel like the castle was ours, and certainly like royalty.
Our Lake George experience could not have been more special, thanks to staying at Highlands Castle.

The Tepedino’s
Michael, Yiselle, Christopher, and Alexander

New York

A castle created.
A promise kept.
A labour of love.
A destiny designed.
A legacy born.
Now moments are shared
Memories are made
Families and friends gather
And cherish the castle.
A place for celebrations, for relaxation, for reflection…
The castle is a fortress; she holds all of the love, all of the laughter, and all of the dreams of those who have stayed within her walls.
The castle is blessed, and so are the caretakers, for they have shared their home generously with all who have sojourned to the Highlands.

Many Blessings,
Heather & Adam Katz

Fall River, Massachusetts

We really had a wonderful time here at the Castle.
I am so thankful to you and God for making this possible.
May God bless you and your family with lots of good health & happiness forever.
We will highly recommend this magical place to our friends so they can have a wonderful time here, as we did.
This place is truly a blessing.
See you soon 😊.

With lots of love,
Satish & Harvinder

Floral Park, New York

John & Yvonne,

Thank you for your gracious hospitality. The beauty & wonder of your castle is only matched by the beauty & wonder of who you are.

Thanks again,
Jackie & Tony Cortese
40th Anniversary

Albany, New York

John & Yvonne,
I know we said this a million times while we were here, but I’m going to say it again – You have the best view ever! We’ve got pictures of beautiful places in NC, Florida, the Bahamas, mountains in VA, West VA, and TN, but you have the most beautiful views of them all! And the castle is just so amazing! The architecture, design, and décor are all just so beautiful. We are still in shock that we were able to spend our 15th wedding anniversary in such a dream location. The most special part of our trip was getting to know the two of you. To learn what wonderful, kind, generous people you are made this one of our best trips ever! We so enjoyed our conversations and learning how you built the castle, as well as your wonderful life together. You’ve put so much love, hard work, and time into making this castle feel like a place of peace and love, and you have definitely succeeded! Thank you for making our trip so special!
God bless you both.

Ricky & Wendy Prillaman
15th Anniversary

Bassett, Virginia

Thank you for having us. You’ve built a homey castle.
It is definitely a unique experience staying in a castle!
We’re only sorry the stay was so short.
Thank you for opening your home.

Sincerely,
Min & Jordan Griffin

Malden, MA

John & Yvonne,

What a magical weekend and a 10-year anniversary we will never forget!
It truly amazes us what you have built and your story.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for sharing your home with us.
I am grateful that our pathways have crossed, and I am in awe of you both.
We wish you all the love and blessings to come, and we would love to hear more about them next time.
Thank you again for letting us live the dream for the weekend!

With Love,
Cady & Derek

Burlington Flats, New York

John & Yvonne,

We thank you kindly for your warmth and gracious hospitality. Within these castle walls, we marked ten years of marriage, and the night felt touched by magic. Your welcome was heartfelt, and your home is a place where memories are easily made. We are forever grateful for sharing this beautiful castle and for your kindness to us on such a special day.

Autumn & Christian

Glenville, NY

Dear John & Yvonne,

Thank you so much for our magical weekend.
It was a pleasure spending our 24th wedding anniversary here with you.
You have a beautiful home with an amazing story.
It was great to spend time in a home built on love.
We look forward to seeing you again.

Love,
Trish & Dan Spenziero

Spotswood, NJ

Dear John & Yvonne,

Thank you for this weekend and for helping with our proposal surprise – couldn’t have done it without your help!
My fiancé will never forget her winter night proposal weekend in a castle. Thanks again for everything, it truly means a lot to me & Dakota.

Best wishes from,
Ryan J. Jordan & Dakota


John & Yvonne (and Major!),

Thank you for a wonderful and magical stay! Your castle is a majestic and cozy place where I was lucky enough to witness my best friends get engaged! Thank you for welcoming us in and telling me the beautiful story of how Highlands Castle came to be!
Major was a wonderful surprise and another great host!

Christina
Oswego, NY

Fulton, NY

John & Yvonne,

Thank you for sharing your amazing home with us this weekend.
This was a special birthday celebration for Gary, one that neither of us will ever forget.
Additionally, the time you took to visit with us helped to make us feel so welcome!
We are both looking forward to visiting again.

Best wishes,
Susan & Gary Merkel

Rochester, NY

We loved our visit here, and John & Yvonne were wonderful! The space was clean, quiet, and truly magical.
The views were second to none, and the castle and other buildings are truly worth experiencing.
We loved learning about the history of this place, and we will certainly be back.

Matthew Brownstein & Faith

Moriah, New York

John & Yvonne,

We cannot thank you enough for sharing your beautiful home & stories with us!
Thank you for providing us with a truly unique & peaceful experience at your castle.
Every detail is impeccable and thoughtful.
We will be back!

Jessica & Mike Ciardulli

Bloomfield, New Jersy

To our most gracious hosts,

Thank you so much for opening your home to us.
It is one of the most magical places I’ve had the joy of experiencing.
And thanks for making our anniversary truly amazing!
Have a great holiday season, and may God bless you always.
We will surely be back!

Vikki & Rei Santana

North Bellmore. NY

John & Yvonne,

This place, your home, is a dream. To stay here for my bachelorette has been nothing short of magical.
This beautiful castle, the breathtaking views, the crisp air, the kind people, and the hand of God in the story of this place.
I feel so blessed to have had such great friends to plan this for me and to experience this weekend here, surrounded by love and laughter.
It feels as if this place was woven out of my dreams, and I hope to return one day with my future husband.
Thank you so, so much for your incredible hospitality. I will carry the memories of this weekend and your story with me always.

Fallon Prinzivalli

Yonkers, NY

John & Yvonne,

Words can’t express the beauty and magic of this place.
Celebrating my 70th birthday will be the most memorable one yet!
My husband and I can’t thank you enough for your wonderful hospitality!
Peaceful, magical, wonderful experience!
It was truly a joy and a blessing to meet you.

Thank you again,
Mary & Guy Findon

Wind Gap, PA

We keep having to pinch ourselves because our experience & joy staying here has been magical.

My husband John & I were here to celebrate our 49th Wedding Anniversary, and our friends Mary & Guy were with us to celebrate Mary’s birthday. An Anniversary & Birthday Celebration, and a weekend to remember forever!

We are now 70 years old, and we'll be “Queens” forever, with photos to prove it!

Thank you, John & Yvonne, for giving us this Royal experience.
We will never forget John’s History Lesson of the Highlands.

Wishing you Joy & Happiness Forever,
-Kathy & John Fiorot.

Wind Gap, PA

John & Yvonne,

Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful home with us! We believe the Lord brought us here for a reason.
We will always remember the most perfect spot for us to get engaged. We will be making our way back again!

- The future Mr. & Mrs. McKeown

“The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives”. Psalms 37:23

Derrick McKeown & Briana Wozniak

Buffalo, NY

John & Yvonne (& Major!),

Thank you for helping make my 30th birthday so exceptionally special.
It was such a gift to stay at your amazing castle.

This place is truly magical, and driving through the gates is like entering another realm.
The views are to die for, and the love & care put into this dream are palpable.

We really loved getting a tour & learning the tale of the Castle!
Thank you again for letting us play D&D in the Great Hall.
That was unforgettable.

I’d like to be back here as soon as possible.
May our paths converge sooner rather than later!

Fin & Matt, Natalie & Tom, David
Burlington, VT

Chatham, MA

We are so lucky to have stayed in this beautiful castle for our honeymoon.
It will be in our memories forever. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Love,
Natalie & Ryan Edwards

Brooklyn NY

Dear John & Yvonne,

Well, you’ve done it again!
Thank you for opening your beautiful castle to us for our 1st Anniversary.
We felt so welcome & comfortable in your home. Your hospitality is above & beyond!
Thank you for suggesting local activities and restaurants and for making sure we had everything we needed.
The views and the weather could not have been better.
We’ll cherish our time here until we meet again!

Thank you!
Elizabeth & Michael Sebold

Bernardsville, NY

To John and Yvonne,

Although we may not be here physically, our hearts will always be with you and Highlands Castle. Through his grace, he's brought us together to share our stories and express his gift of life to those around us. As Lexus and I turn the page and start our new chapter, we will always remember your gift that you shared with us, that is Highlands Castle.

With love,
Benjamin Williams and Lexus

Brookfield, Wisconsin

There are so many positive things to say about the castle, the entire property, the views, and the neighborhood, but our favorite thing about our stay was meeting our hosts, John & Yvonne.

Tired of the city chaos, we traded skyscrapers for mountain views and sirens for birdsongs and escaped to Highlands Castle in Bolton Landing for Labor Day Weekend.

By the weekend's end, hearts were full, spirits restored, and memories sealed.

We are eternally grateful for the hospitality of John & Yvonne. Thank you! We can’t wait to come back!

Love,
Bianca Gararino & Michael

New York, NY

John & Yvonne,

Grateful... Forever, I will be grateful for the memories I made here with my daughter.
To watch her light up and share in her excitement – these are what parents live for.

Peaceful... A much-needed restful night in a dream.

Inspiring... I love that this place is an inspiration that grew out of a promise.

Thank you so much for opening your home to us and others and sharing in your vision and the most beautiful view of Lake George!

With appreciation,
Mendy Mattingly

San Diego, CA

Dear John and Yvonne,

This road trip has been filled with such adventure, history, and beautiful scenery, but nothing beats the beautiful home you have here.

All my life, castles have been something you experience through a fairytale, or, if one is lucky, the informative tours of European castles fallen into disrepair and ruin. But you have brought a fairytale to life and made dreams come true with the gift of a night in your suite.

I always love it when people appreciate my work, but never have I thought I could be so good as to inspire people such as yourselves. I deeply appreciate the opportunity of a lifetime, and plan to paint this dream as soon as I am settled into college and able. Thank you so much for opening your home to the world, and thank you for opening your door to me, a young artist.

I am utterly in love with this place,
Maddie Kae Beal

San Diego, California

It was a pleasure meeting John and Yvonne, and I will cherish the conversations we shared during our stay.

Through extraordinarily different lives, we’ve somehow ended up here. This landmark is a symbol of unification through beauty. In a world that has become so plain and repetitive, we have a place to digress and truly absorb our surroundings. I am grateful, and my family has created generational memories here.

Thank you,
Drew Moyer

The Moyer Family - Drew, Brittany, Nola, Avery, David & Rosa

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

I dreamed of being in a place like this, a castle with special details, incredible energy, and where dreams come true. Your castle deeply touched my heart.

We’ll be back,
Tatiana & Randolph Peters
Observe – Learn - Grow – Love

Miami, Florida

Dear John & Yvonne,

Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful home with us here in Lake George. We all have had a wonderful experience with the incredible view of the mountains. You truly created a fantastic place here, and we all felt so calm and serene thanks to you!

We all hope to see you soon!

Sincerely,
The Lorenzo Family & Friends
Tom, Holly, Thomas, Anthony, Malea, and Liz

Matawan, New Jersey

Dear John & Yvonne,

Thank you for letting us stay in your beautiful castle.
Our kids felt like Kings & Queens, so thank you again!
We had a relaxing & peaceful time, and it was just what we needed.
We will be back!

The Blundell family
Cristen, Jamie, London & Chase
XO