Reviews

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 & 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,
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,

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

John & Yvonne,
You have been amazing hosts and we appreciate all of your help in creating the fairytale dream. The castle and the decor are magical and I cannot imagine a more beautiful setting. Every single nook and cranny has been exquisitely decorated to transport you across the pond to a Scottish castle, and having visited many, I can tell you - your home is magnificent and truly reminiscent of my ancestor's homeland. You also went above and beyond, thank you for that. Everyone was truly impressed with what you have done here! Thank you for allowing me to play your mother's piano and for letting Paul borrow a dress shirt!. I hope that someday we are able to return to your elegant and stately castle for another visit, but until then, I will just say "Tapadh leat" 'Lang may yer lum reek'.
Sincerely,
Ellie & Paul, Sarah & Jacob,

Ellie Hadity, Paul Snyder, Barb & Ron Stouffer

Dear John & Yvonne,
What a dream come true, snowed in at a castle! You couldn't ask for a more fairytale weekend! Thank you for the opportunity to gift the love of my life such a wonderful dream stay at your castle and home. We will certainly remember this weekend and plan on returning to make more wonderful memories. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Yours,
Jim & Lisa
Oriskany Falls, NY

Jim Galler & Lisa Angle

"WHAT A SURPRISE, THIS WAS THE BEST BIRTHDAY PRESENT!"

Thank you for helping me make a special birthday full of awesome moments for my princess.

We loved everything about our visit.

Thank you for all you did for us and all the others who have passed through these doors and stayed in your care.

Brian & Shannon Schroyer
Concord, NH

(Brian is an ART TEACHER at St. Paul's College)

Brian & Shannon Schroyer

Dear John & Yvonne,
Thank you for a wonderful & magical honeymoon getaway! As we approached your castle, I could hardly contain my joy at the sight of your outstanding home! My husband Michael knows my love of fairytales and architecture and surprised me with a stay here at Highlands Castle to celebrate our wedding day (March 16th, 2024)! My heart cannot begin to express just how grateful Micheal & I are for the opportunity to stay in your home! Bless you both,
Michael & Sophia

Michael & Sophia Leone

John & Yvonne,
I had a deep calling to visit this magical and mystical castle you created. We will cherish these past four days forever. We dread going back to New York City but will come back soon to experience the 'Royal Bedroom' and the 'Castle Cottage' after that! It's truly special to have met you both, and I will always value our great conversation. We�ll always be grateful for the hospitality, warmth, and kindness you showed my wife and me.
Your friends,
Walter & Sefora
Lake Hiawatha, NJ

Walter & Sefora Stojchevski

Hi John,

When reading the comments of all the people who had the opportunity to visit your castle, and above all, the very pleasant impression of the quality of person that you are John, and the great motivation that you still carry within you, telling how you built this beautiful place, and the different anecdotes that you experienced, I only have to confirm the veracity of all this, since you make one immerse themselves in your stories and live them, together with your narration. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your great hospitality. This was, from you, a beautiful 34th wedding anniversary gift. Hoping to see each other again.

Your friends,
Guillermo and Elena
Fairfield, CT

Guillermo & Elena Marcela

John & Yvonne,
Thank you so much for opening your beautiful home to us! You both were so warm and welcoming and we had such a great time. Your property is a hidden gem with the absolute best views of Lake George and the Adirondacks and we could tell so much hard work and love went into everything!
Stay well,
The Majewski's - Anthony, Jenn, Aubree & Jackson
Buffalo, NY - GO BILLS!

Anthony & Jenn Majewski

Yvonne & John,
What can we say that has not been written by countless others whose lives you have touched?
The story. The castle. The four of you (shoutout to Bella & Major!).
We leave here feeling like we just spent time with old friends.
As it was meant to be.
Life is good!
Kathy & Dana
West Chazy, NY

Dana & Kathy Poirier

Thank you, John & Yvonne, for an unforgettable time at your home!
Our honeymoon was absolutely perfect, thanks to you. God bless you both for your kindness. xoxo to Belle & Major.
Lots of Love,
Matthew & Mercy
Kennett Square, PA

Matthew & Mercy Haught

Dear John & Yvonne,
Thank you for a lovely stay. It was the perfect backdrop for our New Year's Eve celebration. The memories we made in the Castle Gatehouse & Highlands Castle will be ones we treasure for a lifetime. Thank you for welcoming us into your beautiful home and for the lovely photos. Hope to come back again!
Love,
Amy & Jeremy Ferguson
and Corey, Matt & Melinda

Jeremy & Amy Ferguson

John & Yvonne,
Can't express enough how much of a wonderful time we've had! Thank you for your beautiful hospitality and we look forward to visiting again! And we love your dogs, Major & Bella, they are the best!
Peace, love, happiness, always,
John & Georgina

Georgina & John Chopas

John & Yvonne,
Thank you so very much for the opportunity to stay in your home. What a beautiful place! I will never forget the hospitality & memories. You have a beautiful family. Thank you for letting us share the holiday with you.
Best,
Julia & Nathan

Julia Freeman & Nathan