Reviews

Dear John & Yvonne,

From the moment we arrived, we knew this experience would be unforgettable. Seeing our names printed on the welcome sign was our first hint.

As we depart, we cannot thank you enough for all you’ve done. You went above and beyond to welcome us, befriend us, and help us without expectation. Thank you for your sincere kindness.

We, along with our respective families, will certainly return, and we look forward to seeing you then!

With gratitude,
Elisabeth Murray
Roberto, Charlie, and Christina

Northern New Jersey & New York City

John & Yvonne,

We are so excited to stay at your majestic and beautiful castle. Thank you so much for the truly magical experience of staying at your gorgeous Renaissance castle. Every detail, from the architecture to the peaceful surroundings, made this stay feel like stepping into a fairytale storybook. We deeply appreciate your hospitality, warmth, the coffee mugs, and the 4th of July fireworks. It was a privilege to enjoy such a unique and enchanting place. This is a stay we will never forget and look forward to coming back soon.

Shannon & Aidan Andre
John & Valentino Rivoli

New York, NY

Dear John & Yvonne,
I will forever be grateful to you for opening up your castle doors to us and giving us the most unforgettable birthday, vacation, and proposal I could ever dream of. Since our first phone call, I knew that proposing to the love of my life at your castle was the best decision. Your hospitality, kindness, and wisdom truly made this the best stay of our lives. Thank you for letting us experience the magic of Lake George and all it has to offer. We wish you and your family all the best and hope the castle continues to provide happiness and blessings to others for decades to come. Your legacy will be forever remembered.
Until we meet again,
Osman

Dear Yvonne & John,
Thank you for helping my soulmate, Ozzy, surprise and propose to me in your magical castle. Good things do not come to me often, yet here I am, living out a fairy tale. You've both been so kind to him, and that is all I want in this world. Your marriage is also so beautiful and inspirational. We will definitely be back.
Best,
Ramisa, Osman, Haq & Ramisa

Dix Hills, NY

John & Yvonne,

Beautiful, beautiful! It's so wonderful that you two shared the beauty of your home with the world. This is a very special stay for us.

Thank you!
Sealida (Neresa DiBiasi's cousin)

A very charming castle. Quiet. Fresh air. The decoration, furniture, sculptures, and paintings in the castle are also very tasteful. What is particularly touching is the sincerity and enthusiasm of the hostess, Yvonne. I also want to mention the dog in John's house, which is equally kind and cute. Everyone who has been here has had a comfortable experience and good memories.

P.S. Tsui

John & Yvonne,

Thank you so much for sharing your special piece of the planet. It was peaceful, enchanting, and inviting. We loved our time here, and we hope to revisit!

Nancy Frazer & Wayne Busch

Burnsville, MN

Dear John & Yvonne,

Conor & I had the most unforgettable stay! Thank you both for truly providing the castle for our fairy tale moment. Your home is built with so much love and affection. It's filled with your family's love, as well as the happiness from all the previous guests over the years!

We will always have Highlands Castle & Lake George forever in our hearts as our engagement story!

Love,
Anna & Conor

Brooklyn, NY

John & Yvonne,

Thank you so much for helping our family celebrate Gabriel's graduation! We all had an amazing time and look forward to returning again someday. The kids will miss Bella & Major!

The Ward Greear Family
Matthew, Melissa, Gabriel, Samara, Rose, and Eve

Fallston, MD

John & Yvonne,

Thank you for taking us in last minute! Your home is beyond beautiful, the craftsmanship is stunning, and the story behind its creation was inspiring.

Wishing you good health & happiness!
Angela & Brent Dupras

P.S. I LOVED my play time with Bella & Major. Thank you!

Saratoga, NY

John & Yvonne,

Thank you for opening up your beautiful and charming home to us. The story behind the castle is very special, and we hope to come back again sometime! If you are ever in Canandaigua, look us up. Thank you for the special mugs!

Best,
Bryan & Julie Henry

Canandaigua, NY

My boyfriend, now fiancé!, brought me here to propose! I could not be happier or more grateful for John & Yvonne's beautiful home and their help creating this special day. We also adore the 2 German Shepherds that are an addition to this castle!

Ben Vough & Geonna

Flanders, NJ

John & Yvonne,

DJ and I came up here for our last getaway before becoming new parents. We cannot thank you enough for your hospitality and care during this crazy snow. This is one of the most beautiful places I have ever stayed and I'm so grateful to have experienced it.

Staying here was a big surprise to me, and so was DJ proposing on the terrace, making this the most magical weekend of my life!

Thank you for everything!

Best,
Katie & DJ O'Malley

Easton, MA

John & Yvonne,

Thank you for sharing your gorgeous home with us. We loved learning all the details you shared. We hope to see you again this summer!

Damian & Rachel Kwasniak

Sussex, NJ

We had an incredible time! You both were beyond welcoming and warm.

Plattsburg, NY

John & Yvonne,

We had an incredible time! You both were beyond welcoming and warm, and Bella & Major were the best welcoming crew! You all played a beautiful part in our magical stay, and we can't thank you enough.

Forever thankful,
Kyle & Lauren Peterson

Plattsburgh, NY

Staying in the castle was the most magical experience and made our dreams come true, and I thank you for that and for your hospitality. We had the most wonderful time here. Thank you for everything!

Erin Benware, Will, Cassidy, Kieran

John & Yvonne,

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

The Northrup, Holdsworth, Boots, and Matzan families

from California, North Carolina, New York, and Virginia

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

New York

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