Reviews

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

John & Yvonne,
Thank you for an awesome 'Sweet 16' experience!
We had a great time in The Castle Cottage and the view is amazing!
Erin, Angel, and Bella Quintero with friends Grace, Trinity & Sara

Quintero Family

This place is 5 stars! Highlands Castle is beautiful with amazing views and John & Yvonne were incredibly helpful hosts!
Thank you,
Megan, Maria, Sophie, Lily, Sam, Matt, Beni & Leo

Megan Howard

John & Yvonne,
Thank you for your sincere and warm welcome to your magnificent 'castle in the sky.' I felt such an inner peace the moment I arrived. Your attention to detail is truly awe-inspiring! In every room, I could see your artistic vision in the choice of furniture, textiles, and in the architectural design of your unique estate. May you be blessed with good health and happiness for years to come.
With sincere affection and friendship,
Alfred

Alfred Nicolosi

John & Yvonne,
Thank you so much for sharing your home with us. I selected Highlands Castle as the location for a surprise proposal, and everything went off without a hitch! Thank you for being such amazing hosts. Our stay at the castle is a memory we will cherish for years to come.
Mike St. Lawrence

Thank you for making our surprise engagement weekend so special! Your promise to build your son a castle was truly inspiring and the view is stunning from anywhere on the property.
Sincerely,
Future Mrs. Ally St. Lawrence

Mike St. Lawrence & Ally

John & Yvonne,
Thank you so much for this magical home that we got the privilege to stay in. The love that was put into this place shows in every detail. You two are amazing and we can't wait to come back here one day. This was the perfect stop on our honeymoon. Thank you for everything!
Ryan & Amanda Curtis (newlyweds)

Ryan & Amanda Curtis

Dear John & Yvonne,
Thank you so much for hosting us! My daughter's dream of living in a castle came true (finally at 25!). We were all enamored by how well-decorated the home was and the attention to detail. All the years of hard work in building this masterpiece are apparent. Thank you also for giving us recommendations on where to explore and giving us the history of this home and Bolton Landing! This was a magical getaway for our family thanks to you! This place will always hold a special place in our hearts.
The Mull Family

The Mull Family

John & Yvonne,
This place is amazing. We had a great time here. I appreciate every second. This is the type of place where fairytales come true and dreams are made. You have created a truly magical place.
Best wishes and thank you,
YiLin Li & Clifford Li, MD

Clifford Li & YiLin Evelyn Li

John & Yvonnne,
Thank you for your kindness & generosity during our visit. Our family had a wonderful time here. The views, special 'castle' touches to the decor, and just everything was wonderful. We hope to stay again sometime!
Best,
Gary, Ali, Ethan, Holden & Zadie

Gary & Ali Barnes

Matt decided to surprise me for my 27th birthday and made me feel like a queen. Waking up to the lake view was a beautiful experience and exploring the area was a great adventure. We enjoyed going to Fort Ticonderoga on one of our day trips, but this castle was absolutely my favorite part!
Sincerely,
Maria & Matt

Maria & Matthew Lotz

John & Yvonne,
Thank you so much for the opportunity to stay at your beautiful home. Highlands Castle is a special place to your family, we know. Now it is a special place for us as well! We hope to return again to this beautiful castle.
God Bless,
Dan & Pam

Dan & Pam Stiegler

It's our 50th anniversary. I wanted something special & memorable. We couldn't have found a better place for those criteria! This place is awesome and its history is phenomenal. We truly loved being here and it won't be forgotten (until dementia sets in!)
Larry & Laura Marsh
Honeoye Falls, NY

Larry & Laura Marsh

John & Yvonne,
To say the two of you and your castle are AMAZING would be an understatement. No words can describe how wonderful our stay was. The world needs more kind and caring people like you. John, Yvonne & Highlands Castle will forever be in our hearts.
Dean & Irina

Dean & Irina Rozell

Thank you for one of the most memorable vacations we've had! Everyone describes this place as "special" and I understand why. I will miss you guys, the dogs, and the view. We can't wait to come back. Thank you so much for everything! Love, Greg & Heather

Heather Foy

We loved everything about our experience at the Castle Gatehouse. From the magical accommodations to the personalized hospitality. John and Yvonne went above and beyond to make our vacation experience memorable and one of a kind. We will always come back. We have never had a vacation experience like this one and will return regularly. There wasn't a thing we didn't like. Our stay was absolutely perfect!

Karen & Amy Ruiz

John & Yvonne,
Thank you so much for a wonderful stay. The Castle Cottage is awesome and the view is breathtaking! Thank you for your gracious hospitality and kindness. We are looking forward to coming back.
Rani, Peter, Beth, Cathy & Michael

The Arianti family

What a beautiful weekend here at your astonishing castle. Such a stunning view of the lake! Your extraordinary place made from a promise, becoming a dream come true for your family, and us too. Your heartfelt journey in building this was so riveting. All who visit here will have a storybook fairytale memory to treasure. Thank you both for your generosity and we look forward to sharing more fun stories with you both again one day.

"By wisdom, a house is built, and through understanding, it is established through knowledge, its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures". Proverbs 24:3-4

You both are such beautiful people, felt like we were visiting family. We can't wait to share our memories of this weekend with the rest of our family.
Blessings,
Bonnie & Ry

Bonnie & Ry Geddes

Dear John & Yvonne,
We want to take a moment to express our gratitude for the truly magical castle stay you provided our family. The memories we created during our time here will be cherished forever. Your warm hospitality & genuine care made our stay truly special. We were touched by your kindness & generosity, making our time even more meaningful.
With heartfelt appreciation,
Rebekah Haraczka

Thank you for making our daughter Abigail's 10th birthday so special. It will definitely be one to remember! Your home truly is magical and the views are spectacular!
Stacie & Alexander Haraczka

10-year-old Abigail Haraczka -
I thought the whole thing was exceptional. The view is amazing and I loved it. The castle itself is beautiful and the beds are amazing (so comfortable!). The rooms are beautiful and nice to be in! But my favorite part was definitely Yvonne and John and their dogs! I loved everything here!

Haraczka family

What an amazing experience! Thank you for providing a peaceful and unique escape. Your hospitality was greatly appreciated. Looking forward to returning next year.
Nick, Julie, Olivia & Soaren DellaPenna

Nick & Julie DellaPenna

Thank you for sharing this beautiful 'Castle Gatehouse' with us. We truly enjoyed our stay. Lots of laughter and memories were created this weekend. We couldn't have imagined a better way to spend our 4th of July weekend.
Sincerely,
Jack, Rachel, Billy, Madison, and Miles

Jack Reynor & friends

We were looking for a peaceful, out-of-the-way escape, to unwind from our daily routine. "We found it", this mountaintop retreat is what you need to escape from the resorts below on the lake. The handbuilt castle is a labor of love by the gracious owners: John & Yvonne. We will return soon.
Ron & Jessica McGraw

Ron & Jessica McGraw

Thank you so much John & Yvonne!! Your generosity and kindness towards our son Riley during his engagement and celebration were greatly appreciated. What a beautiful castle. We are so impressed with your attention to detail. God Bless you!
Love,
Jim & Erin from Castle Rock, Colorado

Jim & Erin Thielke

John & Yvonne,
Thank you so much for giving us the privilege to celebrate our one- year anniversary at your home. The festivities couldn't have been more beautiful with your castle as the backdrop. Our families had the best time. We hope to be back in the future for anniversaries to come.
XO, Tana & Adam Guest

Tana & Adam Guest

Thank you for welcoming us into your incredible home and helping make our friend's proposal magical. Ever since I was very little I've wanted to live in a giant 'purple' castle. (I even drew out blueprints that I still have.) This is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been to. Thank you for making this dream come true for my friends (and us!). I will treasure our trip to Highlands Castle for the rest of my life.
Love as always,
Arianna & Chelsey
PS: Your dogs are adorable!

Arianna & Chelsey

Thank you so very much for being such wonderful hosts. You have a beautiful home and we had a lovely few days here at Lake George. It was a pleasure meeting you!
Gina & Jesse

Gina & Jesse Mower