Reviews

Dear John & Yvonne,
Thank you so much for your hospitality! Your home is truly amazing. Our son Frankie said it was just like being in 'Beauty & The Beast'!! The views are spectacular and the craftsmanship superb, truly a labor of Love!
Lara, John & Frankie

Laura, John & Frankie Vaccaro

This place has been such an amazing and unique experience! The Gatehouse & Highlands Castle are some of the coolest homes I've ever seen! The attention to detail in both homes is magnificent. Thank you for your kindness & generosity to our family, and for giving us a vacation to always remember! We will certainly be back! Best view of Lake George I've ever seen!

P.S. Thank you for sharing the story of the stained glass doors! What an amazing story! We'll keep in touch!

Best,
PJ, Donna, Richie, Ken, Barbara, Hannah, and Amelia Johnson

Johnson Family

John & Yvonne,
"Living" in a castle - for just a couple of days - was an incredible experience. But even that can't compare to spending time with the people who have built and maintained this dream world overlooking Lake George. This was meant to be a magical weekend for our twin sons on their 21st birthday. It turned out to be better than we ever hoped or expected... All because of you two. Thank you for your hospitality and all the effort you put forth to make this time so special.
All our best,
Mark & Leslie Phelps

Dear John & Yvonne,
Thank you for making our 21st so remarkable. This will be a memory we will never forget. We appreciate the hospitality of your castle, too, and couldn't ask for anything more amazing than this! You both are extremely kind, nice, and thoughtful. Thank you again!
Elijah & Marcus Phelps

Mark & Leslie Phelps

Thank you for a special weekend that meant more than you'll ever know. From the warm welcome, this is a blessed home and couple. My birthday was beyond amazing and refreshing. We welcome staying in touch and staying with you all again! Love, Alexandria & Alexander

Alexandria & Alexander

Thank you for sharing your magnificent Castle Gatehouse with us. The property is stunning and set the stage for a wonderful weekend getaway. This is truly a special place and we'll be back. See you soon!
Tony & Steph from NJ

Tony & Steph Perrone

Thanks for being such awesome hosts and helping to create a wonderful experience and some incredible memories! We love the story behind Highlands Castle, seeing the attention to detail, finding all the magic of your home, and meeting people who pursue their dreams. Nicole & Nirvana from Dayton, OH

Nicole & Nirvana

This castle is GORGEOUS! We're so fortunate to have found this place and even more fortunate to have you as our host! We wish you the best! Yuhan & Zihao from California

Yuhan & Zihao

I've always been fascinated with medieval culture and John captured it so well. The term "attention to detail" does not do the Highlands Castle justice. John and his family built a place to make dreams come true and that is exactly what it did for us.

The castle is well maintained and John and his wife Yvonne even went through the trouble to set the table so my husband and I could have a "royal dinner".

The town of Bolton Landing has great food (every place we ate was delicious) and Lake George has to be the top 3 most beautiful lakes in the country (likely #1). Fantastic accommodations, wonderful hosts, and a fun location! We highly recommend :)

Thank you for sharing your home with us. Our time here was truly a fairy tale come true!

Felicia & Greg Yoakum

We had a great time staying at the Castle Gatehouse. The castle itself is amazing, not to mention the interesting & cool furniture. We especially enjoyed visiting all the nearby shops in town. Hope to come back soon! Thank you again, Thomas Paine & Family

The Paine Family

What a spectacular and inviting place you have. It is something I will always remember. - Bernadette Neff

Thank you for a wonderful stay and a beautiful view. I'll be sure to attribute part of my success on my 10k swim to getting a good night's sleep here! - Best, Spencer Neff

Thank you so much for welcoming us to your castle. We had an amazing time here enjoying the views and meeting you both and Bella & Major. Thanks again! - Amy Neff

Bernadette, Spencer & Amy Neff

Dear John & Yvonne,
Thank you for sharing your spectacular home/castle with us. This vacation ranks as one of our favorites. The way you built your castle high on the mountaintop amazes us. The view of the mountains and Lake George is breathtaking. The castle and your intricate details in the decorating are also amazing. We feel so lucky to have met the two of you (and Bella & Major, too). From the moment we met, you made us feel so comfortable. Thank you for introducing us to "Martha's Ice Cream!". My dream has always been to stay in a castle and now the dream has come true. I've experienced my wish, my fairytale. Kenny had a wonderful time, too. We sincerely hope to be back soon.
Love,
Tami & Kenny

Tami & Kenny Schramm

Thank you so much for a wonderful stay! I can't think of a more beautiful place to celebrate my birthday. Enjoy the 'St' Johnsbury Distillery' gift that our son makes! Mary & Dan

Love the place - your hard work shows - can't wait to come back!
Kathy & Jerry

Mary & Dan Hughes; Kathy & Jerry

We can't thank you enough for this amazing experience you provided us at your castle. Our three daughters, and us, had the most magical time! Thank you, Noah, Jill, Juliette, Olivia, and Ruby

Noah & Jill Goldfarb

Our stay at Highland Castle Cottage was absolutely amazing! The hosts, John and Yvonne are the most accommodating, kind, and warm people we have ever met! Communication was great and anything we needed was right there. The details put into the property is astonishing! The views and the beauty of the entire property are hard to put into words and like no other we have ever seen. It truly is a magical place and we can’t wait to visit again!!

Beth

Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful home. An amazing stay, lovely views, memories, and happiness made at this magical place. Great friendship, too.

6-yr old Dawson says: "It was a perfect day when we came to the castle. I was amazed when I saw the Castle Cottage. I liked the dogs and the nice people. Look all around, you might see two things (owl & deer) and many other things. It's a beautiful view inside & out. I hope you like your stay. This place is amazing and I can't wait to come back again. Love, Dawson"

Shawn, Beth, CJ, Ava, Addison, Dawson

The Murphy Family

Dear John & Yvonne, Thank you for sharing your beautiful home with us. We can't wait to come back!
Best Wishes, Jeff & Yanfei

Jeff Li & Yanfei Chen

Thank you so much for your hospitality and to experience the magic of Highlands Castle. We had an amazing time! You created something special here. This place is made out of love and allows others to create loving memories of their own!
Salwa & Safwan

Salwa & Safwan Saif

Thank you so much for opening your home to us and for making us feel so welcome! You made this a very special anniversary that we will never forget. Thank you for everything. We will definitely be back!
Erica & Charles

Charles & Erica Seruya

Dear Yvonne & John - What an amazing place to have a getaway. The views were & are incredible. The peace and quiet were much appreciated right now. We hope to bring our growing family back to visit "the castle" someday soon.
Marie & Scott Manner

Marie & Scott Manner

Thank you so much for your hospitality! You have such a beautiful home and the view is perfect! Hugs to you and the pups!

Dustin & Alayna

We had a wonderful time here in Lake George! Thank you for providing such a beautiful, serene oasis.
Caren, Jaclyn, and Kelsey

The Sattler Girls

Dear John & Yvonne - You're a reminder that there's still good in this world... From the warm welcome to the rich conversations. I will always cherish my time here and the fabulous views!

Matt Busbice

Thank you for hosting us at your beautiful castle. It is truly a fairy tale. Thank you for your kindness & hospitality. We also loved your beautiful Shepherds. We hope to be back soon.
Nicole & Dom P.

Nicole & Dom Prokopwicz

What a beautiful and truly magical place! We will always remember our time here. The hospitality was unmatched and the castle with the views was absolutely breathtaking! Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful home and life's dream with us!
The Wilkinson's - Justin, Liz, Sadie & Nico

The Wilkinson's

An absolute must that I highly recommend! John & Yvonne Lavender, owners of Highlands Castle in Bolton Landing, NY are remarkable! Fantastic hosts. Their residence is the most breathtaking home we have ever laid eyes on. Thank you for allowing us to embark on our own fairytale. An experience of a lifetime. This location is truly where dreams become a reality.

Chad Arel & Jenn

This property is just amazing! The views, the comfiness, the way it makes you feel, the ambiance, everything about it made our trip special. Even though it didn't snow much when I was there, the snow it has was enough to transform it into a winter wonderland. Bolton landing is a beautiful town, and the people are very friendly too. Thank you for the beautiful memories. Definitely recommend staying here and we really can't wait to be back again!
Adriana & Harsh

Adriana & Harsh

The most beautiful castle and the kindest hosts we could have ever hoped for! (Heidi). Thank you for an amazing experience in your castle! Truly something we will never forget! (Andrea). I love this castle! I really want to come back! (Phoenix). We are grateful for your hospitality and warm hearts. (Steve).

Heidi, Andrea, Phoenix, Steve

What an amazing piece of property with buildings I've never seen before!!! Highlands Castle was the true "cherry on top" for myself and my family this Thanksgiving. John was beyond accommodating, and very caring and thoughtful to my entire family. Whether you are local or traveling, and are looking for a place like no other with views and an experience to match, check out Highlands Castle!!! You will not be disappointed!!!

Mike Catuccio

Mark & I can't thank you both enough! From the minute you greeted us at the door, John, we have truly loved our time here. The tour of the castle and the story behind it is something I will never forget. I have been planning my next trip with all my family since I arrived! You are both very special people and we look forward to a lifelong relationship!
Love,
Tammy & Mark

Tammy & Mark Petrocelli

When Dawn told me she had found a castle for us to stay in... I told her let's go! Little did I know how authentic the castle would be. Your vision for this retreat supersedes anything present in North America and should be on the must 'to-do' list for everybody. They will not be disappointed. We also loved the time you took to have coffee with us and have our 'therapy' session to open up about your thoughts and excellent vision. Here's to both of you and never-ending health to enjoy life's latter years. I hope our paths cross again! All our best!
Dr. Michael & Dawn Scherb

Dr. Michael & Dawn Scherb

We so enjoyed our stay in the Castle Cottage. We've stayed in lake view rooms in Lake George/Bolton Landing many times, but this is by far the most spectacular view of the lake and mountains that we've ever had. What an amazing sight when you drive up the road and the castle comes into view! You've done a beautiful job creating a special retreat. My husband's face said it all when we pulled up to the castle. I wanted to do something special for his birthday and there's no doubt I achieved my goal. We had a wonderful time here with our friends just chatting and enjoying the view. You are wonderful hosts and we enjoyed talking to you. I'm sure we'll see you again! All the Best!
Lisa & Gary Arold, Hope & Steve Corts

Lisa & Gary Arold

An absolutely amazing, magical, and fantastic home you have. The both of you opened your hearts and home in a way that is nothing less than a blessing. I arrived with no idea what to expect and my experience began with the most inviting feeling. Really, I could write a book just like the awesome conversations I had with you, John. I wholeheartedly appreciate every minute I had in this castle. I thought this would be a once-in-a-lifetime getaway... Now I am going to make it a point to return! And I'm also going to share with everyone I know. A million thank you's! Brent

Brent Lanning

The Miller's had an AMAZING weekend at Highlands Castle. Chip & Ellen came from York, PA. Our son Ryan & his wife Sarah came from Providence, RI. The 4 of us thoroughly enjoyed Bolton Landing, Lake George, and your fabulous hospitality. A VERY SPECIAL TIME with spectacular views and a relaxing time with family. We look forward to our next visit!
The Miller's

Chip & Ellen Miller

Thank you for opening the gates to this beautiful castle in the sky. Christina and I had an amazing time sitting out and overlooking Lake George. This view makes it impossible to leave! The castle has so much detail everywhere you look. And now Highlands Castle will be one detail in our story that will never be forgotten. Cheers, Jon & Christina

Jon & Christina

Your castle is beautiful and the views are breathtaking. We saw and heard an owl while we were eating dinner on the terrace! We couldn't have found a better place to celebrate Wesley's birthday. We had a wonderful time and we hope to come back next year! Jen & Wesley

Jen & Wesley

John and his wife Yvonne are two of the most wonderful people we have ever met. Their home is absolutely incredible and the story behind it is even more incredible. There are not enough words to explain how wonderful our stay was at this hidden gem. The views are breathtaking. It was an amazing getaway from the hectic city life. We look forward to going back again to this magical place!
Clare, Casey & Keith

Clare, Casey, and Keith