Singer Castle

The sun was shining bright as we hit the road for this adventure. My wife had set up all the plans, the only thing I had to do was be in the car at 8:30am. At 8:35 we picked up some friends of ours and headed west. The hour and twenty minute trip to Alexandria Bay passed by pretty quickly with great views of the St. Lawrence River and wonderful conversation along the way. We pulled into Alexandria Bay with just enough time to park, get our tickets, and hop on the boat. We were finally getting a chance to knock a trip off of my wife's bucket list. For years we had discussed making this day trip happen. Today was the day we were finally setting sail for Singer island.

The smoke from the wildfires in Canada left a haze lingering in the sky as the boat pulled out of port. The smell of diesel fuel and river water filled the air. It was a delightful aroma for a true river rat. We worked our way to the top deck of the boat and got comfortable. As soon as we entered the channel Boldt Castle made for a dramatic backdrop to begin our voyage.

Once we were at our cruising speed, a lovely young lady came over the speaker and started our tour. As we passed by islands and shoals we learned about the fascinating rich history of the 1000 Islands Region.

From illegal whiskey trade to lifestyles of the rich and famous, details of this magical area were exposed. Odd facts about what is actually an island to how many islands there really are was discussed in great detail.

I sat there eating my freshly popped popcorn hanging on every word she said. We were even lucky enough to have a front row view of one of the many ships that pass through this saltless seaway.

Finally, in the distance, the castle came into view. The lush green landscape made the terracotta roof of the castle pop to the forefront. The rocky cliffs along the shore line made for an ominous entrance to Dark Island.

Once we were on the docks the tour staff broke us up into groups. With about 10 people in our party the tour guide walked us up to the main entrance.

With a tug of the medieval looking front door we instantly went back in time. The grand entrance was our first stop. The white stone arches and goliath fireplace certainly were a jaw dropping way to start this journey.

Suits of armor sat in the corners as we passed by a nook filled with antique guns and duck decoys.

We walked past the wine closet and entered the dining room. Antique hutches, tables, and chairs filled the room overlooking the mighty St. Lawrence. Our guide walked us through the history of the family and friends that once frequented this castle as we toured the breakfast room, drawing room, loggia, sport therapy room, master bedroom, and the servants room.

In every room we were given a very detailed description of what the room was, and how it was utilized. We worked our way down the marvelous stone staircase lined with a rich hardwood handrail.

Next we entered my favorite room, the library. A shining suit of armor sat in the corner silently watching over us as we entered.

The hardwood shelves and old books created the perfectly balanced fragrance of a finely seasoned cigar humidor. For a moment I closed my eyes and envisaged myself sitting there quietly reading and watching one of the extravagant St. Lawrence River thunderstorms roll by.

We finished our tour with a trip around the outside of the castle. We visited the rose garden and had a fantastic view of the castle's architecture.

When the tour was done we boarded the boat and decided to make a stop at Boldt Castle. While our boat was heading back upbound we decided to have a beer and hotdog as we relished our time on the river. We spent a few hours self guiding ourselves through the castle. We had all been there several times before but it is still a spectacular place to visit. Once back in A-bay we decided to grab a bite to eat. We found a fantastic BBQ place with dockside dining.

After a great meal we finished our day with a walk down main street and an ice cream cone. Perfect weather, great friends, and new experiences made this trip a wonderful Northern NY Adventure.

About this Location:

Singer Castle is located on Dark Island in Hammond, New York.

We decided to take Uncle Sam’s boat tour out of Alexandria bay for this adventure. The 3.5 hour tour on the St. Lawrence River is well worth the price.

The boat offers a nice little snack bar and comfortable seating as you learn about the 1000 Islands Region along the way. The views of the river are incredible as you cruise along.

Once at the island the only way to tour the castle is with a guide. I have to say that this is the best way to learn about the history of the castle and its inhabitants. Our guide had so much knowledge that I couldn’t retain all of it. I will be taking this tour again just so I can learn more about the island. On the way back to A-Bay you have the option to leave the boat and tour Boldt Castle.

This is a self guided tour but it is worth taking a walk around at your own pace. They offer a boat about every 30 minutes from Boldt Castle back to A-bay so you can take your time and not worry about when the next boat will be there. If you are looking for a great day trip with the family look no further than Singer castle. You won’t be disappointed. From the river boat ride to the castle’s hidden passageways this is truly a Northern NY Adventure made for a sunny summer day.

Aaron Hardy

Northern NY Adventures

“Make Life an Adventure”