I visited an abandoned castle on a New York island that's only accessible by boat. It was hauntingly beautiful.
Bannerman Castle was an arsenal fortress in the early 20th century. Today, the abandoned castle is partially restored and open for tours.
In 2019, the reporter visited Bannerman Castle, an abandoned fortress located on Pollepel Island in the Hudson River, New York. The castle was built in the early 20th century by Scottish arms trader Francis Bannerman as a weapons storage facility. The castle was abandoned around 30 years later when a gunpowder explosion occurred inside.
The Bannerman Castle Trust was formed in 1992 by Neil Caplan, a resident of Beacon, New York, to restore the island and make it accessible to the public. The Trust began working on the restoration in 2004 and opened the island to visitors in the same year. Today, visitors can reserve tours through the Bannerman Castle website.
The castle is only accessible by boat, and the reporter took a boat from Donahue Memorial Park in Cornwall, New York, to reach the island. The castle's towers are supported by external beams braced with steel, but even with this support, there is a risk that the walls could fall. Visitors are required to stay at least 100 feet away from the castle.
The castle's interior is deteriorating, with the main structure inaccessible to visitors. However, another structure that once served as the Bannerman family residence has been stabilized and serves as the island's visitor center. The center features exhibits on the island's history and the castle's construction, as well as preserved fixtures from the castle, such as a bathtub.
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