bannerman castle

Bannerman Castle is a short ferry ride from Beacon. The island and castle are fascinating and the tour is memorable.

A must see local in the Hudson Valley! There are those trying to keep the structure stable, but who knows how long that this wonderful ruin will be around.

We go on the tour at Bannerman's almost every year and each year we hear a new story or fact that we had not learned before. You start out with a boat ride out to the island where a video gives you an introduction to the place and the family that owns it. You can take off from Beacon or Newburgh. You can also do a kayak tour which is wonderful too. Once you arrive on the island you are given a hard hat and your guide starts to tell you different stories that surround each building on the premises. If you love history or old buildings this is a great tour. I have gone with friends, family and as a couple and no matter what the age or group everyone always exclaims how beautiful it is. It's an especially great trip in fall with the leaves changing. They have a port-a-potty on the dock when you arrive but that is the only restroom. If you take the boat ride tour they sell snacks and souvenirs on the boat. It's a great spot for photographers and the site itself is beautiful but you also have great views of the river and surrounding mountains. The ferry ride is nice and relaxing. The tour is a bit of a hike through the island so you need to be reasonably fit able to do hills and stairs. They have no wheelchair or handicap access.

Take a boat from Beacon, New York to visit this odd island with its crumbling ruin of a castle and mansion. Built on the fortune made by Bannerman selling surplus arms in the early part of the last century, the place is at once a folly and a historical experience. The gardens have been recently and lovingly restored, making the experience delightful on a warm summer day.

I was kayaking on the Hudson with my partner and we went up to the island to get a better view of the castle-like structure there. A man on the dock invited us to put our boats on the dock and join their tour for $20/each. We joined a group who had traveled in a larger ferry boat and our tour guide was Wes Gottlock, one of the authors of a book Bannerman Castle (among other publications). He was very knowledgeable and told the story of Mr. Bannerman, a rags to riches story of the man behind the Army Navy Store. I don't know what the ferry boat tour was like, but kayaking up was a great time. We rented our boats from Mountain Tops in Beacon. I'd suggest taking plenty of water and snacks, there aren't any refreshments. The island is strictly carry-in/carry-out, no refreshments or trash receptacles.There is a portable toilet near the dock. There is no opportunity to explore on your own, it's strictly the guided tour, the structures on the island were abandoned and are unstable, so you won't be allowed inside.

been wanting to see this place for 8 years- the river trip was informative and the guide knew his stuff -wish I'd been there before all the crumbling but happy to have gotten there- is definite must see

We went on a Sunday afternoon, out of Beacon. It was very interesting and the gardens are lovely. We enjoyed the trip. A lot of walking (including up stairs) and it is NOT a place for young kids and strollers.

We thoroughly enjoyed this trip from the moment we left the dock in Newburgh. All of the staff were friendly and very well informed about the history of this castle. I have lived in the Hudson Valley my entire life and never knew anything about it. If you want to visit you should go soon as it is unfortunately falling down.

I have seen it from a boat in the river. I'd be curious to take the tourto visit this place and find out more about the man who built thisplace.

I was so surprised when my train rode past Bannerman Castle for the first time.. it was a freakin' castle after all. I was so intrigued and had to go. My boyfriend purchased tickets in October online. We had tried to go before, but they had an issue with low tide and the boats getting stuck. While on the ferry to the island from Beacon train station, they tell you a bit of the history of Bannerman Castle. This is the part where all my excitement deflated. Although I really enjoyed history in school and still enjoy a good lesson, all the mystery from the castle was gone. The story and cartoon shown to depict it's history was so fluffy and fake that it just put me to sleep. The actual story behind the castle was interesting, but still lacked the allure I expected. When we arrived on the island, we were not allowed to do much else than walk in a line and the guides basically repeated the same story. I guess things seemed worse because it was cold and miserable that day. My advice, stay home and read up on it.

and we would much rather explore on our own, but certainly worth the trip out. We were there in the heat of the summer and that was a bit frustrating combined with the quick day trip but it would be a lovely place to return to.

There is more of a mystique here than substance. An old ruin trying to be saved. Eeeh...the view of the Hudson was worth the trip. The castle did little for me

Did maintenance on the grounds, pathetically as one of two members of the Cold Spring Kayak Club volunteer group, having to paddle several miles against the Hudson tides each way for the privilege. But the rare experience of visiting ruins, more typical of Europe than the US, was well worth all the effort. The eerie setting produced by the crumbling castle on its isolated island gives one not just a sense of history and of the nature of its original owner, but of the possibilities of what was and what could have been, and of the brevity of our stay in the here and now. If you have the opportunity, i.e., any opportunity, make the most of it.

This tiny island in the Hudson River was bought by an eccentric collector and reseller of obsolete army/navy supplies. After he bought the island, he went a little crazy and decided to build a huge replica of a Scottish fort, and also a house for his family to live in. Unfortunately they weren't very well constructed, so have fallen into ruins.The only way to visit the island is by an occasional ferry boat ride from Newburgh on the west shore of the Hudson. See http://bannermancastle.org/ for more information.

We had the privalege of joining with the bannamans island Trust for a tour and dinner on the island. If you have any interest in the history of this area the island should be a must see on yourlist. The attempt to stabalize and save this most remarkable landmark is an uphill battle that needs to be won. One should at least take the time to see this should the attempt to save it does not succeed.