Private Belle Island between US and Canada offers breathtaking vistas for $1,000 a night

Nestled among an archipelago of small plots of land dotting the St Lawrence River separating Upstate New York from Canada – and known collectively as Thousand Islands – is a private heaven called Belle Island that is now available for rent. 

The lush green, bell-shaped 1.5-acre island once owned by the legendary Gilded Age hotelier George Boldt features a five-bedroom home, a protected harbor, a boathouse for summer and winter storage, and a fully-powered deep-water dock. 

The exclusive property is currently listed on www.vladi-private-islands.de for $1,000 a night, for a four-night minimum, with a $2,000 refundable deposit.  

‘Belle’ is for beautiful: The lush green, bell-shaped 1.5-acre Belle Island is located in Alexandria Bay in the St Lawrence River separating Upstate New York from Canada 

The tiny island planted with trees is part of an archipelago known collectively as Thousand Islands

The tiny island planted with trees is part of an archipelago known collectively as Thousand Islands 

The main structure on the island, which is now available for rent for $1,000 a night, is a five-bedroom, three-bath house

The main structure on the island, which is now available for rent for $1,000 a night, is a five-bedroom, three-bath house 

Bright and airy: The property is fully furnished, including this open-concept seating area, and has enough space to accommodate up to 10 guests

Bright and airy: The property is fully furnished, including this open-concept seating area, and has enough space to accommodate up to 10 guests   

‘This pristine private island enjoys an enviable location in the St Lawrence Seaway, straddling the US-Canadian border and just over the water from the charming town of Alexandria Bay in Upstate New York,’ the listing advertising the property reads. ‘The international airports of New York Syracuse and Ottawa are both just an enjoyable 90-minute drive away meaning it couldn’t be easier to access this wonderful island retreat.’

The first owner of the island was legendary Gilded Age hotelier George Boldt, famous for popularizing the Thousand Island dressing at his Waldorf-Astoria Hotel

The first owner of the island was legendary Gilded Age hotelier George Boldt, famous for popularizing the Thousand Island dressing at his Waldorf-Astoria Hotel 

The 3,300-square foot house can accommodate up to 10 guests. It offers views of the St Lawrence Seaway from almost every bedroom, while the master suit looks out onto Boldt Castle – one of the major tourist attractions in Alexanderia Bay.  

Besides awe-inspiring views, the master bedroom comes with a king-sized bed equipped with a built-in massage unit. A few steps away, there is a sun-drenched seating area with a hot tub. 

The other wing of the house offers four additional bedrooms and two full bathrooms. All the rooms are fully furnished.

The residence is equipped with a large kitchen, a fireplace, cathedral ceilings and a screened-in porch.  

Belle Island is situated along the St Lawrence Seaway, allowing ease of access from both Canada and the US. If flying into the area, international guests can take their pick from either Syracuse Hancock International Airport in Upstate New York or Ottawa International Airport just over the border in Canada. 

The first owner of the miniature island was George C Boldt, a Prussian-born self-made millionaire hotelier and general manager of the legendary Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. 

Boldt is credited with popularizing the tangy Thousand Island salad dressing at his hotel after learning the recipe from a local woman while spending a summer in Alexandria Bay. 

The house, built in 1988, has an office space overlooking the St Lawrence River and surrounding islands

The house, built in 1988, has an office space overlooking the St Lawrence River and surrounding islands 

The sleek kitchen comes with a large island and stainless-steel appliances, making it perfect for cooking and enjoying family meals

The sleek kitchen comes with a large island and stainless-steel appliances, making it perfect for cooking and enjoying family meals  

This image shows one of the five bedrooms furnished with a pair of twin beds and painted a pastel color perfects for children

This image shows one of the five bedrooms furnished with a pair of twin beds and painted a pastel color perfects for children 

Each bedroom in the house looks out onto the water; all the rooms come fully furnished and well-appointed

Each bedroom in the house looks out onto the water; all the rooms come fully furnished and well-appointed

Boldt bought one of the largest of the Thousand Islands for his beloved wife, Louise, reshaped the landmass into a heart and built a massive castle for her.

On the day Louise Boldt died suddenly in 1904, her heartbroken husband abandoned the island now bearing his name and never returned.

The following year, Boldt sold the nearby Belle Island to his fellow millionaire, Alexander Peacock.

The five-bedroom house that currently graces the property was built in 1988. The island and the residence were last sold in 2016 for $950,000.  

One of the three bathrooms on the property is pictured above, with a lovely view glimpsed through the window

One of the three bathrooms on the property is pictured above, with a lovely view glimpsed through the window

The spacious terrace outside the house sits just a few paces from the water's edge and overlooks the surrounding islands

 The spacious terrace outside the house sits just a few paces from the water’s edge and overlooks the surrounding islands 

Ideal for fishing, the island property features a protected harbor, a boathouse for summer and winter storage, and a fully-powered deep-water dock

Ideal for fishing, the island property features a protected harbor, a boathouse for summer and winter storage, and a fully-powered deep-water dock

The property is available for rent for $1,000 a night, for a minimum of four nights, plus a $2,000 deposit

The property is available for rent for $1,000 a night, for a minimum of four nights, plus a $2,000 deposit 

 

 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk