One of the Hudson Valley’s most iconic attractions is back, just in time for the summer.

“People are having a ball out here,” said Neil Caplan, founder of the Bannerman Trust. “It’s just wonderful to get outside and hear the incredible history of Frank Bannerman VI and this incredible castle that he built here.”

What You Need To Know

  • Bannerman Castle is back giving full capacity tours, just in time for the summertime tourist rush

  • Tour capacity is 40 people, up from 22 before COVID-19 restrictions lifted

  • New this year, the castle will host movie nights, a radio stage play and two farm-to-table dinner nights

Bannerman, a burgeoning businessman providing military surplus, purchased the island and built the castle to house his goods.

It functioned as storage until Bannerman’s death in 1918. Bannerman castle is giving tours at full capacity once more, after being forced to remain closed for months and then re-open at half capacity last July. 

“We were able to get through the season and have a season and have income so that we can continue to operate and do what we needed to do,” Caplan said.

Visitors can tour the island estate that’s over a century old, enjoy the castle’s ruins and gardens, and take in scenic views of the Hudson River. Caplan says there will also be new events this year that had to be postponed during its 2020 season; including three movie nights during the summer, two farm-to-table dinners and a staged radio play.

“A small show called Sunset Boulevard, based on the movie with Gloria Swanson and William Holden and it’s a radio show. It will be here on July 31 and August 1,” Caplan said.

Caplan is excited to be able to get more people back on the island to learn about its history and experience, its beauty and for guests to experience what he calls, “the Bannerman bug.”

“Once you get bit by it, you keep coming back; you wanna get involved,” Caplan said. “It’s just a great place.”

For more information on how to book a tour, visit the Bannerman Castle website.