'The Castle Gatehouse' of Highlands Castle

Highlands Castle was born from a father's promise to his young son...
“Someday I’ll build a house where we both will live... Someday Jason, I will build you a castle."

After a divorce in 1978, my 3-year-old son would likely have never remembered these words. The promise had more to do with a desire to build a better life than an actual castle. It would be almost 5-years before the ideal property presented itself, a mountaintop in Bolton Landing, NY.

When my son was a teenager, I said "Jason, I promised that I would build you a castle, I didn't say you wouldn't be helping me!"... So he joined in the stonework, and naturally resourceful, he recruited his football teammates to lend some muscle over the summer months and they took great pride in their accomplishments while working together again as a team.

Over the past 40 years, the property would evolve into what it is today... a series of three castles:
1) Highlands Castle
2) Highlands Castle Cottage
3) Highlands Castle Gatehouse

We hope you'll share our story and that you'll have an opportunity to visit us one day!

Kind Regards,
John A. Lavender II and Yvonne Lavender,
owners of Highlands Castle in Bolton Landing, NY

'Ex Malo Bonum.' Out of bad comes good.
Oftentimes, good things come out of bad experiences. In 2010 we began sharing our property with others. This was the good that came out of bad. Two years earlier, a fall from the roof resulted in a shattered right ankle and 4-operations. What emerged from a serious accident was an awareness of how fragile life is. It was time to reinvent myself and start a new chapter.

Although I never had any plan or intention to rent our home, doing so has given me an opportunity to meet some wonderful and interesting people from all over the world. And I would find something we all need, a sense of purpose.

When I think back to my words "Someday I will build you a castle", there was always a plan and a purpose. I believe it wasn't just my plan.

“THE CASTLE GATEHOUSE” … enjoy the castle ALL TO YOURSELF!

The Castle Gatehouse of Highlands Castle is a hidden jewel in a private wooded setting, yet only 3-minutes from the public beaches of beautiful Lake George, downtown Bolton Landing with the conveniences of gourmet restaurants, a supermarket, brewery, wine store, unique shops, ice cream parlor, antiques, tennis, golf, hiking, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, swimming, public beaches, boat rentals, scenic boat cruises, and more!

The upstairs SPACIOUS GRAND ROOM with high vaulted ceilings throughout features reclining motorized sofas, 65" HDTV, a full-size kitchen with counter seating, a dining area with table & chairs, two bedrooms, and a bathroom with tiled shower.

The Castle Gatehouse includes 2 king beds, 1 queen bed, 1 daybed, and 2 private bathrooms with tiled showers. (King bed & daybed in downstairs suite with private bathroom and tiled shower)

Poised on a graceful mountainside and nestled in a private wooded setting, your castle awaits...