Newburgh, New York: Bannerman Castle on Pollepel Island

Get a guided tour of this island in the middle of the Hudson River near Beacon, NY. It was once a privately owned island by a man who acquired and sold munitions in the 1800s. Unfortunately at one point they exploded. There are two castles on the island. The large one was never a castle, it's where he stored his munitions. The ferry to get to Bannerman Island is across the street from the Metro North Beacon train station.

We went on the tour of Bannerman's island and were somewhat disappointed, even though we knew that you could not get close to the castle. Two of the walls of the main structure fell down last winter, and I personally do not think the remaining two will last either a heavy snowstorm or hurricane.

In any case, we simply were herded along a path and the structures were discussed. Nothing much about the history of the company Bannerman created, what happened on the island after he died, or why the buildings were crumbling after less

than 100 years. Maybe it was just our tour guide. Although it could have been interesting, it was not worth the $30 fee which included the boat ride from Newburgh

A European style castle located on an island in the middle of the Hudson River. The island was owned by a man named David Bannerman who used the island castle to store weapons and ammunition.

The island is only accessible by a boat that departs from the City of Newburgh.

Lonely Pollepel Island in the Hudson River features a castle-like century old structure, a former warehouse for war relics. Giant letters on the side of the castle read "Bannerman's Island Arsenal." Currently off limits to the public, but there is a plan underway to open it to tourism...