Boldt to get castle competition

DARK ISLAND - Tourists to the Thousand Islands will now have a castle other than Boldt to visit as Singer Castle opens to the public Aug. 2.

Dark Island Tours, Inc. purchased the seven-acre island last year from the Harold Martin Evangelistic Association for $1.7 million' Dark Island Tours is owned by Farhad Vladi and two partners. Vladi also owns Vladi Private Islands, GmbH, a Hamburg, Germany-based, real estate company that specializes in selling islands. The island had been listed for sale on the www.vladi-private-islands.de site.

Dark Island Tours has spent nearly $1 million preparing the former hunting lodge and religious retreat for public tours and private events, says Deborah Lack, vice president of operations and marketing for Singer Castle. The castle can host 100 visitors per hour, she adds. Tickets for the guided tour cost $10 per adult and $6 per child. Both the Empire and Uncle Sam's tour-boat lines offer stops at the castle. Private craft may also dock at the island's southern boathouse. The boathouse serves as the entryway and gift shop for the island. Approximately 50 employees provide tours and perform maintenance on the island.