FAQ

Bannerman Castle is an abandoned military surplus warehouse located on Bannerman Island (aka Pollepel Island), originally built by Francis Bannerman VI in the early 20th Century. The island and the structures on it are owned by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (NYSOPRHP), and is part of the Hudson Highland State Park Preserve, Taconic Region. The arsenal structure is on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. The Bannerman Castle Trust, an official “Friends” organization of the NYSOPRHP opened the island for tours in 2004. bannermancastle.org 



On the island you will experience beautifully restored gardens, the Bannerman Summer Residence which hosts a small museum, and incredible views of the Hudson River Fjord and the arsenal ruins. Guided tours, theatrical events, film and music are some of the choices offered for your unique Bannerman Island experience. Tickets can be purchased online at bannermancastle.org.

• Bannerman Castle is located on Pollepel (aka Bannerman’s) Island, on the Hudson River, between Beacon and Cold Spring, NY. You must take a boat to reach Bannerman Island. It is at the northern end of the Hudson Highland chain of mountains, approximately 5 miles north of West Point Military Academy.
• You must take a boat to Bannerman Island. The dock from where tours depart is located at 2 Red Flynn Drive, Beacon, NY, 12508.

• You must take a boat to Bannerman Island. Tours on the Trust’s 44-passenger vessel, the Estuary Steward depart on weekends in the late spring, summer and early fall, and are managed by the Bannerman Castle Trust. bannermancastle.org. The Trust offers historical tours, plays, music and special dinners on the island throughout the touring season. Access to the island is only through the Bannerman Castle Trust. More info on all of the events and tours can be found at bannermancastle.org
• Plan to arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled departure. Plan for excessive amounts of traffic when traveling to the Hudson Valley and Beacon, NY, particularly during peak season (September/October) and weekends. We cannot accommodate, reschedule or process refunds for late arrivals.

• At this time, Bannerman Island is not accessible to people with disabilities. In order to access the island and the structures, visitors must be able to climb 72 steps from the dock area. Once up the stairs, there are beautiful restored trails of easy – moderate difficulty to view the arsenal, to visit the gardens, to access the terraces, and the Residence & Museum. Please wear weather-appropriate clothing and sensible walking shoes.

• The Bannerman Castle Trust, with assistance from a cohort of West Point Cadets, installed two Clivus Multrum compostable toilets in 2019.
• There is a museum and a Pavilion with a small gift shop on the island, located at the historic Bannerman Family Residence. The Residence has been almost completely restored by the Bannerman Castle Trust.
• There is a small selection of food and beverage for sale at the Pavilion.

Wedding ceremonies and events can be held on Bannerman’s Island for 40 people or less between May and October. Prices vary depending on your needs and the day of the week. Please contact bannermanweddings@gmail.com for more information.

Personal photography is encouraged on Bannerman Island, i.e. photos that are not sold. Commercial Photography (any photographs that you sell) requires a permit and fee from NY State Parks and a donation to The Bannerman Castle Trust, Inc. #bannermanisland #bannermancastle #hudsonvalley

• Please check the weather and wear appropriate clothing and sensible walking shoes. Use insect repellent and sunscreen prior to boarding the Estuary Steward.
• No outside food or drinks are allowed on the island for theatrical performances and movies.
• Alcohol and smoking (of any kind) are not permitted on Bannerman Island.
• Bring your camera! Photos for personal enjoyment are encouraged.
• And finally…bring your sense of adventure! This is a unique site and you will not be disappointed.

• Pets, emotional support animals, comfort animals, or therapy dogs are not permitted on site. Only ADA Title III service animals are permitted. Please review the ADA’s service animal regulations for clarification and guidelines.

• Parking is available for free on Friday evenings and weekends in the Beacon Metro North (MTA) parking lot adjacent to the dock on Red Flynn Drive.
• Please arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled departure time. If you booked for 6pm be there at 5:30pm, and if you booked for 7pm, be there at 6:30pm.

• Regardless of age, all passengers on the Estuary Steward must purchase a seat on the boat, due to Coast Guard regulations.
• Babes in Arms (or in a carrier) are not allowed on Bannerman Island due to the unevenness of the terrain. Thank you for your understanding.
• We do not recommend that children age 5 and under attend one of the historical tours; we do encourage families with children to attend the Third Sunday Music Self-Guided Tours.
• Most films shown on Bannerman Island have age restrictions due to the content of the film and the length of the visit to the island; we generally do not allow children under the age of 12 to attend Movie Nights.
• Parents and Caregivers must keep strict control of their children while on Bannerman Island due to the difficulty of the terrain, the historical artifacts and overall sensitive nature of the island and the structures.

• Bannerman Island (Pollepel Island has haunting stories that go back to the Dutch Sailors who settled in Fishkill in the 1600s including “The Heer (King) of Dunderberg,” a goblin creature that inhabited the Hudson Highlands from Dunderberg Mountain to Pollepel (Bannerman) Island. The “Heer (King) of Dunderberg (Thunder Mountain)” controlled the Thunder and Lightning and caused sailing ships to sink in the Hudson River. This made the sailors superstitious. For a storyteller’s take visit: The Heer of Dunderberg | The Goblin King on Thunder Mountain, narrated and hosted by Joe McGowan.
• In modern times a denizen of Bannerman Island, Charlie Crawford, whose father Frank Crawford was the Superintendent, tells the story of an old sea captain who haunted the lodge.

• If you are interested in experiencing the beautiful Autumn colors of the Hudson Valley, I Love NY has an interactive map of New York with a full Foliage Report. Please refer to that map for the most accurate information about the status of fall foliage in the Hudson Valley region.

• Yes! Please contact our Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer.bannermancastle@gmail.com. We have a robust group of Bannerman Island Gardeners, and are always in need of more hands for other tasks on the island. Thank you!

There are no refunds or rescheduling for all activities. Please note your tickets are guaranteed, therefore BCT cannot resell your tickets. If you cannot use your ticket you are welcome to give it to someone else to use. The Estuary Steward and the Tour goes RAIN or SHINE. If the weather is too bad to take the boat out, the Captain will call the trip, only before the trip is scheduled to go.

If the captain cancels the trip, guests will be able to reschedule to another date. If a guest decides they do not want to come because of bad weather and the boat goes out for the tour, our cancellation policy stands. You will not be able to reschedule or get a refund. If it is raining, please bring rain gear.

Bannerman Island tours operate seasonally, from the end of April through October each year. Historic Tours are primarily held on weekends, but vary throughout the season – check our website for specific dates and times.