MTA Offers 25 Percent Off For Bannerman Castle Cruise, Tour

MID HUDSON VALLEY, NY — The MTA is offering 25 percent off its rail and admission ticket package for travelers going to the Bannerman Castle Cruise and Walking Tour through Oct. 31.

Bannerman Castle, a landmark on the Hudson River Island, looks like a medieval ruin from Europe, but the castle was used to store an inventory of surplus military equipment, said the MTA.

A fire destroyed the buildings two years later, but the ruins remain and offer a rich history and panoramic views of the Hudson Valley, according to the transit agency.

It was Francis “Frank” Bannerman VI, a Scottish merchant, who purchased the Hudson River’s Pollepel Island, according to his grand-daughter-in-law, Jane Bannerman on the website Bannermancastle.org.

The island, which was once attacked by the British during the American Revolution, was considered haunted by Native American tribes, according to Bannerman.

Now guests will get a chance to enjoy a scenic cruise along the Hudson aboard the Estuary Steward to learn more about the castle and its history in a 30-minute ride, which will take people from the ferry dock at Beacon station to Pollepel Island, where the guided tour of the island’s mysteries will commence, according to the MTA (For safety reasons, entrance to the castle is prohibited).

Tours depart from the dock, rain or shine, on Saturdays and Sundays at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. There is a 72-step climb from the dock to the start of the tour and some rough terrain on the island, so comfortable shoes are suggested (there is a rest stop along the way). Strollers cannot be accommodated, added the travel agency.

How to Get Your Tickets

Customers must call Neil Caplan at (845) 831-6346 to confirm a reservation date and give a phone contact. A credit card is required to hold tour reservations. Seats are limited. Tours frequently sell out, if interested call at least 48 hours in advance. People interested in canceling must call Caplan at the aforementioned number by Wednesday the latest (EST) the week of tour reservation, otherwise a $30 per person fee will be charged for no-shows.

Once a date is confirmed, purchase a package from any Metro-North ticket office or full-service ticket vending machine (excluding Beacon station). Use OMNY or MetroCard for the subway or bus.

To learn more about Bannerman Castle visit bannermancastle.org/history/.