It’s springtime in New England (finally!) and it’s the great time of year when attractions open for the summer season. One of those places is Gillette Castle in East Haddam, CT, an American Craftsman-style castle that sits on a 184-acre estate that is now a state park. The castle was built by William Gillette, an actor and playwright who was best known for portraying Sherlock Holmes on stage.
The castle has been in the State of Connecticut’s hands since 1943. Gillette Castle is open from May through October (Memorial Day Weekend through Columbus Day) for tours, although the grounds are open all year round. We took the tour a few summers ago and the property is pretty amazing. Gillette loved intricate doors and door locking mechanisms, and he really had an eye for design, in general.
You can easily spend a few hours there – taking the tour, walking the trails that surround the property, and stopping to have a picnic lunch.
More information about Gillette Castle is found on the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP).
See more photos from my travels in Connecticut on my photo site.
Frembes.com 