# Gillette Castle State Park

> The actor William Gillette, famous for playing Sherlock Holmes on stage, designed and built this castle between 1914 and 1919; an addition followed in 1924.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/places/gillette-castle-state-park/

A fieldstone mansion built like a medieval castle on a hill above the Connecticut River, once the home of an actor. Tour the quirky interior, then walk the grounds for river views; the ferry crossing nearby makes a fun detour.

The actor William Gillette, famous for playing Sherlock Holmes on stage, designed and built this castle between 1914 and 1919; an addition followed in 1924. He lived here until his death in 1937. The 24-room house of about 14,000 sq ft (1,300 m²) is built of fieldstone over a steel frame, and inside he used hand-hewn white oak. Gillette devised 47 different doors with individually carved latches, plus hidden doors and mirrors that let him watch his guests. Connecticut bought the estate in 1943 for $29,000.

The castle stands on the "Seventh Sister", the southernmost of the Seven Sisters hills, in a 184-acre (74 ha) park above the Connecticut River. A 3-mile (5 km) narrow-gauge railroad once ran on the grounds, and its locomotives are now displayed in the visitor center. After a four-year restoration the castle reopened in 2002. Allow two to three hours; there are also hiking trails and picnic areas.

- **Nearest town:** East Haddam, CT
- **Category:** Roadside oddities
- **GPS:** 41.4180, -72.4296

## Good to know

**Best time to go:** The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August and October. Cold, short days in December–February. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)

## Sources

- [Gillette Castle State Park – CT DEEP](https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Parks/Gillette-Castle-State-Park/Overview%F0%9F%91%87%F0%9F%8F%BC)
- [Gillette Castle State Park – Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gillette_Castle_State_Park)

## Nearby

- [Essex Village](https://camping-spirit.com/places/essex-village-ct/) – 5 mi
- [Chapman Falls, Devil's Hopyard](https://camping-spirit.com/places/chapman-falls-devils-hopyard/) – 7 mi
- [Hammonasset Beach State Park](https://camping-spirit.com/places/hammonasset-beach-state-park/) – 12 mi
- [Mystic Seaport Museum](https://camping-spirit.com/places/mystic-seaport-museum/) – 24 mi

## FAQs

### Where is Gillette Castle State Park?

Gillette Castle State Park is in East Haddam, CT, at GPS 41.4180, -72.4296. It is about 24 mi from Mystic.

### Can you camp near Gillette Castle State Park?

Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Cedars Camp Area, about 1 mi away; within 25 mi there are 54 campsites and motorhome stopovers.

### What is there to see near Gillette Castle State Park?

Places worth a stop nearby: Essex Village (5 mi), Chapman Falls, Devil's Hopyard (7 mi), Hammonasset Beach State Park (12 mi) and Mystic Seaport Museum (24 mi).

### When is the best time to visit Gillette Castle State Park?

The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)