East Haddam, CT
Difficulty: Easy
Connecticut is home to 110 state parks and 32 state forests, and this is the only one that has a castle as its focal point. Gillette Castle sits 200ft above the Connecticut River atop the southern most hill in a chain called The Seven Sisters and is surrounded by 184 acres of woodlands. The castle draws about 300,000 visitors a year and is one of the most recognizable landmarks on the eastern side of the state.
The castle was constructed in 1914 by William Hooker Gillette (1853-1937, no affiliation to Gillette razors). According to the group “Friends of Gillette Castle” (a group dedicated to preserving the castle and surrounding area), William Gillette was born in Hartford, CT on July 24, 1853. His father was a law professor at Yale and his mother was a descendent of Thomas Hooker, the founder of Connecticut. In 1882 Gillette married Helen, an actress from Detroit. He also went on to become one of the most impactful theatre performers of the 20th century.
William Gillette’s most famous role was Sherlock Holms. Beginning in 1899, Gillette went on to perform Sherlock Holms more than 1,300 times over the next 33 years. With each performance, Gillette popularized many features we associate with the character, including the curved pipe, magnifying glass and the phrase “elementary my dear fellow”, which later evolved to “elementary my dear Watson.”
William Gillette spent much of his adult life traveling across the U.S performing in major cities and theatres, and by the 1910’s the actor was ready to have a retirement home. At first, Gillette wanted his retirement home to be in East Marion, NY on long Island. However, plans changed when Gillette spotted the Seven Sisters hills while on a riverboat trip along the Connecticut River. Gillette fell in love with the spot because it was untouched and free from developing areas like New Haven and Hartford. Construction began in 1914 and was completed in 1919, although an addition would be added in 1923. The aptly named “Seventh Sister Estate” featured a 14,000 square foot home with 24 rooms and cost $1.1 million dollars to complete (about $34 million in today’s money).
Helen passed away in 1888 from appendicitis at the age of 28. Before she passed, he made a promise to her that he would seek out love again. William Gillette passed away in 1937, having never remarried and having no children. His Estate was left to his brother-in-law and cousin. In his will he made it very clear this land was to remain undeveloped. He saw how much the surrounding areas had grown, and he wanted his land to remain in its natural state. In 1948 the family sold the property to the State of Connecticut for $30,000, under the condition that it can never be built upon. On October 7th, 1949 Gillette Castle State Park and Museum opened to the public.
Gillette Castle State Park also includes a handful of hiking trails that take you along the banks of the river and back up to the castle. The land William Gillette loved so much remains shaped in the vision he had back in 1914, free from large developments and instead, quiet and at one with nature. Items designed to his liking remain as they were back in 1914, just as he wished. His house would go on to inspire everyone from architects to actors to families who would come to see the place he called home and learn about the life he got to live and the characters he created.
Parking: 67 River Rd, East Haddam, CT 06423
AllTrails: https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/connecticut/gillette-castle-state-park
Off The Trails: A Hiker's Guide to the Outdoors 
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