Gillette Castle State Park

William Gillette was one of the most famous American actors of his era, a playwright and performer best remembered for portraying Sherlock Holmes on stage. His interpretation shaped the popular image of the detective, and the curved pipe and other details associated with Holmes owe much to Gillette's performances. His success on the stage brought him the wealth to build the extraordinary home that now bears his name.

Gillette was as inventive off stage as on it, fascinated by gadgets, mechanisms, and clever design. That sensibility runs all through the castle, which reflects the personality of a man who loved illusion, surprise, and craftsmanship in equal measure.

Gillette designed the castle himself and had it built in the 1910s on a bluff he chose for its commanding view of the Connecticut River, one of a line of hills known as the Seven Sisters. Constructed of local fieldstone with massive walls, it was raised over several years by a crew of workers following his exacting and unconventional plans.

The result looks like a medieval fortress transplanted to Connecticut, but inside it is full of personal invention. Gillette designed dozens of hand-carved wooden doors, each with its own intricate latch, along with built-in furniture, a system of mirrors that let him see who was arriving from his bedroom, and other clever contrivances that reveal his playful, mechanical mind.

Touring the interior is a treat of oddities and craftsmanship. Visitors find the famous carved doors and their puzzle-like locks, the concealed mirrors, a movable table on tracks, and rooms shaped by Gillette's theatrical eye for effect. Every surface seems to hold a small surprise, and guides delight in pointing them out.

Gillette's playfulness extended outdoors as well. He built a three-mile narrow-gauge railroad on his estate and ran it himself, giving rides to guests, among them, by legend, notable figures of the day. The rail line is gone, but its route survives as walking trails, and the sense of a grown man's elaborate playground lingers over the whole property.

The state park surrounding the castle offers wooded trails, stone bridges and arches Gillette designed, and terraces with wide views over the Connecticut River far below. The grounds are open year round and free, so even when the castle interior is closed for the season, the setting rewards a visit.

Just below the bluff, the seasonal Chester-Hadlyme ferry crosses the Connecticut River as it has for generations, one of the oldest ferry crossings in the country. Arriving or departing by ferry adds a fittingly old-fashioned flourish to a visit to one of Connecticut's most beloved landmarks.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.