Connecticut

Connecticut

Gillette Castle State Park

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Established
1943
Acreage
184 · 184 acres atop the southernmost of the Seven Sisters hills; CT purchased the property in 1943 for $29,000 after Gillette's death
Location
East Haddam, CT (high above the east bank of the Connecticut River)
Key features
24-room, 14,000 sq ft fieldstone castle (1914-1919) designed and built by Sherlock Holmes actor William Gillette; 3 mi of trails; remnants of Gillette's 3-mile narrow-gauge railroad; Connecticut River views
Activities
Castle tours, hiking, picnicking, fishing on the Connecticut River, photography, seasonal events
Notable
Built by William Hooker Gillette, the actor most famous for portraying Sherlock Holmes on stage; he personally designed the castle, its hand-carved wooden door locks, built-in furniture, and a private 3-mi narrow-gauge railroad

Visits

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Source: portal.ct.gov · 2026-05-10