Gillette Castle [Suggest Edits]

Description

Gillette Castle is a beautiful and unique historic site on the border of Lyme and East Haddam. This building was the vision and home of the eccentric showman, actor, director, and inventor William Gillette. Gillette is best known for adapting the original Sherlock Holmes novels for the stage and many of Holme's best-known attributes (from his hat and pipe to "Elementary, my dear Watson") were originated by him.

The castle itself is the centerpiece of Gillette Castle State Parks, one of Connecticut's premier state parks. Open seasonally, the building is a museum with exhibits preserving the building and information about Gillette's life. Additionally, the park features a visitor center, a cafe, a boat launch by the river, beautiful grounds, multiple different scenic picnic areas and shelters, and miles of trails.

The best known of these trails is the Train Trail. This trail, blazed purple, follows the path of Gillette's Seven Sisters Railroad, a fully functioning miniature railroad that Gillette built and maintained for the entertainment of his guests. Altogether Gillette Castle and the park surrounding it is a wonderful and worthwhile destination.

Short Walk: The castle and visitor center are close to the main parking lot and there are various other parking opportunities near other areas of the park. There is no fee to enter the park but there is a small fee to get into the castle.

Gem Type: Historic Site