Castles in the Northeast

There aren’t many things cooler than a castle. Besides the lore they’re sure to have in spades, castles are architectural marvels that represent a time in history we get to experience firsthand. Plus, it’s always just fun to imagine living in one.

When you think of a castle, your mind might automatically picture an old ruin in Europe. But luckily for us, we have castles of our own right here in the Northeast, no passport required.

Connecticut

Hearthstone Castle

Danbury

Although it now lies in ruins, Hearthstone Castle (once Sanford Castle) was built in 1895 as a honeymoon cottage for Elias Starr Sanford and his wife, Emma. It boasted three stories and 16 rooms with woodwork imported from Italy and silver-plated chandeliers dotting elaborate ceilings. After five years and a revelation from Mrs. Sanford that she actually disliked the castle, it was sold to retired New York industrialist Victor Buck. In 1918, the castle was sold again. The new owner, Charles Darling Parks, renamed it Hearthstone.

Today the castle sits within Tarrywile Park. Visitors are allowed to view the ruins of Hearthstone Castle but, due to safety concerns, may not traverse beyond its surrounding fence.

Gillette Castle

East Haddam

The history of Gillette Castle reads somewhat like a mad lib.

Built by William Gillette, an actor who famously portrayed Sherlock Holmes on Broadway, the medieval-style castle sits on a 184-acre estate, which includes a private railway system that Gillette used to get around. Upon its completion in 1919, many elements of the castle portrayed Gillette’s eclectic tastes, from the wooden light switches to the numerous secret passageways. In his will, Gillette proclaimed that the property shall never fall into the hands, “of some blithering saphead who has no conception of where he is or with what surrounded.”

Thankfully, his words were heeded, and the estate was purchased by the State of Connecticut and made into a park that visitors can enjoy (and appreciate, per Gillette’s wishes). Tickets for a self-guided tour of the castle are available. Dates vary.

Massachusetts

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Hammond Castle Museum

Gloucester

Most castles start out as private homes and eventually turn into museums. Hammond Castle was always meant to be a museum.

John Hays Hammond Jr., a renowned inventor in his time, decided to enshrine his legacy in a castle that showcased old world Europe without having to leave the country. Antiquities from artwork to books line the many rooms of the castle, many of which Hammond salvaged and brought back after World War I. Today, Hammond Castle Museum is a STEAM organization (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics), prioritizing exhibits that foster a curiosity about science and engineering — something Hammond would have wholeheartedly approved.

Tours of Hammond Castle Museum are available daily, all year round. Reservations are strongly encouraged.

Winnekenni Castle

Haverhill

Winnekenni, an Algonquian term meaning very beautiful, lives up to such a name. Situated on a hill overlooking Kenoza Lake, the castle was built in 1875 by Dr. James R. Nichols, after a trip to England and Scotland inspired his vision. The castle is constructed of native boulders and rocks and took only two years to complete. Inside, it had a Grecian drawing room, Pompeian-style dining room, a black-walnut finished library, nine bedrooms and more.

Eventually, Nichols sold the property to his cousin who used it as a summer home for 10 years until selling it and the surrounding land to the City of Haverhill. A fire in 1969 destroyed the elaborate interior of the castle. Today, only the exterior of the castle remains. However, you can visit Winnekenni Park to explore its 700 acres of forests, meadows and 9 miles of trails.

New Jersey

Kip’s Castle

Montclair

Resting majestically on the ridge of First Mountain and spanning a whopping 9,000 square feet, Kip’s Castle is a medieval Norman-style structure originally known as Kypsburg, after the folks who brought it to life. From 1902 to 1905, Frederic Ellsworth Kip and his wife, Charlotte Bishop Williams Kip, designed and built the castle and grounds — most notably, the octagonal rose garden that enveloped the southwest corner of the property. Thirty rooms of varying design made up the interior, with everything from high vaulted ceilings to massive fireplaces.

Nowadays, the castle and its land are known as Kip’s Castle Park, which is open daily from dawn until dusk. The castle’s interior will be open to the public for touring in December 2025. Entry is free.

Van Slyke Castle

Wanaque

About 3 miles into the Ramapo Mountain State Forest lie the ruins of Van Slyke Castle, deserted and overgrown. Burned by vandals in the 1950s, after being abandoned, the castle was once the stately home of stockbroker William Porter and his wife, Ruth. Tragedy struck in 1911, when Porter’s vehicle nearly collided with a horse-drawn wagon, sending his vehicle careening into a ditch. He did not survive his injuries. Porter’s wife later married Warren Van Slyke, and together, they renamed the castle. After Ruth’s death in 1940, the castle was bought and sold numerous times, ultimately fell into disrepair and was abandoned for reasons unknown.

The curious and adventure-seeking can (carefully) explore the castle remains as well as its water tower and nearby pool.

New York

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Bannerman Castle

Beacon

Even a castle can live many lives. Bannerman Castle began as a fortress to house surplus military antiques in 1901. Then it became a summer residence for owners Frank and Helen Bannerman and their family. In 1969, the castle was mostly lost in a devastating fire. The great facade of the castle remains to welcome visitors to the island that it sits so proudly on.

Many legends surround the castle — true or not, who’s to say? One recalls the tale of a girl named Polly Pell who was rescued from the treacherous river ice by a handsome stranger, who she promptly married. The island was then named Pollepel in her honor. Other stories tell of ghostly apparitions, like the Heer (King) of Dunderberg, a goblin-like creature who controlled thunder and lightening to sink ships into the Hudson River. The castle’s lodge is also said to be haunted by an old sea captain.

Whether you’re lured by its lore or just want to see the castle in all its glory, tickets to tour Bannerman Castle are available but must be purchased in advance. Ticketed tours and events include a cruise and walking tour, a butterfly day tour, a kayak tour, movie nights and even a farm-to-table dinner.

Boldt Castle

Alexandria Bay

Boldt Castle was built as a love letter from millionaire George C. Boldt, owner of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, to his wife, Louise.

Development of the 120-room castle began in 1900 and included tunnels, a drawbridge, tower, Italian gardens and more. In 1904, work on the castle was put to a permanent halt: Louise had suddenly passed. Not willing to see it through without his beloved, George abandoned the project and never went back to the castle.

For 73 years, the castle stood unfinished and at the mercy of the elements. Finally, the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority acquired the property in 1977 and dedicated several million dollars to restoring it to its intended grandeur. Today visitors can ferry to the island and tour the castle on select dates May through October.

Oheka Castle

Huntington

As the second-largest private residence ever built in the United States, Oheka Castle is humongous. The 109,000-square-foot estate wasn’t even a full-time residence — just a summer home where financier and philanthropist Otto Hermann Kahn would hold lavish parties for European royalty and Hollywood stars.

After his passing in 1934, the estate served as a retreat for New York sanitation workers, a government training school, a military academy and then, ultimately, stood abandoned. It wasn’t until 1984, when developer Gary Melius purchased the castle and its surrounding acres, that the slow process of restoration began. And $40 million later, Oheka Castle is back in business, in more ways than one.

Now a prestigious hotel, wedding venue, event space and even a Hollywood star itself (spot it in “Citizen Cane” or “Succession”), Oheka Castle can also be enjoyed via guided group tours Monday through Thursday.

What’s your favorite castle to visit in the Northeast? Tell us in the comments!

Featured image: Oheka Castle