10 Staggering Photos Of An Abandoned Castle Hiding In Connecticut
By Taylor Ellis|Published March 17, 2017
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Taylor Ellis
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Taylor Ellis grew up in southern Connecticut. She is a social boss who has worked with several major sites and brands. Follow her at taylorellisblogger.com
Connecticut is more often associated with mansions than castles, but the state was once host to a number of stone wonders. Most of them have since disappeared, with the exception of East Haddam’s Gillette Castle. But few people realize that there’s a second castle in Connecticut. It’s rarely talked about because it’s slowly crumbling to pieces but, despite nature reclaiming it, you can still get a glimpse and imagine what used to be. Hearthstone Castle was built in 1897, making it nearly twenty years older than Gillette. These photos are hauntingly beautiful and will have your imagination soaring.
1. Despite being built from local stone, the wood for the interior was all imported from Italy. It was built relatively quickly, considering it was three stories high and contained 16 rooms.
2. It was named Hearthstone Castle by its third owner, presumably because eight of the rooms contained a stone fireplace. The gate posts at the entrance were composed of granite and a grand staircase greeted you in the entry hall. It was the embodiment of wealth and elegance.
3. Irene Parks and her family owned the castle for 70 years before it was purchased by the town of Danbury. Unfortunately, they've been unable to maintain it and it has fallen into disrepair.
4. Today, Hearthstone peeks out from the trees and vines that are slowly devouring it. Once capable of producing its own electricity, this gem is an ominous testament to the changing times. Once a spectacle, it has since been forgotten...
5. The main tower piece remains intact, however, though all of the windows have now been boarded up. It appears a little medieval, but this was a family home and the host of many a party.
6. It's kind of creepy to see this incredible building in the middle of the woods, but even in its run down state you can appreciate the the detail and work behind this stone wonder. You can see that the castle was built using multiples kinds of stones, as well as brick. It gave it a dash of color that likely made it stand out in its prime.
7. The original builder was a huge fan of arches and that's reflected in the castle. It looks like a secret garden now, but it was once a courtyard fit for the daughter of a wealthy industrial tycoon.
8. The front porch wrapped around the castle and had large stone arches. It offered panoramic views of the surrounding woods that were unparalleled at sunrise.
9. It's difficult to imagine that a library, billiards room and charming dining room once stood here. Now the Italian wood floors have collapsed in and the walls are crumbling down. If you visit, you might find the sights paired with the silence a bit unnerving.
10. This place exists a little off the beaten path, though it once had a 800 foot driveway. This piece of state history is a real spectacle, both then and now. Its current state is shocking but it's also hard to believe people really lived in castles. Especially ones as elaborate as this!
This place is gated for a reason, so we don’t recommend an interior visit, but since it’s located within the public Tarrywile Park, located at 70 Southern Boulevard, Danbury, CT 06810, you’re free to walk the perimeter and attempt a closer look. This treasure probably won’t be around for very much longer.
