This place is such a neat experience. I will say up front it was closed when we got there so we... read more
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Gillette Castle State Park
67 River Rd, East Haddam, CT 06423-1462
Open today: 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Review Highlights
“Really interesting stop. Happy we did it”
We stopped here on our way to RI. So glad we did. When you think Gillette you think razor so... read more
Leem921
North River, New York
4558
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All reviews sherlock holmes gillette castle connecticut river day trip visitor center beautiful grounds snack bar self guided ferry stone admission structure pond essex
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helloozoeee
Utica, New York
362
via mobile 
The reviews are true, it’s more exciting than you would think. We are usually those people that get bored easy but this tour of the castle is worth the few dollars per person. Just note: the guides inside can differ. We were lucky with the downstairs guide, he was very informative and interesting, the top floor guide did not seem like she wanted to be there and answered questions quickly and snippy to get back to her book. In any case, it was worth it. We also did a little hiking on the property and that was beautiful. I think 2 hours is a reasonable time to spend on the property
Date of experience: August 2024
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michelle C
New Bedford, Massachusetts
847
via mobile
What a gorgeous park to visit with family and friends or even by urself!!! Immaculate grounds!! Gorgeous views of the Ct river!! Our only disappointment was we arrived at 1pm and the tickets to tour the castle were sold out for the day which end at 6pm. Not sure if u can purchase tickets online.
Date of experience: September 2024
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cynthia K
Westville, Indiana
1060704
I talked him into going. He's mobility challenged, but can walk with a cane.
The visitor center is the place to start. You can't miss it - it's the big building you walk to from the parking lot!
You get a film about William Gillette - who he was & how the castle came to be built. There's a lot of memorabilia to look over.
Tickets for the tour are purchased in the visitor center. Tours are from 10am to 4pm. We were there fairly early & got tickets right away for a tour that began in 15 minutes. That gave us time to walk up to the castle.
Wow! gothic looking & unique. Even physically challenged, we made our tour time. A short walk to get to the castle.
You get a brief talk in the foyer, then move on to the living room. I didn't feel rushed in any way. Another docent gave a talk in the living room, in the bar room & upstairs. You can only go forward. If you leave at any point, you can't go back.
There's a lot of hiking trails on the grounds & picnic tables. The grounds are free if you don't want a tour of the inside of the castle.
We enjoyed this tour a lot!
Date of experience: August 2024
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pikasmom
Massachusetts
3078
Amazing! Don’t miss it and yes it’s definitely worth the $6 to go inside. Such history here! Built in 1914-1919. Take the cute ferry over for $5, so cute, loved it. It’s only minutes long but fun!
Date of experience: August 2024
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magill1986
East Greenwich, Rhode Island
11756
My top location for taking visitors, a quirky place with a great back story. And at $6, well worth it. The site and parking are free, but to access the castle, a ticket is required, in groups of 12 every 15 minutes. Depending on the day, the tickets can run out fast. The last time, arriving at 10:30 we got 1:30 tickets, but you have the trails, the bridge, and the outdoor area to explore with great views, as well as down to the riverside if you want to tackle the slope. You also have a great introductory video at the visitor center that is well worth watching and gives a lot of the context to the castle and Mr. Gillette. You can get tickets online, so that might be advised if you have other plans for the day and don't want to wait around.
The castle staff can vary in quality of the info you get, students tend to give less detail, but through the several floors you aren't rushed and generally can ask as many questions as you like. You go through the castle at your own pace with staff placed at the entrance, and on the main and third floors, so you can take your time.
There is a miniscule gift shop, and I have never seen the restaurant open. Trail maps aren't great if they exist at all, but there is one posted outside the door from the gift shop.
Date of experience: August 2024
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