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Castle in the Clouds of New Hampshire

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Castle in the Clouds - Lucknow Estate in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire

Castle in the Clouds is an historic mountaintop estate overlooking Lake Winnipesaukee in central New Hampshire. You can drive up the mountain to the estate and park near the mansion, then take a trolley around the grounds to the walking paths.

Thomas Plant, the man who designed and built this lovely hilltop estate, was a self-made millionaire who worked in the shoe industry in the early twentieth century. Plant and his wife Olive designed and built Lucknow - the name given to the estate - as their planned retirement home, but misfortune robbed them of their wealth and that dream never materialized.

Thomas and Olive Plant purchased the rural property and sited the house at the very highest point on the mountain, where it overlooks the Lake and surrounding terrain. Their "castle in the clouds" and its beautiful grounds have been restored and preserved as they were when the mansion was first designed and constructed.

Castle In The Clouds - Grounds and Garden Photographs

The main entrance of Lucknow shows off its Craftsman architectural style. The building is completely constructed of locally quarried granite stones and hand hewn timbers. It was designed to weather the severe New Hampshire winters and winds with ease.

Castles must have towers, and this one has a lovely turret roof with plenty of windows. Each hand-shaped stone has 5 sides, crafted and assembled by a team of talented Italian stone masons who lived on site during construction.

After parking your car in the visitor's lot near Castle Springs bottling plant, you take a short trolley ride to the Castle in the Clouds. The grounds have been maintained much as they were when the estate was built. The former stable is restored and houses the gift shop, restrooms and cafe.

New Hampshire is known as The Granite State, and many huge outcroppings of the rugged stone appear in the mountainside, especially near cascading streams and waterfalls along the roadway that leads to the summit parking area.

The ample front lawn and garden at Castle in the Clouds sit atop a sturdy constructed granite retaining wall that's at least 20 feet tall. Photographers will find plenty of unobstructed views to shoot pictures of the Ossippe Mountains, surrounding valleys and Lake Winnipesaukee below the estate.

Stone features on the grounds are built from local native granite like this huge retaining wall and stairway that lead from the main garden to the driveway and lower grounds.

Pure spring water flows year round from the mountain at Castle in the Clouds. The water is so pure it's bottled and sold as Castle Springs mountain water.

Castle in the Clouds is bright inside because of the many windows in each room offering spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and lakes below.

Walking trails abound on the 5500 acres of conservation land that surround Castle in the Clouds in Moultonborough, NH. Thirty miles of trails were constructed by Thomas Plant so that he and his wife could ride horseback throughout the grounds.

Spectacular waterfalls from natural fresh water springs tumble down the mountain side and granite ledges on the Castle in the Clouds estate. Walkways and paths lead to these natural beauties - you can get up close and personal.

Castle in the Clouds - From Ossippee Mountains to Lake Winnipesaukee

Thomas Plant named the estate Lucknow perhaps because he made his fortune quickly and it reflected his feelings of financial success at that moment. Thomas and his brother and business partner William actually were orphans who became self-made millionaires. Thomas built a highly successful shoe manufacturing business in Massachusetts; William invented and patented a machine that helped make the men wealthy and successful. Plant sold the business for $20 million dollars. Later he lost his wealth due to a series of financial misfortunes.

Construction of the arts and crafts style 16-room mansion, stable and other buildings took three years and one thousand workers. Stone masons and carpenters lived on site and worked on the structure from 1912 to 1914. The granite was blasted and quarried from the surrounding terrain and shaped by Italian stone masons. The five-sided granite stones were cut and shaped on site from local granite. Timbers were cut from local trees, then sent to the Bath, Maine shipworks to be hand hewn and returned to the site by railroad, horse and wagon.

One room in the house was designed and built for Theodore Roosevelt, a friend of the Plants who visited often. It's named the Roosevelt bedroom in his honor.

The Story of Lucknow: Lucknow is an estate in Moultonborough, New Hampshire. The main house sits atop a mountain in the Ossipee Range, to the north of Lake Winnipesaukee, surrounded by 5000 acres of mountain forest. A base lodge, gatehouse, and carriage house
and stable serve the property.
Castle In the Clouds: The Castle in the Clouds is a spectacular turn-of-the-century 16-room Arts & Crafts mansion set on a pristine 5500-acre mountaintop estate overlooking Lake W innipesaukee, the largest body of water in New Hampshire. If you visit the castle, plan to spend the day. The castle is open for tours, plus you can walk or hike on 45-miles of groomed trails, stroll winding paths, enjoy its beautiful gardens and grounds and get up close to its gorgeous waterfalls that tumble out of the granite ledges on the mountainside. There's also the Castle Springs water bottling plant, and the original stable building has been restored and converted to offices, cafe and gift shop.

The Castle in the Clouds is easy to find, located 2 miles east of the NH Rt. 109 intersection on NH Rt. 171, at 455 Old Mountain Road in Moultonborough, NH (03254).
Lucknow Estate - Castle in the Clouds of New Hampshire: Thomas Plant described his estate in these words:

"In the heart of New Hampshire, on the southern slope of the Ossipee Mountains, lies Lucknow, a magnificent estate of 6,300 acres, extending from the summit of the mountains to the north shore of Lake Winnipesaukee, and bordering the Lake for a mile and a half. The estate is composed of hundreds of acres of meadow and pasture land, but the greater part of the entire property is woodland. Through these and over the mountains, through the lowlands and along the Lake, run more than thirty miles of private driving roads and bridal paths. ...

Lake Winnipesaukee View from Castle in the Clouds

Historic Landmark and Grounds Preserved Forever

The Lakes Region contains some of the most beautiful and threatened wildlife habitat and recreation resources in the northeastern United States. In 2003, following a 3-year campaign to raise private funds contributed by more than 2,000 donors for its acquisition and eternal preservation, the Lakes Region Conservation Trust made the final payment to purchase the historic Castle in the Clouds property.

The Castle in the Clouds is a landmark early 20th century estate comprised of a 5,500 acre parcel plus assorted structures and roadways. The Lakes Region Conservation Trust has acquired and preserved more than 17,000 acres of property in New Hampshire which includes shorelines, islands, wetlands, forests, and mountaintops, including more than eight miles of shore frontage on the Region's lakes and ponds.

New Hampshire's Lakes Region boasts several famous lakes including Sunapee, Squam and the state's largest body of water, Lake Winnipesaukee, located in the heart of the Granite State. Castle in the Clouds overlooks Lake Winnipesaukee. Views of the lake and surrounding forest areas are beautiful in all four seasons and most spectacular in the fall during the peak foliage time from late September to early October.

Easy New Hampshire Hikes

Kid-Friendly and Dog-Friendly Hiking in New Hampshire

Hiking in New Hampshire is a year round activity. In winter there's plenty to explore either with snowshoes, cross country skiis or for the more adventurous, ice climbing gear.

Visit New Hampshire and Castle in the Clouds

New Hampshire is a state with many wonderful tourist attractions and majestic natural beauty. The state's different regions are diverse: from the Castle in the Clouds you can reach the seashore, mountains, farms and orchards plus hundreds of beautiful lakes and streams within an hour's drive. Boston is less than two hours away by automobile. Former Massachusetts Governer Mitt Romney owns a vacation home in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire.

Castle in the Clouds - www.winnipesaukee.com: Thomas Plant described his estate in these words:

"Midway between the Lake, one of the most beautiful in the country, and the crest of the mountains, on a hilltop 750 feet above Lake Winnipesaukee, is located the house, commanding on all sides views of incomparable beauty, majesty, and inspiration. The natural setting of the house with it's background of lofty mountains; the immediate environment of rolling plateaus, shaded valleys, streams, and falls running through rocky gorges; the mile upon mile of wooded drives and bridal paths, and finally the far-flung vistas across a most beautiful lake off into the distance - provides a general assembling of natural beauty acknowledged by worldwide travelers to be without equal."
NH Attractions - Castle in the Clouds - NewHampshire.com: Information about the Castle in the Clouds attraction in Moultonborough, NH. The historic estate offers sweeping views of Lake Winnipesaukee and the surrounding Ossipee Mountains.
Visit NH 4 Seasons Vacation Videos: New Hampshire's 2nd largest industry in regards to employment is tourism, and the state goes all out to welcome leisure and business visitors to each of its unique regions during all four seasons. VisitNH.gov is the official state tourism web site. This link leads to videos that highlight travel ideas throughout the state for each of the seasons.
New Hampshire Events Calendar: Find fun and excitement any day of the year with this tourism events calendar published by the NH department of travel. New Hampshire hospitality is world famous.
US History Videos - American History Timeline - The Lucknow Estate: History.com feature video about the Lucknow Estate (Castle in the Clouds) offers a bit of history about the millionaire who built the estate, and how he lost his fortune.
Lakes Region of New Hampshire: Crystal clear lakes, sandy beaches, train rides, boat cruises, castle tours, science centers, historic walks, four seasons of fun and activities, skiing, snowmobile, tax free shopping, dining, free information and assistance for your vacation plans, meeting & special group event.

Castle in the Clouds - Interior Photographs

My photos of Lucknow, October 2005

Exquisite stained glass panels in several rooms feature scenes from the grounds.

Every window in the building offers spectacular views of the natural, peaceful lands surrounding the estate.

Thomas Plant's office and desk.

A unique fireplace with window above.

A phone system to summon maids to any room.

Plants private reading room, to which only he held a key, is secreted behind this low panel door.

The stairway to the second floor winds slowly in a circular pattern with immense skylights above.

This tower bedroom features unique wood flooring custom fit to the shape of the room.

This spacious tiled bathroom is only one of many and features double sinks, a huge bathtub and unique multi-jet shower.

Luxurious multi-jet shower.

From the castle grounds at Lucknow (Castle in the Clouds, New Hampshire), and from any window within this spectacular turn-of-the-century 16-room Arts & Crafts mansion, you can see breathtaking views of Lake Winnipesaukee, Ossippee and the White Mountains.

Castle in the Clouds sits in the center of 5500 acres of preserved forest land open to the public for hiking or birdwatching. The grounds are tranquil and natural. Our visit was in October on a rainy day but it was still beautiful on the mountain and inside the castle. Autumn leaves were spectacular that weekend, as they are most days from first frost until late October in New England. From the castle's many windows and on the garden grounds you can take in the beautiful foliage that abounds in central New Hampshire and the White Mountains. If you enjoy horseback riding, there are miles of groomed trails and a fully appointed stable available for hourly rentals.

In May, 2011, Castle in the Clouds was named one of the Granite State's greatest preservation achievements of the past 25 years by the New Hampshire. Preservation Alliance. For the past 25 years, the N.H. Preservation Alliance has been encouraging towns and organizations to preserve their old mills and town halls, to connect the present with the past and save it for the future.

Historic and beautiful Castle in the Clouds is available as a rental facility for weddings and other special events.

New Hampshire Tourism

One visit is not enough for most tourists to the Granite State

New Hampshire has it all - ocean front, clear freshwater lakes rivers and streams, mountains, valleys, farmland and vibrant cities. Southern New Hampshire is less than 1 hour from Boston and is a shopping mecca because there's no sales tax.

Have you visited New Hampshire, the Granite State?

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New Hampshire Video

NH Film Office promo video, narrated by Orson Welles

Fritz Weatherbee introduces this exquisite location-rich video about New Hampshire and its abundant opportunities for film makers looking for unique scenery and easy access to New York or Boston. As a visual tour alone this video is worth the view. Take a look.

New Hampshire is the best vacation state in New England

What more could a state offer: Live Free or Die, no sales tax (no income tax, either!), lots of clean air and water, and plenty of room to move around, great roads, scenic views and something for everyone - hiking, camping, skiing, fairs, crafts, fine arts, cultural events, great restaurants, farm stands and lots more.

Plus, New Hampshire is only 1 hour from Boston from any location in the southern half of the state and it's got 4 real seasons to enjoy some R & R.

New Hampshire is absolutely the best vacation spot in New England

Yes! It's got everything - mountains, lakes, seacoast, arts, history, shopping, food ...

shermanmorrison says:

Yes! Although I live here year-round (except right now because I'm in Brazil), so I am biased!

tordon says:

Did not realize New Hampshire had so much to offer! Love the pictures, it is really beautiful.

Papier says:

it looks super

Seltzerqueen says:

It sure is!
It made the first spot my list of top 4 New England vacation destinations (http://hubpages.com/hub/Top-4-New-England-Vacations)!

vallain says:

it's my favorite place in the summer!

dustytoes says:

I don't take many vacations, but NH is definitely a great place to live.

ChineseKitesforKids says:

Looks great to me!

Nah, I like another New England state better. And here's why ...

Pastiche says:

I lived most of my life in New Hampshire and it is a fabulous 4 season vacation state, especially if you venture toward the western, central or coastal regions.

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Castle in the Clouds of New Hampshire

Castle in the Clouds - Lucknow Estate in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire

Castle In The Clouds - Grounds and Garden Photographs

Castle in the Clouds - From Ossippee Mountains to Lake Winnipesaukee

Lake Winnipesaukee View from Castle in the Clouds

Historic Landmark and Grounds Preserved Forever

Easy New Hampshire Hikes

Kid-Friendly and Dog-Friendly Hiking in New Hampshire

Visit New Hampshire and Castle in the Clouds

Castle in the Clouds - Interior Photographs

My photos of Lucknow, October 2005

New Hampshire Tourism

One visit is not enough for most tourists to the Granite State

Thanks for voting! Now invite your friends to vote.

New Hampshire Video

NH Film Office promo video, narrated by Orson Welles

New Hampshire is the best vacation state in New England

New Hampshire is absolutely the best vacation spot in New England

Yes! It's got everything - mountains, lakes, seacoast, arts, history, shopping, food ...

shermanmorrison says:

tordon says:

Papier says:

Seltzerqueen says:

vallain says:

dustytoes says:

ChineseKitesforKids says:

Nah, I like another New England state better. And here's why ...

Pastiche says:

New Hampshire Books for Children

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New Hampshire Lakes Region Travel Guides

It's on the Map - Here's How to Find Castle in the Clouds

New Hampshire Lakes Region Gifts

New Hampshire Photography and Classics

About the Author

I'm a New Hampshire Lover

New Hampshire Gifts

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Have you visited New Hampshire's Castle in the Clouds?

I've visited the Castle at least 3 times and I'll be going back again

Best Attractions in New Hampshire

New Hampshire Travel and Tourism LInks ONLY

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