Castle In The Clouds: A Stony Jewel

By Lee Caldwell

Built in 1913-1914 by wealthy shoe manufacturer Thomas Plant and his wife, Olive, the Castle in the Clouds mountaintop mansion is a prime example of the arts-and-craft style. The stone mansion called “Lucknow” by the Plants has influences of Scandinavian, Swiss, Norman and Japanese architecture. This stony jewel is sitting in a 5,500-acre setting with amazing views of the Ossipee Mountains and Lake Winnipesaukee.

The Plants ran into financial difficulties and, when Thomas Plant died in 1941, Olive was forced into foreclosure. There was then a series of private owners until 1959 when Richard Robie opened the Castle as an attraction for the public.

In 2002, the Lakes Region Conservation Trust (LRCT) obtained the property with the help of 2,000 donors, and after four years of negotiations, the Castle Preservation Society (a non-profit) took over 135 acres and the actual preservation of the interior and exterior of the buildings. The Lakes Region Conservation Trust retained the rest of the acreage and the hiking trails. The two entities work together as partners to help preserve and maintain the property.

Charles “Chuck” Clark, executive director, states that the Castle Preservation Trust (CPS) has invested $5 million into the restoration of the stone castle mansion, the gate houses, and the carriage house, operating a historic museum and offering educational and historical programming with key partners.

Tours of “Lucknow” run Thursdays through Tuesdays, starting at 10 a.m. Some of the furnishings owned by the Plants remain in the castle and have been restored, and an attempt has been made to place them in their original locations by utilizing photos taken during that period. There is also a separate tour of the castle basement which gives a glimpse into the life of the servants of the time and also showcases the “ultra-modern” appliances that the Plants utilized.

Chuck’s particular favorite spot in the mansion is in the mountain balcony where you get a spectacular view of the Ossipee Mountains.

Noted for its lovely views and its gardens, the Castle is now a popular wedding venue, with 45-50 weddings per season (from May to October), with a number of wedding packages offered. All packages include the services of a wedding coordinator as well as other amenities.

The Carriage House restaurant serves an American Bistro Menu lunch on Thursdays through Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The menu has soup, sandwiches, and salads, and seating is available on the patio with views of Lake Winnipesaukee. The Carriage House was an actual carriage house for the Plants’ horses, and the original cobbled flooring and wrought iron stall dividers remain.

The LRCT maintains the hiking trails. Hiking trails and parking are free and open to the public. The LRCT has two parking areas: one on Route 171 and one at the end of Ossipee Park Road in the Castle in the Clouds Conservation Area. There are approximately 30 miles of hiking trails (remnants of the Plants’ bridle paths) meandering through the seven Ossipee Mountains.

One popular trail is the Brook Walk, a 0.5-mile trail that passes seven waterfalls: Roaring Falls, Twin Falls, Whittier Falls, The Cascades, Emerald Pool Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and Falls of Song. Chuck states that the hike along Oak Ridge Trail, with both “Lucknow” and Lake Winnipesaukee in the background, and the hike to Bald Knob, with its amazing view, are particular favorites with his family.

As executive director, Chuck wants to emphasize some of the additional special programs and events that are held at Castle in the Clouds. Some of them are free; some of them cost a modest fee.

He goes on to list some of the recurring programs: Story Time, Monday mornings, June 26 - August 21; Solar Gazing with the New Hampshire • Castle continued on page 4