Castle in the Clouds known as the “Lucknow” is actually a mansion located in a 5,000 acres in Moultonborough, New Hampshire overlooking Lake Winnipesaukee and the Ossipee Mountains and surrounded by a forest with hiking trails leading to some of the most beautiful waterfalls in that state.
Thomas Gustave Plant (1859-1941) was a self- made millionaire who owned a Shoe Factory considered the largest in the world in that époque. In 1914, he used his fortune to build the “Lucknow” for his second wife. Lucknow is a city in India and Thomas thought that he would build the mansion there until a family member told him about the Ossipee mountains. Thomas was an outdoor lover so he enabled his residency with hiking trails. When he was 51 years old, he decided to retire and sold his shoe factory so that he can travel the world, apparently one of his favorite hobbies, until he was broke. He attempted to sell the mansion with no luck. However, he and his wife were allowed to live there until he died. Unfortunately, his wife was asked to move out.
The Mansion was very innovative at that time with some peculiarities like a “needle shower,” outlets for a central vacuum system, a fire suppression system, an intercom system with phones in every major room. The mansion is fully furnished with original hand-carved hewn oak cabinetwork and 16-rooms, some of them are covered with original “pine bough” paper. The library has a “secret room” that Thomas used whenever he needed a moment of solitude to read his books or maybe to strategize his Shoe Factory, who knows? Besides that, the mansion has the typical facilities like guest and main bedroom, a kitchen, a dining and living room and a maid’s bedroom. One of the beauties of the house is the stunning view of the lakes and the mountains from every window.
The Lucknow symbolized the “Arts and Crafts Movement.” It has 21 hand-painted window glass and the stones that cover the exterior wall were hand cut, the timber frame was also hand-scalloped. Thomas stated that the mansion was inspired by Swiss, Norwegian, Norman and Japanese architecture. It was truly a state of the art Mansion.
Outside the mansion, there is a beautiful garden with scenic views. There is a one-way path connected to the visitor center known as “The Carriage House” which has an exhibition center with general information about the Lucknow and a cozy restaurant overlooking the lakes and the Mountains. From the “Carriage House” a trolley will take visitors to the mansion where they will be greeted by a tourist guide who will provide an introduction about the mansion history and his famous owner at that time, Thomas Gustave Plant. From there, visitors can wander the house in a self guided tour and immerse in the history of this fascinating place.
Very close to the main parking lot, there are hiking trails which range from easy, moderate to strenuous. The white brook trail -moderate- leads to a waterfall path. Hikers can expect to see seven waterfalls! among them, the “Emerald Pool Falls”, Bridle Veil Falls, Roaring Fall, and Falls of Song. At the end of this path, you will see “The “Pebble” which is a huge stone and is considered an attraction in the site.
Castle in the clouds opened to the public in 1959 and became a Registered Historic Place just recently in 2018 and since 2006 it’s administered and owed by the Castle Preservation Society.
“The oak woodwork (hand hewn), which comprises a large part of the outside structure, was made by old time craftsmen in the shipyards at Bath, Maine.
These men are skilled in the shaping and fastening together of ship timbers with oaken dowels, work that lasts a lifetime.”
– Thomas G. Plant, 1924 –
Some Important Information:
- It is open every day until October 21 from 10 am to 5:30 p.m (last admission at 4:00 p.m)
- The entrance fee is $17 for adults, $14 for seniors, $10 children age 8-17 and free for children 4 years old and under.
- The Trolley runs every 15 minutes from the Carriage House to the Mansion and it is the only way to get to the Lucknow.However, you can walked on the way back.
- The waterfall hike trail (Brooke Trail) is only 0.3 miles one way, but it can connect with the Shannon Brooke Trail for another 0.2 miles.
- There is an extra tour in the basement for $10
- Non-flash pictures are allowed inside the Mansion.
- There are horseback riding trails
- Shannon Pond, the man-made pond created in 1914 has trouts that visitor can feed by using the 25 cents food dispenser (you can’t feed the trouts with your own food)
- The Meadows has picnic table and an ice cream store
- In winter time popular activities include cross-country, snowmobiling, winter hiking and snowshoeing plus schedule activities.
Photo Gallery: Castle in the Clouds, the Lucknow
