Castle in the Clouds?

bigdog · 06-21-2015, 08:09 AM

Would like the Forum feed back about my possible visit to "Castle in the Clouds?
Good, bad, or don't waste my money ?

I've been in the Lakes Region for over 30 years but we've never visited this place.

My wife and I love the outdoors, the mountains and vistas, we are also avid gardners, and photographers, so thinking this might be a great place to vist this summer.

Thoughts?

Begonezvous · 06-21-2015, 08:16 AM

It is worth seeing at least once. Another option is to park for free in the lot over near the Crystal Geyser bottling plant. The trout pond is amazing and the hiking trails are not difficult at all. Follow the trail alongside the brook for some beautiful cascades and small waterfalls. You cannot (or should not) access the mansion from this location.

That Guy · 06-21-2015, 09:19 AM

Back when we were dating, my wife and I went there Christmas time. It was nice. Its an alright place to go every few years. We'd like to start doing some of the trails in the area.

jetlag100 · 06-21-2015, 09:47 AM

The drive up from the main entrance is beautiful..there's some very scenic spots where you can park and enjoy a waterfall/river. and then there's a pullover, that looks out over the lake...most gorgeous view, ever! The castle is a place you could go thru once every 20 yrs and not forget. The grounds are quite beautiful with an array of plantings that are bright and cheerful, even on a rainy day...worth the trip, every 20 yrs.

Loub52 · 06-21-2015, 10:24 AM

My family and I visited from late morning to mid afternoon this May.
Great scenery on the way up and while touring the estate, very friendly staff, and we learned quite a bit more about the regions history. Be sure to take time to have lunch at the restaurant prior to taking the tour bus on the last leg of the journey up to the castle. The artisan turkey sandwich on the menu during our visit was outstanding!

mneck1814 · 06-21-2015, 11:32 AM

We go for lunch at the Carriage House at least once a summer, usually when we have guests at camp. The views are amazing! The house tour is self guided and worth seeing if you haven't been before. For Moultonboro tax payers, get a library card and you can use it to reserve 2 Adult and 2 Kid passes for free. If you're just going to lunch, use the bottling plant road to avoid the admissions charge.

webmaster · 06-21-2015, 04:42 PM

Here's an article from way back in 1997 about a visit I made to the castle:

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/index.php?pageid=castle

AmantiDelLago · 06-21-2015, 08:14 PM

That link didn't work for me

dpg · 06-22-2015, 11:20 AM

Can you get into the main gate for free or do you have to use the bottling plant entrance for no charge?

mneck1814 · 06-22-2015, 04:24 PM

There is a charge at the main gate. I think you can pay less to just go up the main road and not go to the Castle, basically paying for a scenic look out and to be able to walk out to a waterfall. You can't see any of the Castle, not even a glimpse of the exterior, from the carriage house/restaurant.

SIKSUKR · 06-23-2015, 09:56 AM

At the risk of sounding like FLL, last time I was there I drove up the bottling plant road and parked right next to the carriage house. We had lunch and then walked up to the main house. They were setting up for a wedding outside. I believe there are signs telling you not to do what we did but we did stay off the roads.

FWIW

Airedale1 · 06-23-2015, 11:30 AM

..and don't forget, they have horseback riding there too, which is a great way to take in the scenery.

Lakegeezer · 08-31-2015, 02:45 PM

A new virtual tour of the Carriage House Restaurant was just published on Google Maps. It shows the great views of the lake from the patio, along with the inside and function hall upstairs. Click here to take the tour.

06-21-2015, 08:09 AM	#1
bigdog Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Central MA-Gilford Posts: 1,446 Thanks: 340 Thanked 119 Times in 96 Posts	Castle in the Clouds? Would like the Forum feed back about my possible visit to "Castle in the Clouds? Good, bad, or don't waste my money ? I've been in the Lakes Region for over 30 years but we've never visited this place. My wife and I love the outdoors, the mountains and vistas, we are also avid gardners, and photographers, so thinking this might be a great place to vist this summer. Thoughts?

06-21-2015, 08:16 AM	#2
Begonezvous Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Tuftonboro Posts: 50 Thanks: 7 Thanked 17 Times in 13 Posts	Castle in the Clouds It is worth seeing at least once. Another option is to park for free in the lot over near the Crystal Geyser bottling plant. The trout pond is amazing and the hiking trails are not difficult at all. Follow the trail alongside the brook for some beautiful cascades and small waterfalls. You cannot (or should not) access the mansion from this location.

06-21-2015, 10:24 AM	#5
Loub52 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Meredith, NH Posts: 221 Thanks: 214 Thanked 53 Times in 43 Posts	Worth the visit... My family and I visited from late morning to mid afternoon this May. Great scenery on the way up and while touring the estate, very friendly staff, and we learned quite a bit more about the regions history. Be sure to take time to have lunch at the restaurant prior to taking the tour bus on the last leg of the journey up to the castle. The artisan turkey sandwich on the menu during our visit was outstanding! __________________ Thanks, Loub52

06-21-2015, 11:32 AM	#6
mneck1814 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Hartford, VT/Moultonborough Posts: 95 Thanks: 25 Thanked 60 Times in 22 Posts	Amazing Views We go for lunch at the Carriage House at least once a summer, usually when we have guests at camp. The views are amazing! The house tour is self guided and worth seeing if you haven't been before. For Moultonboro tax payers, get a library card and you can use it to reserve 2 Adult and 2 Kid passes for free. If you're just going to lunch, use the bottling plant road to avoid the admissions charge.

06-23-2015, 09:56 AM	#11
SIKSUKR Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,075 Thanks: 215 Thanked 903 Times in 509 Posts	At the risk of sounding like FLL, last time I was there I drove up the bottling plant road and parked right next to the carriage house. We had lunch and then walked up to the main house. They were setting up for a wedding outside. I believe there are signs telling you not to do what we did but we did stay off the roads.FWIW __________________ SIKSUKR

06-21-2015, 09:19 AM	#3
That Guy Senior Member Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 182 Thanks: 37 Thanked 74 Times in 43 Posts	Back when we were dating, my wife and I went there Christmas time. It was nice. Its an alright place to go every few years. We'd like to start doing some of the trails in the area.

06-21-2015, 09:47 AM	#4
jetlag100 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Revere, Massachusetts and Moultonborough, N.H. Posts: 311 Thanks: 228 Thanked 79 Times in 50 Posts	The drive up from the main entrance is beautiful..there's some very scenic spots where you can park and enjoy a waterfall/river. and then there's a pullover, that looks out over the lake...most gorgeous view, ever! The castle is a place you could go thru once every 20 yrs and not forget. The grounds are quite beautiful with an array of plantings that are bright and cheerful, even on a rainy day...worth the trip, every 20 yrs.

06-21-2015, 04:42 PM	#7
webmaster Moderator Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 2,453 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 456 Thanked 3,819 Times in 839 Posts	Here's an article from way back in 1997 about a visit I made to the castle: http://www.winnipesaukee.com/index.php?pageid=castle

The Following User Says Thank You to webmaster For This Useful Post:
trfour (06-21-2015)

06-21-2015, 08:14 PM	#8
AmantiDelLago Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 82 Thanks: 4 Thanked 18 Times in 13 Posts	That link didn't work for me

06-22-2015, 11:20 AM	#9
dpg Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 2,591 Thanks: 150 Thanked 229 Times in 166 Posts	Can you get into the main gate for free or do you have to use the bottling plant entrance for no charge?

06-22-2015, 04:24 PM	#10
mneck1814 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Hartford, VT/Moultonborough Posts: 95 Thanks: 25 Thanked 60 Times in 22 Posts	There is a charge at the main gate. I think you can pay less to just go up the main road and not go to the Castle, basically paying for a scenic look out and to be able to walk out to a waterfall. You can't see any of the Castle, not even a glimpse of the exterior, from the carriage house/restaurant.

06-23-2015, 11:30 AM	#12
Airedale1 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Laconia Posts: 595 Thanks: 557 Thanked 1,569 Times in 274 Posts	..and don't forget, they have horseback riding there too, which is a great way to take in the scenery. __________________ "The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit." Nelson Henderson (1865-1943)

08-31-2015, 02:45 PM	#13
Lakegeezer Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Moultonboro, NH Posts: 1,677 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 354 Thanked 639 Times in 290 Posts	Virtually walk around... A new virtual tour of the Carriage House Restaurant was just published on Google Maps. It shows the great views of the lake from the patio, along with the inside and function hall upstairs. Click here to take the tour. __________________ -lg

The Following User Says Thank You to Lakegeezer For This Useful Post:
winnasake (09-01-2015)