Kimball's Castle . . .

nj2nh · 08-02-2007, 07:44 AM

. . . is where exactly? I know it is on Belknap Point, but I have been utterly unable to find it. Can you see it from the road? If so, which road?

My kids are curious - me, too. We just want to see it. I've got tons of postcards of the place, but never laid eyes on it from land or lake.

Many thanks,

nj2nh

Seaplane Pilot · 08-02-2007, 08:37 AM

It's on the west side of Rt. 11 - barely visible from the road. As you go around the big curve on Rt. 11 near Belknap Point Motel, it sits up on top of the hill. To get to the castle, you take Locke's Hill Road off of Rt. 11.

Rattlesnake Gal · 08-02-2007, 09:06 AM

I finally found it last year!

From the lake it can be seen from the western side of Timber Island, near the red marker #28 or near The Witches.

nj2nh · 08-02-2007, 10:07 AM

My boys and I will go on a hunt and see if we can find it. It's not that far from our place.

nj2nh

GWC... · 08-02-2007, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nj2nh

My boys and I will go on a hunt and see if we can find it. It's not that far from our place.

nj2nh

Try to remember that it is private property.

Vandalism has been a problem - what's in your wallet?

Weirs guy · 08-02-2007, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nj2nh

My boys and I will go on a hunt and see if we can find it. It's not that far from our place.

nj2nh

Careful nj2nh, the new owners are not terribly interested in tours and you have to drive up their driveway to get a good view. We tried to check it out last summer but got the hint very fast. Good luck, and if you get close post pictures please.

nj2nh · 08-02-2007, 12:41 PM

I guess it will have to be enough to figure out where it is. I might try Google Earth and see if I can track it down there. That is where we started searching for it a while back.

nj2nh

mcdude · 08-02-2007, 06:11 PM

nj2nh: Take the boys for a hike up Locke's Hill. You can get a pretty good view of the castle from there. Here's a shot from a few years ago. There are some fine shots on Photopost by flyguy and dcr.

follow the link for more information on HIKING the BELKNAPS

SteveA · 08-02-2007, 08:55 PM

I drove up the driveway several years ago to sneak a peek.. noone stopped me.. but I didn't stay long and didn't take pictures.

They have a website...http://www.kimballcastle.com/

Weirs guy · 08-03-2007, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nj2nh

I guess it will have to be enough to figure out where it is. I might try Google Earth and see if I can track it down there. That is where we started searching for it a while back.

nj2nh

Its really not that hard, just as Seaplane Pilot said once you get to Locke's Hill Road follow it to the end. There will be a long, swooping driveway on your right and the Castles on a little noll just on the other side of the driveway.

Mr Port Jefferson · 09-15-2007, 04:46 PM

I thought it was owned by the town of Gilford and the grounds were open to the public? Is this not so? Has it ever been so? This was on my list of things to do when I am at the lake but never got a chance

Rattlesnake Gal · 09-15-2007, 06:31 PM

The town of Gilford subdivided the land and castle in hopes that there would be a resort developed there. The town approved these plans.
You might try contacting the owners if you are set on seeing the castle up close.
According to The Gunstock Parish, Benjamin Kimball named his castle The Broads. How fitting.

Rattlesnake Gal · 09-16-2007, 09:02 AM

I just remembered that last year McDude and I caught a special Chronicle that had unique places for sale. Kimball’s Castle was one of them. We thought it was pretty cool. Did anyone else see it? It was on the Boston Chronicle.

This quote taken from the home page leads me to believe it is still for sale.

“For more information on how to claim your castle, please contact Tom Lavoie at (603) 594-4123.”

Too bad the Chronicle special didn't result in a buyer.

I think we need a benefactor like Bob Bahre with oodles of money to set the castle back to right. Does anyone have Bob’s number?

MJM · 09-24-2007, 08:26 PM

So, has the castle ever been owned by an idividual, as a house?

The strange thing is, I've been told super-wealthy Ray Ozzie

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/e...e/default.mspx

owns (or owned) a house over in that general area, and that it was supposedly a castle. Now I'm wondering if this was it....??

Rattlesnake Gal · 09-25-2007, 08:56 AM

A quick search in county records show a Raymond Ozzie owning property on Varney Point Road and Dockham Shore Road, nothing about Kimball Castle.

The Castle passed to Benjamin’s wife and then to his daughter-in-law Charlotte, who spent summers at The Broads until her death in 1960.

More on Benjamin Ames Kimball.

The Weirs Times and Tourists Gazette - Thursday, June 15-29, 2000

Rattlesnake Guy · 09-25-2007, 08:58 PM

You can tell from this that my dear wife is obsessed with Kimball's Castle. She informed me recently that if we won the 240 million power ball she would like to buy it and live there.

I conceded that if we won she could buy it and she could visit any time she wants. I was hoping that might increase my chances. Apparently it did very little.....

Rattlesnake Gal · 09-26-2007, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rattlesnake Guy

I conceded that if we won she could buy it and she could visit any time she wants.

You know I’d hold you to it!

It would be nice to have a mainland place near the lake, especially one that has a view of our island.

We could have the yearly ForumFests there too!

I'm off to buy some lottery tickets... bye!

Weirs guy · 09-26-2007, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rattlesnake Guy

You can tell from this that my dear wife is obsessed with Kimball's Castle. She informed me recently that if we won the 240 million power ball she would like to buy it and live there.

I conceded that if we won she could buy it and she could visit any time she wants. I was hoping that might increase my chances. Apparently it did very little.....

Sorry campers, err, islanders, the powerball and castle are mine! I'm actualy a distant relative of Mrs. Ben Kimball (grandfathers cousins brothers dog trainers...) so I get first dibs. It does kill me to see it not being used for much, but it does look like the current owners doing their best to fix it up. It just happens to need a LOT of fix it up'ing.

mcdude · 09-26-2007, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rattlesnake Gal

I'm off to buy some lottery tickets... bye!

GOOD LUCK!
....and if you win we'd all like a nice webcam (or two) from the castle!
(CastleCAM??? KIMBALLKAM???)

McD

SIKSUKR · 09-27-2007, 10:18 AM

How about the "Castle Gal Cam"?

SunsetPointWentworth · 08-02-2013, 06:59 PM

http://www.unionleader.com/article/2...09973/0/SEARCH

08-02-2007, 07:44 AM	#1
nj2nh Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NJ Posts: 518 Thanks: 62 Thanked 42 Times in 23 Posts	Kimball's Castle . . . . . . is where exactly? I know it is on Belknap Point, but I have been utterly unable to find it. Can you see it from the road? If so, which road? My kids are curious - me, too. We just want to see it. I've got tons of postcards of the place, but never laid eyes on it from land or lake. Many thanks, nj2nh __________________

08-02-2007, 09:06 AM	#3
Rattlesnake Gal Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Central NH Posts: 5,252 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 1,447 Thanked 1,349 Times in 475 Posts	The Lake View I finally found it last year! From the lake it can be seen from the western side of Timber Island, near the red marker #28 or near The Witches.

08-02-2007, 10:07 AM	#4
nj2nh Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NJ Posts: 518 Thanks: 62 Thanked 42 Times in 23 Posts	Many thanks My boys and I will go on a hunt and see if we can find it. It's not that far from our place. nj2nh __________________

08-02-2007, 12:41 PM	#7
nj2nh Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NJ Posts: 518 Thanks: 62 Thanked 42 Times in 23 Posts	I guess it will have to be enough to figure out where it is. I might try Google Earth and see if I can track it down there. That is where we started searching for it a while back. nj2nh __________________

08-02-2007, 08:55 PM	#9
SteveA Deceased Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Gilford, NH Posts: 2,311 Thanks: 1,070 Thanked 2,053 Times in 496 Posts	Website I drove up the driveway several years ago to sneak a peek.. noone stopped me.. but I didn't stay long and didn't take pictures. They have a website...http://www.kimballcastle.com/ __________________ "Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, if he gets angry he'll be a mile away and barefoot!" unknown

08-02-2007, 08:37 AM	#2
Seaplane Pilot Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 1,177 Thanks: 662 Thanked 943 Times in 368 Posts	It's on the west side of Rt. 11 - barely visible from the road. As you go around the big curve on Rt. 11 near Belknap Point Motel, it sits up on top of the hill. To get to the castle, you take Locke's Hill Road off of Rt. 11.

08-02-2007, 06:11 PM	#8
mcdude Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Rock Haven Lake - West Newfield, ME Posts: 5,361 Thanks: 374 Thanked 1,044 Times in 490 Posts	nj2nh: Take the boys for a hike up Locke's Hill. You can get a pretty good view of the castle from there. Here's a shot from a few years ago. There are some fine shots on Photopost by flyguy and dcr. follow the link for more information on HIKING the BELKNAPS

09-15-2007, 04:46 PM	#11
Mr Port Jefferson Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Port Jefferson, Long Island, NY Posts: 42 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I thought it was owned by the town of Gilford and the grounds were open to the public? Is this not so? Has it ever been so? This was on my list of things to do when I am at the lake but never got a chance

09-15-2007, 06:31 PM	#12
Rattlesnake Gal Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Central NH Posts: 5,252 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 1,447 Thanked 1,349 Times in 475 Posts	The Castle is Not Open to the Public The town of Gilford subdivided the land and castle in hopes that there would be a resort developed there. The town approved these plans. You might try contacting the owners if you are set on seeing the castle up close. According to The Gunstock Parish, Benjamin Kimball named his castle The Broads. How fitting.

09-16-2007, 09:02 AM	#13
Rattlesnake Gal Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Central NH Posts: 5,252 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 1,447 Thanked 1,349 Times in 475 Posts	Must Still Be For Sale? I just remembered that last year McDude and I caught a special Chronicle that had unique places for sale. Kimball’s Castle was one of them. We thought it was pretty cool. Did anyone else see it? It was on the Boston Chronicle. This quote taken from the home page leads me to believe it is still for sale. “For more information on how to claim your castle, please contact Tom Lavoie at (603) 594-4123.” Too bad the Chronicle special didn't result in a buyer. I think we need a benefactor like Bob Bahre with oodles of money to set the castle back to right. Does anyone have Bob’s number?

09-24-2007, 08:26 PM	#14
MJM Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 262 Thanks: 0 Thanked 23 Times in 11 Posts	So, has the castle ever been owned by an idividual, as a house? The strange thing is, I've been told super-wealthy Ray Ozzie http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/e...e/default.mspx owns (or owned) a house over in that general area, and that it was supposedly a castle. Now I'm wondering if this was it....??

09-25-2007, 08:56 AM	#15
Rattlesnake Gal Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Central NH Posts: 5,252 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 1,447 Thanked 1,349 Times in 475 Posts	Castle Owners A quick search in county records show a Raymond Ozzie owning property on Varney Point Road and Dockham Shore Road, nothing about Kimball Castle. The Castle passed to Benjamin’s wife and then to his daughter-in-law Charlotte, who spent summers at The Broads until her death in 1960. More on Benjamin Ames Kimball. The Weirs Times and Tourists Gazette - Thursday, June 15-29, 2000

09-25-2007, 08:58 PM	#16
Rattlesnake Guy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 1,254 Thanks: 423 Thanked 366 Times in 175 Posts	You can tell from this that my dear wife is obsessed with Kimball's Castle. She informed me recently that if we won the 240 million power ball she would like to buy it and live there. I conceded that if we won she could buy it and she could visit any time she wants. I was hoping that might increase my chances. Apparently it did very little.....

09-27-2007, 10:18 AM	#20
SIKSUKR Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,075 Thanks: 215 Thanked 903 Times in 509 Posts	How about the "Castle Gal Cam"? __________________ SIKSUKR

08-02-2013, 06:59 PM	#21
SunsetPointWentworth Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: claremont/wolfeboro Posts: 155 Thanks: 114 Thanked 51 Times in 26 Posts	http://www.unionleader.com/article/2...09973/0/SEARCH