As soon as my eyes roved over this American gem, I immediately knew it was the perfect setting for a coven’s castle in an upcoming novel.

Gillette Castle was designed by the late William Gillette, an American actor, engineer, and railroad enthusiast. It is now owned by the Connecticut state government and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Besides its haunting and distinctive exterior design, the extraordinary amenities within are what make this castle worthy to be a setting in a well-spun tale. The door knobs are unique along with all forty-seven hand-carved wooden door locks, which were designed by Mr. Gillette. He also employed hidden mirrors for surveillance of the main rooms.  Very mischievous of you, Mr. Gillette!

 

Outside the castle walls, he installed 3.2 miles of railroad to showcase his estate and its fantastic views of the Connecticut River and a few years ago, a steam locomotive was charmingly restored and returned to the property to the delight of visitors.

Gillette Castle is only a thirty minute drive from Wethersfield, one of my favorite historic towns and the setting for my debut novel, Disenchanted.