Castle in the Clouds

Castle in the Clouds is home to the Lucknow Estate, which at one time included 6,300 acres of land in the Ossipee Mountains of New Hampshire. After selling his shoe manufacturing business, millionaire Thomas G. Plant and his wife retired to the mountains, where they had a mountaintop mansion built in 1914. The mansion was designed by J. Williams Beal & Sons from Boston, who included various types of European and Japanese architecture in their design to create a truly unique home. Given the high elevation of the structure, there are incredible views from every window of the mansion as well as the yard.

Today, a one-way, seasonal road brings visitors past viewpoints and a waterfall, Falls of Song, to the Carriage House, which houses a restaurant, restrooms, and a small museum of historical information about the building and preservation of the Lucknow Mansion. A gift shop and picnic area are adjacent, and a trolley brings visitors up for a self-guided tour of the mansion. In addition to the property’s history, there are also recreational opportunities available. Feed the fish at Shannon Pond, ride horses at Riding in the Clouds, or hike the scenic trails to a number of waterfalls.