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© Kirstin Peterson VIEW PHOTO GALLERY
State Park Link: Harkness Memorial State Park
Nearby Parks: Fort Griswold State Park Rocky Neck State Park Stoddard Hill State Park Fort Shantok State Park Nehantic State Forest Orient Beach State Park Selden Neck State Park Devils Hopyard State Park Gillette Castle State Park
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| State Park Overview: |
 | Enjoy the panoramic views of Long Island Sound from Eolia, the elegant summer mansion of the Harkness family set on over 230 seaside acres of sweeping lawns, with stately trees and spectacular gardens. Named Eolia, for the island home of the Greek god of winds, the mansion was built in 1906 and purchased by Edward and Mary Harkness in 1907. The 200+ acres were a working farm and the mansion served as the Harkness? summer home.
The Roman Renaissance Classical Revival-style mansion has 42 rooms and includes a pergola (tearoom) and carriage house (support complex). Lush gardens flank the mansion on both the east and west lawns, and an Alpine Rock Garden adds to the beauty and splendor of the seaside panorama.
Mansion Hours:The mansion is open for tours weekends and holidays from Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day. The first tour of the day starts at 10:00 a.m. and the last at 2:15 p.m.
Rental Information:Eolia is available for weddings, private parties, seminars, conferences, luncheons and teas from March 1 to December 23. |
| Reviews By Park Visitors: |
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beautiful grounds on the ocean
Beautiful rolling seaside grounds. Hard to imagine one person owned all of this. The only downside is no swimming. The mansion is really cool, although not open all the time. You can fish, picnic and sunbathe. good spot for the family. Dogs are allowed and you see them alot. They just have to be leashed. Very peaceful and pretty seaside park.
Written by Dawn Noyce
3-Jul-2008
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| History of the Area: |
| Originally from Ohio, Edward S. Harkness was to become heir to a fortune initiated by his father's substantial investments in John D. Rockefeller?s Standard Oil. Instilled at an early age with an ardent love for his fellow man and a feeling of responsibility for the wise and just use of the wealth at his command, Mr. Harkness was to bestow over two hundred million dollars upon wide-ranging philanthropies.
The mansion was purchased in 1907 by Edward and Mary Harkness. From 1918 to 1929, extensive work was done to the grounds by noted landscape designer Beatrix Jones Farrand (one of the founders of the American Society of Landscape Architects). The estate was left to the State of Connecticut in 1950 and became part of the State Park system in 1952. |
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| Area Accommodations |
|  | Copper Beech Inn - Ivoryton, CT Selected by Connecticut Magazine as 'BEST COUNTRY INN' for 3 consecutive years, the Inn is a Beautiful Restored Turn-of-the-Century Inn with 22-Rooms and two top rated AAA Four-Diamond Restaurant. Price Range: $150 - $375 Web Site: http://www.copperbeechinn.com |
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| |  | The Mill House Inn - East Hampton, NY Fine accommodations, warm hospitality and the very best breakfast in the heart of East Hampton Village! Walking distance to spectacular beaches, world-class restaurants, shops, galleries & theatres. Price Range: $250 - $1075 Web Site: http://www.millhouseinn.com |
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|  | Advertise your park related business on stateparks.com
...vacation cabin, weekend getaway, log cabin rental, romantic cottage, vacation home, resort, hotel, motel, bed and breakfast, country inn, campground, RV park, horseback riding stable, canoe livery, river rafting, outfitting, sporting goods store, guide service, RV rental, etc read more.... |
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| Related Links: |
 | Harkness Memorial State Park Information - Enjoy the panoramic views of Long Island Sound from Eolia, the elegant summer mansion of the ... trees and spectacular gardens. CONTACT INFORMATION Harkness Memorial State Park 275 Great Neck Road ... |  | Eolia - The Mansion at Harkness State Park - ... Parks and Forests Home Eolia - The Mansion at Harkness Memorial State Park Available for Rent Enjoy the panoramic views of ... until sunset. Contact Harkness Memorial State Park, Waterford ... |  | Harkness Memorial State Park - ConnectiKITERS Kite Club - Harkness Memorial State Park - ConnectiKITERS Kite Club - We fly kites in Connecticut ~Just for the Fun of it!~ ... Harkness Memorial State Park Harkness Memorial State Park is one of the ... |  | Human Development Department - Connecticut College - Harkness Memorial State Park - Harkness Memorial State Park Route 213, Waterford (860) 443-5725 Admission: $4.00 - $5.00 ? CT residents (per car); Off ... Season ? Free! Harkness Memorial State Park is the magnificent ... |  | New England Division III Women's Cross Country - ... College Invitational at Northampton, MA - W 5K 11:00, M tba Connecticut College Invitational at Harkness Memorial State Park, Waterford, CT - M 8K 11:00, W 5K 12:00 Hayseed Invitational at Tufts ... |  | Harkness Memorial State Park - Enjoy ... Sports Night Life Festivals Educational Holiday Theatre Find A Business Food Finder Harkness Memorial State Park 275 Great Neck Road Waterford, CT 06385 860.443.5725 WEB SITE: dep.state.ct ... |  | Harkness Memorial State Park - The GARDEN VISIT and TRAVEL GUIDE reviews places of interest to gardeners: ... GARDEN VISIT and TRAVEL GUIDE Harkness Memorial State Park Garden Address: Harkness Memorial State Park, 275 Great Neck ... |  | Photo's of my Adventures XX (Brian Richardson) - ... o t o ' s O f M y A d v n t u r e s X X Harkness Memorial State Park | Rams Football Game | St. Louis Arch | Martha's Vineyard Harkness Memorial State Park (November 24, 2002) - Harkness Memorial ... | | Area Campgrounds | | Timber Creek RV Resort 118 Dunns Corner Road Westerly, RI 401-322-1877

| Odetah Camping Resort 38 Bozrah St Ext Bozrah, CT 860-889-4144

| Wolf's Den Campground 256 Town Street East Haddam, CT 860-873-9681

| Aces High RV Park 301 Chesterfield Road East Lyme, CT

| Mystic KOA #118 Route 49 North Stonington, CT 860-599-5101

| Laurel Lock Family Campground 15 Cottage Grove Road Oakdale, CT 860-859-1424

| Hidden Acres Family Campground 47 River Road Preston, CT 860-887-9633

| Strawberry Park Resort Campground 42 Pierce Road Preston, CT

| Indianfield Campground 306 Old Calchester Road Salem, CT 860-859-1320

| Salem Farms Campground 39 Alexander Road Salem, CT 860-859-2320

| Witch Meadow Lake Campground 139 Witch Meadow Road Salem, CT 860-859-1542

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| Directions: |
| Take Route 2 south to Colchester. Route 85 south to New London, take a right onto Boston Post Road (Route 1), and then take a left onto Ocean Ave. Right onto Niles Hill Road. Left onto Dimmock Road.
From Hartford area: take Route 91 southbound onto Route 9 south. It will merge with Route 95, go northbound on Route 95, take Exit 75. Bear right at the end of the exit, you will be on Route 1. Proceed 3 miles to the light at Avery Lane (Route 213), turn right and follow to the park. Avery Lane will become Great Neck Road. The park will be on your right.
From Boston and Providence areas: take Route 95 southbound to Exit 81. At the end of the exit ramp, turn left onto access road and proceed to stop light. At the light take a left onto Cross Road and continue to the intersection with Route 1. Turn left onto Route 1 and continue to the traffic light at Avery Lane (Route 213). Turn right onto Avery Lane and follow to the park. Avery Lane will become Great Neck Road. The park will be on your right.
From New York and New Haven areas: take Route 95 northbound, Exit 75. Bear right at the end of the exit, you will be on Route 1. Proceed 3 miles to the light at Avery Lane (Route 213), turn right and follow to the park. Avery Lane will become Great Neck Road. The park will be on your right. |
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