The Awesome Hike In Maine That Will Take You Straight To An Abandoned Castle
By Michelle|Published August 21, 2017
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Michelle
Author
Michelle's life is a colorful map of exploration and adventure. From the iconic streets of New York to the sunny shores of Florida, the jagged coast of Maine to the rugged terrain of Montana, she's been fortunate to call some of America's most beautiful states home. Beyond the U.S., Michelle's wanderlust has taken her on a motorcycle journey through India, led her to teach English in Hanoi, and saw her studying Spanish in Guatemala. Michelle graduated with a communications degree from the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University and in addition to a career in advertising has worked with OnlyInYourState since 2016, where her love for travel and storytelling converges. Alongside writing and exploring, Michelle finds joy in photography, staying active, and time with her family.
For questions, comments and inquiries please email: mstarin@onlyinyourstate.com.
Today we take you to popular Cape Elizabeth to do one of the easiest and most beautiful coastal hikes in Southern Maine. While there are many things to see throughout the easy walk, the destination is a often forgotten mansion that dates back to 1858.
Fort Williams Park, home to this beautiful cliffside hike, is located in Cape Elizabeth.
About 50 years later, the castle came into the ownership of the army in 1900. It was used as living quarters for non-commissioned officers and later became a club for these officers and sergeants.
Over time, the walls greatly deteriorated and in the 1980s, a controlled fire gutted it.
Today it is fenced off so you won't be able to go inside, but the stonework still shows the detail and craftsmanship that was original to the structure.
You'll be using your imagination, but it's incredible to look inside the mansion and imagine women in fine dresses and fires roaring in the still-visible fireplaces.
Fort Williams Park is free to visit and is open all year from sunrise to sunset. You can bring dogs, but they’re required to be on a leash except in specific “off-leash” sanctioned areas. For directions, click here and enter your own starting point. You can reach the Community Services office for the park by calling: 207-700-2868.
For more abandoned sites to see in Maine, check out these incredible ruins you can explore throughout the state.
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