A Castle Was Built And Left To Decay In The Middle Of New Hampshire’s Woods

Explore the ruins of Madame Sherri's castle in New Hampshire via a scenic 2.3-mile loop trail.

New Hampshire is full of history, from the type we learn in school as a child to the kind that exists within the stories passed down through families. It's all interesting and worth sharing, but what we love most is the history that's a bit lesser-known. Some history lessons don't tell us much about the state, but do teach us about human nature and what life was like before we were around. This abandoned castle, one of the most interesting ruins in New Hampshire, is a great example.

Our story starts back in the 1920s when Antoinnette Sherri, a Broadway costume designer, built a summer home in the New Hampshire woods Chesterfield.

She lived in a smaller home nearby, but loved hosting large parties for her New York City friends and the castle was the perfect backdrop for these fun soirées.

But, of course, the 1920s wasn't a decade known for financial extravagance and things ended for Madame Sherri the same way the decade did.

The money that was once easy to come by eventually ran out and the castle was sent into disprepair.

While the story is sad, it's interesting to go visit the ruins in the forest and imagine what the castle felt like back when things were thriving.

The Ann Stokes Loop trail is about 2.3 miles and it leads directly to the castle.

The forest itself is beautiful year-round making the hike a fun part of the trip.

Visiting the castle is a great way to explore nature and imagine what life might have been like in the roaring 20s here in New Hampshire.

What are some of your favorite lesser-known spots in the state that teach us about New Hampshire? Let us know in the comments!

To find Madame Sherri's castle you can take a 2.3-mile hike through the forest. This easy loop trail will let you enter another world at Madam Sherri Forest in New Hampshire!

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