Winnekenni Castle, Massachusetts, United States

5Nina P 5:00 PM Jul 21, 2020

Hiking
I have been here multiple times and love it every time. Seeing the castle is always cool, it is a beautiful building. My daughters love it. It's always a good go to when needing some outdoor time since it's close to home. We love it here and will continue coming.

5Maurene_K 5:00 PM May 26, 2015

ENCHANTING CASTLE IN PICTURESQUE PARK
One would never expect to find a castle in a public park in Haverhill, but there it was! I came upon the park and castle by happenstance several years ago on a visit to the John Greenleaf Whittier Birthplace. As a historian, I always want to know the background on places I visit so I researched the park and castle's history before returning with several friends. Winnekenni Park & Castle take their name from the Algonquin word for “very beautiful;” and, that is what the lake and setting for the castle still are today. The park is popular with locals, residents from surrounding communities, and tourists from all over the United States. The Winnekenni Park Conservation Area has over 700 acres of unspoiled beauty with several miles of walking trails around the castle. The castle was built by Dr. James Nichols as a summer home, beginning in 1873. It was completed in 1875. He was a physician with many talents. He is known for creating pharmaceutical drugs, designing hot air furnaces, developing improvements to the soda fountain, experimenting with chemical fertilizers, and writing novels and articles for medical journals. In Dr. Nichols time, the upper level of the castle gave views of seventeen towns, three lakes, and three states: Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine. In 1895, the City of Haverhill bought the property. The castle fell into disrepair and suffered interior fire damage. In 1968, the non-profit Winnekenni Foundation was formed to maintain the building and operate it as venue for public and private events. It is a popular setting for weddings. On my visit with nine friends, we’d already had a full day at John Greenleaf Whittier Birthplace in the morning, The Barking Dog Ale House for lunch, and Buttonwoods Museum in the earlier part of the afternoon. Our only walking was around the castle grounds. It is a very picturesque spot. There are picnic areas nearby. During our visit, we saw other people walking the trails and bicycling on the roadway. There was a small recreational area at the bottom of the hill near the lower parking lot. Our brief visit here was the perfect ending to a daytrip to Haverhill. If you found this review helpful, kindly click YES below.