Holiday Tours at Gillette Castle

Gillette Castle reopens for the holidays on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Tours start every 15 minutes from 10 a.m., with the last one at 3:30 p.m., and cost the same as summer tours: $6 for ages 13 and up, $2 for ages 6 to 12, free for 5 and under. DEEP opens holiday ticket sales after Labor Day and recommends booking ahead, because each slot holds a limited number of visitors.

Dates

DEEP closes the castle after Columbus Day so staff can prepare the Holiday Tour Program, then opens it Friday through Sunday from Thanksgiving to Christmas. The Friends of Gillette Castle State Park describe the run as Thanksgiving through the Sunday before Christmas. Check the ReserveAmerica calendar for the exact dates in a given year; it only lists days that are open.

Times and Tickets

Holiday tours follow the regular format: self-guided, about an hour, a set number of visitors per 15-minute slot. The difference is the end time: DEEP's last holiday tour leaves at 3:30 p.m., half an hour earlier than in summer.

Ticket prices do not change for the holidays. Buy at the castle or in advance through ReserveAmerica, which charges a processing fee. The Friends point out that tickets are sold by the state, not by the Friends group. Full price and pass details are on castle tours and tickets.

Who Puts It On

The Friends of Gillette Castle State Park, the nonprofit that supports the park, raises sponsorship for the holiday program and runs the gift shop in the visitor center. The visitor center, with its restrooms and Gillette's restored locomotive, is open when the castle is.

Visiting the Park in Winter

The grounds stay open every day from 8 a.m. to sunset all winter. The Friends note that DEEP plows and maintains the park roads, but the trails are not cleared of snow and ice, so wear traction if you plan to walk to the train tunnel after your tour. The Chester–Hadlyme ferry stops on November 30, so in December you reach the castle by road over the East Haddam Swing Bridge (directions).

Tips for a Holiday Visit

• Buy tickets for the time you want once they go on sale after Labor Day.
• Plan to arrive five to ten minutes before your slot, as DEEP asks.
• Bring a light for the dark train tunnel, and plan to be off the trails well before sunset, which comes early in December; the trails are not cleared of snow or ice.
• Dress for a cold walk from the parking lot up to the castle.