This 1914 Arts and Crafts Mansion Sits So High in New Hampshire’s Mountains It Seems to Float in the Sky

Castle in the Clouds, New Hampshire

Some historic mansions are all about showing off wealth. Castle in the Clouds is different – it’s an Arts and Crafts masterpiece that happens to have killer views of Lake Winnipesaukee.

Built in 1914 by shoe tycoon Tom Plant, it’s packed with smart features that were way ahead of their time. We’re talking hidden window motors, mountain-source plumbing, and a working farm system that could teach modern homesteaders a thing or two.

There’s a Hidden Room Behind the Library Wall

The first-floor library has a secret room hidden behind wood panels. This 8×10-foot space was likely used for storage and as a sneaky spot where the Plants could listen to their guests talking.

The library walls are covered with hand-woven silk wallpaper that cost $300 per roll in 1914 (about $8,500 today). In 2018, the restoration team found the original wallpaper pattern and carefully remade it using old-fashioned methods.

You Might Hear Someone Play the Original Organ

During your visit, staff sometimes play the mansion’s original Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ. It was installed in 1914 and cost $4,500 (around $128,000 today), with 418 pipes hidden in the library walls.

While only about a quarter of the pipes still work, the sound is still impressive. Back in the day, the Plants would host music nights for up to 30 guests in the library, often playing classical pieces by Bach and Mozart.

You’ll See the Same Furniture the Plants Used

When Plant lost his money during the Great Depression in the 1930s, his lenders let him keep all the furniture in the house.

Over 90% of the furniture you see today was actually used by the Plants. This includes a Steinway grand piano worth $85,000, a custom-made oak dining set for 14 people, and four hand-knotted Persian rugs.

In the master bedroom, you’ll find Thomas Plant’s original mahogany bed that’s 7 feet long, specially made for his 6’4″ height.

The Kitchen Has Special Germ-Killing Tiles

The kitchen floor has special interlocking tiles made to prevent bacteria growth. These ceramic tiles came from the Netherlands and cost $8 per square foot ($228 in today’s money).

The Plants installed 375 square feet of these tiles on the floors and walls with no grout lines, making them much easier to clean.

Thomas Plant knew about this hygienic improvement from his manufacturing background, but most American homes didn’t get this feature until the 1930s.

There’s an Industrial Fridge System in the Basement

Before home refrigerators were common, the mansion used an ammonia brine cooling system. The York Ice Machine Company installed it for $3,200 in 1914 ($91,000 today).

It used 75 gallons of ammonia and could keep temperatures as low as 28°F. In the basement, you’ll find the original 12×15-foot mechanical room with the compressor, pipes, and cooling chambers.

Until the late 1920s, this kind of technology was only found in commercial buildings like hotels and restaurants.

You Can Eat Lunch in What Used to Be Horse Stalls

The Carriage House Restaurant lets you dine in renovated horse stalls. Each stall is 10×12 feet and still has the original brass nameplate showing which horse lived there. The stall doors and hardware are from 1914 and cost $175 each ($5,000 today).

The restaurant fits 86 diners in 12 converted stalls and serves food made with local ingredients. During summer evenings, they host music events with live performances by New Hampshire musicians while you watch the sunset.

Tiffany Made Special Glass Pieces for Almost Every Room

You’ll find beautiful glasswork from Tiffany Studios throughout the house. Each custom-designed window cost between $200-$500 in 1914 ($5,700-$14,000 today).

The master bathroom alone has 37 pieces of Tiffany stained glass around the shower. The most impressive piece is the library’s 6-foot round window showing Lake Winnipesaukee as it looked before the mansion was built.

Louis Comfort Tiffany personally supervised the installation of all these decorative elements.

Fish Have Been Swimming in the Pond Since the 1950s

Shannon Pond holds 350 rainbow trout that you can feed with food from 25-cent dispensers. The pond was first stocked in 1957 when the estate opened to the public, and the fish population stays healthy thanks to a natural spring that feeds the pond.

The 2.5-acre pond is 18 feet deep at its deepest point and stays at 55°F year-round. Children usually spend 15-20 minutes watching the active fish, making it one of the most popular family activities after touring the mansion.

How to Plan Your Visit to Castle in the Clouds

You can visit from May 24 through October 19, 2025, with the entrance gate open 9am-3:30pm. A trolley takes you to the mansion every 15 minutes from 10:15am to 4:15pm.

The property is open Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10:00am to 5:30pm, but closed Tuesday and Wednesday. In winter, you’ll need to book ahead for weekend lunch.