CT State Parks and Forests Main Page Park Location and Contact Information Harkness Memorial State Park 275 Great Neck Road Waterford, CT 06385 (860) 443-5725 {Link to Purchase a State Park Season pass}   {Symbol for Handicapped Accessibility} ACCESSIBILITY This park offers: {Symbol for Handicapped Accessibility} Bathrooms {Symbol for Handicapped Accessibility} Mansion Tours {Symbol for Handicapped Accessibility} Parking {Symbol for Handicapped Accessibility} Picnic Tables HOURS: The park is open from 8 am to sunset. The gates at Harkness Memorial State Park open at 8:00 am and close at sunset, all year. The Verkades gate is closed all year and is walk-in only. MANSION TOURS: Saturday, Sunday and holidays from Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day. Tours are offered from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. PETS: Pets on a leash are permitted in picnic and lawn areas.  Pets are not allowed on the beach or in formal gardens. STATE PARKS CONTACT INFORMATION: Email: dep.stateparks @ct.gov Telephone: (860) 424-3200 (866) 287-2757 (Toll Free in CT) Fax: (860) 424-4070

{Eolia Mansion at Harkness Memorial State Park} Harkness Memorial State Park Waterford Enjoy the panoramic views of Long Island Sound from Eolia, the elegant summer mansion of the Harkness family set on over 230 seaside acres of sweeping lawns, with stately trees and spectacular gardens. Activities Facilities Directions Map History Activities {Fishing} Fishing {Mansion Tours} Mansion Tours {Formal Gardens} Formal Gardens {Picnicking} Picnicking Facilities Bathrooms, Mansion Rental, Picnic Tables {Harkness Memorial State Park} Harkness Memorial State Park Directions Take Route 2 south to Colchester. Route 85 south to New London, take a right onto Boston Post Road (Route 1), and then take a left onto Ocean Ave. Right onto Niles Hill Road. Left onto Dimmock Road. From Hartford area: take Route 91 southbound onto Route 9 south. It will merge with Route 95, go northbound on Route 95, take Exit 75. Bear right at the end of the exit, you will be on Route 1. Proceed 3 miles to the light at Avery Lane (Route 213), turn right and follow to the park. Avery Lane will become Great Neck Road. The park will be on your right. From Boston and Providence areas: take Route 95 southbound to Exit 81. At the end of the exit ramp, turn left onto access road and proceed to stop light. At the light take a left onto Cross Road and continue to the intersection with Route 1. Turn left onto Route 1 and continue to the traffic light at Avery Lane (Route 213). Turn right onto Avery Lane and follow to the park. Avery Lane will become Great Neck Road. The park will be on your right. From New York and New Haven areas: take Route 95 northbound, Exit 75. Bear right at the end of the exit, you will be on Route 1. Proceed 3 miles to the light at Avery Lane (Route 213), turn right and follow to the park. Avery Lane will become Great Neck Road. The park will be on your right. Fees   Information on Season Passes There are separate weekend/holiday and weekday parking fees at Harkness Memorial State Park from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day from 8:00 a.m to 6:30 p.m. The parking fee will be in effect weekends from April 17 through May 23, and again weekends from September 11 through September 26, 2010, at the weekday rate. The gates at Harkness Memorial State Park open at 8:00 am and close at sunset, all year. The Verkades gate is closed all year and is walk-in access only. More Information Map Park Map (28.3 K) Mansion Enjoy the panoramic views of Long Island Sound from Eolia, the elegant summer mansion of the Harkness family set on over 230 seaside acres of sweeping lawns, with stately trees and spectacular gardens. Named Eolia, for the island home of the Greek god of winds, the mansion was built in 1906 and purchased by Edward and Mary Harkness in 1907. The 200+ acres were a working farm and the mansion served as the Harkness’ summer home. The Roman Renaissance Classical Revival-style mansion has 42 rooms and includes a pergola (tearoom) and carriage house (support complex). Lush gardens flank the mansion on both the east and west lawns, and an Alpine Rock Garden adds to the beauty and splendor of the seaside panorama. Mansion Hours: The mansion is open for tours weekends and holidays from Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day.  The first tour of the day starts at 10:00 a.m. and the last at 2:00 p.m. Rental Information: Eolia is available for weddings, private parties, seminars, conferences, luncheons and teas from March 1 to December 23. Rental Information   Weddings at Harkness Brochure  (PDF, 8MB) History Originally from Ohio, Edward S. Harkness was to become heir to a fortune initiated by his father's substantial investments in John D. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil. Instilled at an early age with an ardent love for his fellow man and a feeling of responsibility for the wise and just use of the wealth at his command, Mr. Harkness was to bestow over two hundred million dollars upon wide-ranging philanthropies. The mansion was purchased in 1907 by Edward and Mary Harkness. From 1918 to 1929, extensive work was done to the grounds by noted landscape designer Beatrix Jones Farrand (one of the founders of the American Society of Landscape Architects). The estate was left to the State of Connecticut in 1950 and became part of the State Park system in 1952. Harkness - History and Restoration Other Nearby State Recreation Areas Include: Bluff Point State Park Groton Location: Route 117 Exit from I-95. Right onto Route 1, left on Depot Road, continue under railroad overpass to parking area. Activities: Biking, Hiking, Saltwater Fishing Charge: None {Eolia Mansion} Eolia Mansion Fort Trumbull State Park, New London Location: On  I-95S to New London cross over the Gold Star Bridge (Thames River) and take Exit 84S towards Downtown New London. Additional street directions Activities: Historic Fort and Grounds, Visitor Center Exhibits, Saltwater Fishing, Waterfront Walk Charge: Fee for touring Fort and Visitor Center Exhibits Haley Farm State Park, Groton Location: Follow Route 215 south to Brook Street in Groton Activities: Biking, Birding, Hiking Charge: None Rocky Neck State Park, East Lyme Location: 3 miles west of Niantic (Exit 72 from I-95 - Connecticut Turnpike) Activities: Picnicking, Saltwater Fishing, Hiking, Camping, Field Sports, Saltwater Swimming Charge: Daily, in season Related Links Connecticut Tourism Information Fishing Information Friends of Harkness Memorial State Park {Link to Top of Page}