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Gay City State Park
Hebron |
| Gay City State Park offers a glimpse into Connecticut's industrial roots with over 1500 acres of endless opportunities for outdoor fun including the exploration of extinct mill-town ruins and stone foundations. | |
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 Bicycling |
 Pond Fishing |
 Hiking |
 Swimming |
 Picnicking |
 Youth Group Camping | |
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| An extensive trail system is maintained in cooperation with the Connecticut Forest and Park Association, which provides volunteer assistance. For information on volunteering for trail activities throughout the state contact the Connecticut Forest and Park Association. |
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Gay City State Park offers Youth Group Camping.
More Information |
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| Bathrooms, Picnic Tables |
| Note to Swimmers: Please read the Beach Regulations and Swimming Safety Information before entering the park |
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| The Geology of Gay City State Park |
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| From the South/New London area: Follow Route 85 north. Park entrance is 6.7 miles past the intersection with Route 66. |
| From Glastonbury area: Take Route 85. Park entrance is 2.0 miles past the intersection with Route 94. |
| From the North/Hartford & Massachusetts area: I-384 east to Exit 5. Take Route 85 south for 4.7 miles. |
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There is a weekend/holiday parking fee at Gay City State Park. Gates open for the season on the third Saturday in April. They are opened daily at 8:00 am and closed at sunset. Gates close for the season after Columbus Day weekend. Winter parking is available off-season.
More Information |
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| Hiking Map |
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| Located on the Hebron-Bolton town line, Gay City's 1,569 acres of parkland offer swimming, picnicking and an almost endless opportunity for exploration. The name "Gay City" derives from a now-extinct mill town that once occupied the site. Today only some tumbling stone foundations, several grass-filled cellar holes and a few silent tombstones suggest its former existence. |
| Gay City was first settled in 1796 by a religious sect led by Elijah Andrus and later by Rev. Henry P. Sumner. The Gays soon comprised the majority of the 25 or more families who then lived in the community. The residents kept strictly to themselves, existing as distinctly separate from the neighboring communities. They built a sawmill along the Black Ledge River and erected homes from the lumber. |
| Gay City's fate changed with the successes and failures of several commercial enterprises. A woolen mill on the site 1/4 mile below the present pond was a successful business until extreme pressures caused by the various blockades during the War of 1812 brought its closing. Once revived, the mill burned to the ground in 1830, beginning the town's decline with the exodus of many people to urban factory jobs. Rev. Sumner's son built a paper mill which again revived the town somewhat until the Civil War, when many of the town's younger men were killed in battle. Soon after, the mill burned down, triggering the final demise of Gay City and nature's reclaiming of the land. In 1944 Gay City was designated as a state park. |
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| Other Nearby State Recreation Areas Include: |
Day Pond State Park, Colchester
Location: 5 1/2 miles west of Colchester off Route 149
Activities: Hiking, Picnicking, Pond Fishing, Swimming
Charge: Weekends and holidays, in season |
Salmon River State Forest, Colchester
Location: 2 miles west of Route 149 on River Road
Activities: Canoeing, Fly Fishing, Hiking, Historic Covered Bridge, Hunting, Picnicking, River Fishing, Ski Touring
Charge: None |
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| Related Links |
Connecticut Tourism Information
Fishing Information |
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