Castle in the Clouds II?

[ApS]

Anyone notice the clearcut on Mt. Shaw's slope?

This Spring I noticed a clearing directly south of Mt. Shaw's summit at about the 1000' level. ("Castle in the Clouds" is slightly higher in elevation).

This season's leaf change, which often first affects trees in distress, appears to highlight an access road heading NE. Through my modest binoculars, it appears a large foundation is being built on Tuftonboro's highest town border, perhaps for a future McMansion.

Anyone on Winnipesaukee islands (or elsewhere) have a better description for what's going on there?

[Dave R]

I have no idea what's being built up there but I seriously doubt anyone would go to all that trouble and then slap together a McMansion on such a desireable lot. An actual mansion would be far more likely.

[jrc]

Where is the cross over from McMansion to full Mansion somewhere around 4000 square feet?

I've also heard them called "starter castles"

The nerve of some people, building a house on property they own.

[SIKSUKR]

That guys probably looking down wondering why people built all those houses along that beautifull shoreline and muddled up his view of a pristine lake.It's all in your perspective and which piece of property you happen to own isn't it?

[Lin]

Originally Posted by SIKSUKR

That guys probably looking down wondering why people built all those houses along that beautifull shoreline and muddled up his view of a pristine lake.It's all in your perspective and which piece of property you happen to own isn't it?

This year I've seemed to have seen more cropout clearcuts on several of the hills/mountains around the lake. Shame to see some of these vistas opened up. But on the flip side maybe it could be used as an abatement procedure for the view tax.

[Lakegeezer]

The Western face of the Ossipees, at least part of it, was purchased by the Lakes Region Conservation Trust a few years ago, with the promise that the face would not be "defaced". Is this new development in their tract of land or outside it?

[ApS]

Originally Posted by Lakegeezer

The Western face of the Ossipees, at least part of it, was purchased by the Lakes Region Conservation Trust a few years ago, with the promise that the face would not be "defaced". Is this new development in their tract of land or outside it?

1) Mapwise, I place this location in the most northermost "point" in the Town of Tuftonboro—nearly at the same altitude as the Castle in the Clouds.

2) The original Castle in the Clouds property ran in a continuous strip from the Castle to waterfront where Bald Peak Colony Golf Course is today—in Tuftonboro.

Originally Posted by SIKSUKR

That guys probably looking down wondering why people built all those houses along that beautifull shoreline and muddled up his view of a pristine lake.It's all in your perspective and which piece of property you happen to own isn't it?

3) The beautiful shoreline is still there. From the Castle in the Clouds restaurant, you can't see any lakefront residences; however, you can see every hilltop and mountainside clearcut for residences or views. It's like night traffic where, out of a hundred cars, there's ONE with its headlights on high-beam!

4) I'm about six miles distant, and can see the beginnings of a foundation (of something—celltower? AMC hut?)

Originally Posted by Dave R

I have no idea what's being built up there but I seriously doubt anyone would go to all that trouble and then slap together a McMansion on such a desireable lot. An actual mansion would be far more likely.

5) It's now rumored to be a "Motel 6".

Originally Posted by jrc

"...The nerve of some people, building a house on property they own..."

6) Only to make a point, I invented the rumor above.

[Orion]

Originally Posted by Acres per Second

6) Only to make a point, I invented the rumor above.

Maybe, but the bottling company up there looks like it HAS expanded their facility to the west. I can now see a white building where there was none last year.....or they've cut down more trees exposing a building. Either case, they should paint it green to blend better.

[Lakegeezer]

Originally Posted by Orion

Maybe, but the bottling company up there looks like it HAS expanded their facility to the west. I can now see a white building where there was none last year.....or they've cut down more trees exposing a building. Either case, they should paint it green to blend better.

There is a large cement thing showing to the north of the Castle and down from the bottle plant. If that is what we are talking about, its a structure holding up the road coming down from the bottle plant. Agree though, painting it green and brown to hide it would be a nice gesture.

[ApS]

Originally Posted by Lakegeezer

The Western face of the Ossipees, at least part of it, was purchased by the Lakes Region Conservation Trust a few years ago, with the promise that the face would not be "defaced". Is this new development in their tract of land or outside it?

It is definitely far to the east of LRCT land, and there has been absolutely no structure built on this huge and naturally forested eastern face until now.

While I may be able to see the beginnings of some kind of structure being built up there, I may be among only two or three Winnipesaukee shorefront residents who are able to view it at all presently.

From Lake Winnipesaukee, it may be seen—perhaps—from some elevation on Rattlesnake Island with binoculars. The treeline of Tuftonboro Neck will hide it from most everybody else.

[wifi]

Originally Posted by Acres per Second

....

5) It's now rumored to be a "Motel 6".

6) Only to make a point, I invented the rumor above.

Hopefully the lights won't be on all night then

[ApS]

Originally Posted by Lakegeezer

The Western face of the Ossipees, at least part of it, was purchased by the Lakes Region Conservation Trust a few years ago, with the promise that the face would not be "defaced". Is this new development in their tract of land or outside it?

1) I'd guess this new area was 'way outside of the LRCT. It's possible that the lot in question can be seen from an east-facing slope on Moultonborough Bay. It appears to be at about 900' elevation.

2) Its appearance changes during the day—sometimes disappearing! Yesterday, I couldn't be certain just what I was seeing from Moultonborough Bay in the late afternoon sun.

3) With a little help from Google Maps, the area in question is the smaller of two new—and very steep—clearcuts. (And the only clearcuts there since 1956). Two huge boulders stand at the margins of the smaller cut. (Hope they don't plan to move 'em).

4) I've learned to not call any lot "unbuildable", so I won't.

Originally Posted by Orion

Maybe, but the bottling company up there looks like it HAS expanded their facility to the west. I can now see a white building where there was none last year.....or they've cut down more trees exposing a building. Either case, they should paint it green to blend better.

It looks grey to me, but you've certainly got that right. For the first time ever, I saw it (the bottling company) from Moultonborough Bay during a boat trip to Braun Bay yesterday . (Which was smokin').

Where the Castle is a piece of history, that plant is an eyesore! It definitely needs one of NH's white pine "beauty-strips". That plant reminds me of a similar spot in VA, where an entire mountaintop is a dairy plant.

On the other hand, the Castle's golf course, I was reading yesterday, is returning to Nature.

Originally Posted by jrc

"...Where is the cross over from McMansion to full Mansion somewhere around 4000 square feet...?

I'd say the crossover is between "stone-built" and "stick-built".

(Sayin' there are no "stick-built" Mansions).

[Sue Doe-Nym]

Please explain what you are referring to when you say "the Castle's golf course". To the best of my knowledge the only golf course is at Bald Peak Colony Club which is no where near the Castle and has not been related to the Castle property since Tom Plant sold it off many decades ago.

[Rattlesnake Gal]

Can the spot in question be seen in this photo?

[ApS]

Originally Posted by Sue Doe-Nym

Please explain what you are referring to when you say "the Castle's golf course". To the best of my knowledge the only golf course is at Bald Peak Colony Club which is no where near the Castle and has not been related to the Castle property since Tom Plant sold it off many decades ago.

Unfortunately, I can't elaborate. I just recycled the document soliciting donations that described it. However, the Club is miles from where I believe they were describeing. Any of "Nature's reclaiming" at Bald Peak Colony Club occurred decades ago.

Originally Posted by Rattlesnake Gal

Can the spot in question be seen in this photo?

'Sure is a tiny photo! (j/k)

The first hilltop house from the right is about where it is but, at 900' elevation, the spot is pretty far down the slope. (And covered by the treeline in your photo). The clearcut is directly south of Mt. Shaw, and appeared to be on the west slope of "Briar Hill" (as I recall).

As a passenger, I've looked around by car and even toured a lot of the lake on Sunday, and don't recall being able to see it from any other viewpoint.

Except from this computer!