Kimball Castle

WhatTheTom · 09-01-2012, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jposta

Go up Lockes Hill Road near Glendale. The castle I think is in really bad condition. They used to give inexpensive tours but not sure they still do.

My GF and I hiked down the backside of Lockes Hill to see where it ended up a few months back...right at the doorstep of the castle. It's in rough shape. It's quite sad actually. I read on a YouTube comment that the people who purchased it tried to turn it into a B&B but the deed in it's current form won't allow it to be converted into any sort of business. Can anyone confirm or deny that?

LadyJane · 09-01-2012, 06:09 PM

Interesting......thank you for the responses. Beautiful lake front property. I wonder if it could ever be restored to an Inn or hotel some day. Joe, in answer to your question, I have stayed many times in Meredith, Center Harbor, Moultonboro, Melvin Village and Wolfeboro. Also have been to Sandwich, Weirs, Laconia, Meadowbrook, etc.......just never hear of the Kimball Castle.

tis · 09-01-2012, 06:10 PM

I remember as a kid we could see the castle from the lake. I haven't thought to look but haven't noticed it. Is it still visible from the lake?

codeman671 · 09-01-2012, 11:32 PM

It is still visible from the lake. We can see the top of it and the guest house roofline when heading past Round Island towards Glendale.

There is no restriction on it to prevent it from being used as a business, in fact it is deeded resort commercial. I did a lot of research on it a few years ago. I was looking at it for the land to use as a residence. The castle is a complete mess, total tear down.

http://www.realesearch.com/displaypr...281&mls=nneren

SteveA · 09-02-2012, 06:31 AM

The folks that purchased the property did have a plan to restore. This is a direct link to that plan. (This is one of the "tabs" in RG's post that was sorta buried in the Kimball Castle website she posted)

http://www.kimballcastle.com/concept.html

I remain surprised that someone or a group of someones

... hasn't done anything with this property. Lot's of big money around the lake, I hope it gets saved and recycled into something.

tis · 09-02-2012, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by codeman671

It is still visible from the lake. We can see the top of it and the guest house roofline when heading past Round Island towards Glendale.

There is no restriction on it to prevent it from being used as a business, in fact it is deeded resort commercial. I did a lot of research on it a few years ago. I was looking at it for the land to use as a residence. The castle is a complete mess, total tear down.

http://www.realesearch.com/displaypr...281&mls=nneren

As I recall we used to see it going towards Treasure Island. Does that sound right? If so can you still see it from there?

upthesaukee · 09-02-2012, 07:57 AM

Tis, it is more or less over the top of the Belknap Pt. Motel, or just to the left of it as viewed from the lake. That would not be very clearly viewed approaching Treasure from Wolfeboro.

To pin it down more, it is between the Scenic View on Rte 11 in Gilford and the Belknap Pt Motel.

tis · 09-02-2012, 08:34 AM

Thanks. I want to look for it from the lake again. I never think to do that anymore and as I said, when we were kids, we always looked for it.

SteveA · 09-02-2012, 08:54 AM

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tis · 09-02-2012, 10:05 AM

Thanks. I am going to try to see it next time we go out that way. I know where Belknap Point Motel is.

jrc · 09-06-2012, 05:18 PM

It's for sale

http://www.nneren.com/listing_detail...11284&return=1

codeman671 · 09-06-2012, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrc

It's for sale

http://www.nneren.com/listing_detail...11284&return=1

It has actually been on the market for probably 10 years. I dont recall the exact original listing date but have it somewhere. It has been through a few different offices/agents, one of whom I am close with.

Pricestavern · 09-06-2012, 09:57 PM

Based on a post back in 2009 by Webbsatwinni, it was listed at 895K back then. Search the forum for Kimball Castle and you'll find it under the 'History, section

Just Sold · 04-11-2013, 11:18 AM

Saw that they will be tearing the Kimball Castle down. In a post by Lakes Region Arial Photo https://www.facebook.com/aerial.photoNH?ref=stream

Lakes Region Aerial Photo New Hampshire

Sadly the once beautiful Kimball castle in Gilford has deteriorated, and will now be torn down. One can only imagine what it was like in it's heyday.

codeman671 · 04-11-2013, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just Sold

Saw that they will be tearing the Kimball Castle down. In a post by Lakes Region Arial Photo https://www.facebook.com/aerial.photoNH?ref=stream

I dont have a Facebook account, can you post the info?

Yeah I know... I own a technology company and I don't use Facebook....

We looked at it to purchase a year ago, solely for the lot. The castle needs to come down. Beautiful views up there, but the deed reads like an encyclopedia. You need a law degree to to interpret it.

BroadHopper · 04-11-2013, 12:21 PM

The trust had many chances to save the building, but as Codeman said, the deed is a nightmare. Basically the property was willed to the birds so to speak and the property was originally a wildlife sanctuary.

I've heard around Gilford that the building is no longer structurally sound and need to come down. It is a matter of who is going to pay to do it. More than likely the town of Gilford will be stuck with it.

The town would love to get rid of the property but the deed restrictions need to be revised.

gillygirl · 04-11-2013, 12:45 PM

So how does one go and take a look at it before it's gone? It sounds like the castle itself is on private property.

tis · 04-11-2013, 12:51 PM

Still, it's very sad it has to be torn down. It is such a part of the history of the area.

codeman671 · 04-11-2013, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

The trust had many chances to save the building, but as Codeman said, the deed is a nightmare. Basically the property was willed to the birds so to speak and the property was originally a wildlife sanctuary.

I've heard around Gilford that the building is no longer structurally sound and need to come down. It is a matter of who is going to pay to do it. More than likely the town of Gilford will be stuck with it.

The town would love to get rid of the property but the deed restrictions need to be revised.

When I looked at it, it was not town owned. It was a private LLC out of Nashua. The town holds a note on it, an agreement that the owner must pay $2-3k (again, going off memory) per year for conservation purposes for a period of 40+/- years. In all, I think it was about $100k.

Structurally sound? Thats an understatement. Every part of it is coming down. The floor is unsafe in a lot of areas, most of the roof is gone, and the second floor is really not accessible (I wouldnt try it). Back when I looked at it, the quote was about $30k to demo it, burying the stone on the property and having the debris hauled.

codeman671 · 04-11-2013, 01:38 PM

Just found the article:

Gilford selectmen OK demolition of Kimball Castle

Published Date
GILFORD — Selectmen voted unanimously to tear down Kimball Castle and the nearby carriage house last night because the code enforcement officer said the buildings were no longer safe.
According to Town Administrator Scott Dunn, the roof of the carriage house has collapsed and the stone walls of the castle have bowed from years of moisture freezing and then thawing.
Dunn told selectmen in the update portion of the meeting that the documents he's reviewed implied it would take millions of dollars to restore and that if it wasn't restored it should be torn down.
Kimball Castle, according to a Website of the same name, was finished in 1899 and took two years to complete. It was built on Lockes Hill, overlooking Lake Winnipesaukee, by Benjamin Ames Kimball, who was the president of the Concord & Montreal Railroad. The site noted that historians often compare it to a German castle located along the Rhine River.
The site says it took $50,000 and 100 Italian stone masons to build the castle with materials from England and Germany that were shipped via Boston to Gilford by railroad.
The castle stayed in the Kimball family until 1960 when the last heir died. Charlotte Kimball stipulated that the property never be used for commercial purposes and left instructions and several hundred thousand dollars to set up and maintain and nature preserve.
The preserve was never created and in 1981 the N.H. Attorney General took control of the building and offered it to the town if they could save the castle and create a preserve.
"In 1990, the town convinced the Attorney General that the best way to carry out the goals of Charlotte Kimball's will was to remove the stipulation against commercial development on the land surrounding the castle and subdivide it off," reads the Kimball Castle site.
"The Town then created the Locke's Hill Nature Preserve on the remaining 260 acres and laid out hiking and skiing trails on it," it continues.
Within the past 10 years, Dunn said the town sold the property to Historic Inns of New England, which in turn sold it to David and Mary Jodoin for $117,500. The town in still being paid annually for the sale.
The 2012 Gilford on-line assessing site lists the owner as Kimball Castle Properties, LLC of Nashua, N.H.
According to selectman's minutes of a non-public session held November 14, 2012, selectmen "extinguished" the public easement upon affirmation of the Kimball Wildlife Committee. Selectmen are the trustees of the Kimball Wildlife Committee.
Dunn said last night he estimated it would cost $25,000 to tear it down and that it was Jodion's property. He also noted the Attorney General still has a vested interest in the property and he would give the letter of decision to him and to the Belknap County Superior Court.

09-02-2012, 06:31 AM	#5
SteveA Deceased Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Gilford, NH Posts: 2,311 Thanks: 1,070 Thanked 2,054 Times in 497 Posts	Restoration Plan The folks that purchased the property did have a plan to restore. This is a direct link to that plan. (This is one of the "tabs" in RG's post that was sorta buried in the Kimball Castle website she posted) http://www.kimballcastle.com/concept.html I remain surprised that someone or a group of someones ... hasn't done anything with this property. Lot's of big money around the lake, I hope it gets saved and recycled into something. __________________ "Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, if he gets angry he'll be a mile away and barefoot!" unknown

09-02-2012, 07:57 AM	#7
upthesaukee Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Alton Bay Posts: 5,614 Blog Entries: 2 Thanks: 2,483 Thanked 1,987 Times in 1,087 Posts	Belknap point Tis, it is more or less over the top of the Belknap Pt. Motel, or just to the left of it as viewed from the lake. That would not be very clearly viewed approaching Treasure from Wolfeboro. To pin it down more, it is between the Scenic View on Rte 11 in Gilford and the Belknap Pt Motel. __________________ I Live Here... I am always UPTHESAUKEE !!!!

09-02-2012, 08:54 AM	#9
SteveA Deceased Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Gilford, NH Posts: 2,311 Thanks: 1,070 Thanked 2,054 Times in 497 Posts	This will help... circled... __________________ "Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, if he gets angry he'll be a mile away and barefoot!" unknown

09-06-2012, 09:57 PM	#13
Pricestavern Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Valencia, Spain (formerly Rattlesnake Isle) Posts: 389 Thanks: 135 Thanked 142 Times in 82 Posts	Craigs List Based on a post back in 2009 by Webbsatwinni, it was listed at 895K back then. Search the forum for Kimball Castle and you'll find it under the 'History, section

04-11-2013, 11:18 AM	#14
Just Sold Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Suncook, NH, but at The Lake at Heart Posts: 2,615 Thanks: 1,083 Thanked 434 Times in 210 Posts	Saw that they will be tearing the Kimball Castle down. In a post by Lakes Region Arial Photo https://www.facebook.com/aerial.photoNH?ref=stream Lakes Region Aerial Photo New Hampshire Sadly the once beautiful Kimball castle in Gilford has deteriorated, and will now be torn down. One can only imagine what it was like in it's heyday. __________________ Just Sold At the lake the stress of daily life just melts away. Pro Re Nata Last edited by Just Sold; 04-11-2013 at 12:00 PM.

09-01-2012, 06:09 PM	#2
LadyJane Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: northern Ct. Posts: 335 Thanks: 129 Thanked 50 Times in 33 Posts	Interesting......thank you for the responses. Beautiful lake front property. I wonder if it could ever be restored to an Inn or hotel some day. Joe, in answer to your question, I have stayed many times in Meredith, Center Harbor, Moultonboro, Melvin Village and Wolfeboro. Also have been to Sandwich, Weirs, Laconia, Meadowbrook, etc.......just never hear of the Kimball Castle.

09-01-2012, 06:10 PM	#3
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,829 Thanks: 764 Thanked 1,474 Times in 1,029 Posts	I remember as a kid we could see the castle from the lake. I haven't thought to look but haven't noticed it. Is it still visible from the lake?

09-01-2012, 11:32 PM	#4
codeman671 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 3,550 Thanks: 222 Thanked 833 Times in 504 Posts	It is still visible from the lake. We can see the top of it and the guest house roofline when heading past Round Island towards Glendale. There is no restriction on it to prevent it from being used as a business, in fact it is deeded resort commercial. I did a lot of research on it a few years ago. I was looking at it for the land to use as a residence. The castle is a complete mess, total tear down. http://www.realesearch.com/displaypr...281&mls=nneren

09-02-2012, 08:34 AM	#8
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,829 Thanks: 764 Thanked 1,474 Times in 1,029 Posts	Thanks. I want to look for it from the lake again. I never think to do that anymore and as I said, when we were kids, we always looked for it.

09-02-2012, 10:05 AM	#10
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,829 Thanks: 764 Thanked 1,474 Times in 1,029 Posts	Thanks. I am going to try to see it next time we go out that way. I know where Belknap Point Motel is.

09-06-2012, 05:18 PM	#11
jrc Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NH Posts: 2,689 Thanks: 33 Thanked 439 Times in 249 Posts	It's for sale http://www.nneren.com/listing_detail...11284&return=1

04-11-2013, 12:21 PM	#16
BroadHopper Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Laconia NH Posts: 5,614 Thanks: 3,245 Thanked 1,115 Times in 801 Posts	The Castle The trust had many chances to save the building, but as Codeman said, the deed is a nightmare. Basically the property was willed to the birds so to speak and the property was originally a wildlife sanctuary. I've heard around Gilford that the building is no longer structurally sound and need to come down. It is a matter of who is going to pay to do it. More than likely the town of Gilford will be stuck with it. The town would love to get rid of the property but the deed restrictions need to be revised. __________________ Someday may never be an actual day.

04-11-2013, 12:45 PM	#17
gillygirl Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 765 Thanks: 774 Thanked 308 Times in 204 Posts	Private property? So how does one go and take a look at it before it's gone? It sounds like the castle itself is on private property. __________________ GG

04-11-2013, 12:51 PM	#18
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,829 Thanks: 764 Thanked 1,474 Times in 1,029 Posts	Still, it's very sad it has to be torn down. It is such a part of the history of the area.

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04-11-2013, 01:38 PM	#20
codeman671 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 3,550 Thanks: 222 Thanked 833 Times in 504 Posts	Just found the article: Gilford selectmen OK demolition of Kimball Castle Published Date GILFORD — Selectmen voted unanimously to tear down Kimball Castle and the nearby carriage house last night because the code enforcement officer said the buildings were no longer safe. According to Town Administrator Scott Dunn, the roof of the carriage house has collapsed and the stone walls of the castle have bowed from years of moisture freezing and then thawing. Dunn told selectmen in the update portion of the meeting that the documents he's reviewed implied it would take millions of dollars to restore and that if it wasn't restored it should be torn down. Kimball Castle, according to a Website of the same name, was finished in 1899 and took two years to complete. It was built on Lockes Hill, overlooking Lake Winnipesaukee, by Benjamin Ames Kimball, who was the president of the Concord & Montreal Railroad. The site noted that historians often compare it to a German castle located along the Rhine River. The site says it took $50,000 and 100 Italian stone masons to build the castle with materials from England and Germany that were shipped via Boston to Gilford by railroad. The castle stayed in the Kimball family until 1960 when the last heir died. Charlotte Kimball stipulated that the property never be used for commercial purposes and left instructions and several hundred thousand dollars to set up and maintain and nature preserve. The preserve was never created and in 1981 the N.H. Attorney General took control of the building and offered it to the town if they could save the castle and create a preserve. "In 1990, the town convinced the Attorney General that the best way to carry out the goals of Charlotte Kimball's will was to remove the stipulation against commercial development on the land surrounding the castle and subdivide it off," reads the Kimball Castle site. "The Town then created the Locke's Hill Nature Preserve on the remaining 260 acres and laid out hiking and skiing trails on it," it continues. Within the past 10 years, Dunn said the town sold the property to Historic Inns of New England, which in turn sold it to David and Mary Jodoin for $117,500. The town in still being paid annually for the sale. The 2012 Gilford on-line assessing site lists the owner as Kimball Castle Properties, LLC of Nashua, N.H. According to selectman's minutes of a non-public session held November 14, 2012, selectmen "extinguished" the public easement upon affirmation of the Kimball Wildlife Committee. Selectmen are the trustees of the Kimball Wildlife Committee. Dunn said last night he estimated it would cost $25,000 to tear it down and that it was Jodion's property. He also noted the Attorney General still has a vested interest in the property and he would give the letter of decision to him and to the Belknap County Superior Court.