275 Great Neck Road
Waterford, CT 06357
The park is open from 8am to sunset, all year.
History |
The mansion, ‘Eolia’ named for the island home of the Greek god of winds, was built in 1906. In 1907, Mary and Edward Harkness had the opportunity to select the most beautiful property along the northeast coast. They chose this location for its unequalled beauty that provide breathtaking views of the seaside landscape of Long Island Sound. The 200+ acres were a working farm and the Mansion was the Harkness’ summer home. The great Eiola Mansion, overlooks a nationally recognized and award winning Italian garden with original sculpture, fountains and pottery. Past the garden, sweeping lawns flow into incomparable views of the ocean seascape. Located on these gorgeous premises, you can find the open-air ampitheatre that overlooks the sand dunes, beach and rolling waves of the ocean. Adjacent to the ampitheatre is a wildlife sanctuary, where the sights and sounds of this seashore environment overwhelm the senses. |
The Roman Renaissance Revival-style mansion has 42 rooms and was designed by the architectural firm of Lord & Hewlett. Starting in 1909, architect James Gambel Rogers designed interior renovations (Classical Revival style), the pergola (tearoom) and carriage house (support complex). During this time, Rogers was also involved in the layout of the west garden with the firm of Brett & Hall. |
From 1918 to 1929, Beatrix Jones Farrand (landscape designer, one of the founders of the American Society of Landscape Architects) redesigned the west garden and created and installed the East Garden, the Boxwood Parterre and the Alpine Rock Garden. The estate was left to the State of Connecticut in 1950. |
Restoration |
The project restored the mansion and gardens at the park to the conditions that existed in the period of the early 1930's. |
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