Madame Sherri Forest

Conserved Forest Near The Connecticut River In Chesterfield Where The Stone Arches And Grand Curving Staircase Of The Burned "Castle" Of Antoinette Sherri, A 1920s 30s Broadway Costume Designer, Stand Beside A Short Trail That Continues To Indian Pond And Wantastiquet Mountain (Confirm). · Chesterfield, New Hampshire

A conserved forest in West Chesterfield, in the hills above the Connecticut River across from Brattleboro, Vermont, where the ruins of a 1930s party house stand in the woods a few minutes' walk from a small parking lot. The house belonged to Antoinette Sherri, a flamboyant costume designer for Broadway revues in the 1920s and 1930s (confirm), who built it as a summer retreat for lavish gatherings of theatre friends and was known locally for driving through town in furs and a chauffeured car (confirm). After she left and fell on hard times, the empty building burned in the early 1960s (confirm). What survives is the stone foundation, a set of arches and a grand curving stone staircase that climbs to nowhere, now wrapped in moss and trees. The land is protected by a conservation group (confirm), and the trail continues past the ruins on a loop to Indian Pond and up Wantastiquet Mountain, with a view down over Brattleboro. The ruins are free to visit, popular for photographs and best seen in foliage season or soft light.

Gulf Road, Chesterfield, New Hampshire, 03443, United States

The forest is open all year from dawn to dusk, with no gate, staff or ticket office; the ruins stand in the open woods and can be seen at any time in daylight. There are no set closures, but access depends on Gulf Road, a narrow unpaved road that can be rutted in spring mud season and icy or poorly plowed in winter (confirm maintenance). The small lot may be full on autumn weekends. Hunting is generally allowed on conserved forest land in season, mainly in autumn, so wear bright colors then. The site is not lit, and visits after dark are discouraged by the landowner (confirm).

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