We are staying on a narrow causeway between Mirror Lake, pictured above at sunrise, and Lake Winnipesaukee. Our plan for the day was to climb Mount Major but we were quickly sidetracked with more immediate opportunities. We stopped briefly at the Abenaki Fire Watch Tower. Originally built in 1929 and standing 80 feet tall it offers a commanding view of Winnipesaukee and the Ossipee Mountains.
Shortly after departing the tower, we happened upon Castle in the Clouds where an antique car show was underway. There I noticed an early Triumph Spitfire, my first car, and had to pose with it for a photo.
Still early for admission to the estate, we hiked the Brook Walk trail taking us past seven waterfalls. The last and most spectacular is the Falls of Song, with a 40-foot vertical plunge.
By noon, we were ready for our tour of the main attraction. After earning his fortune in the shoe industry at the turn of the 20th century, Tom Plant focused his attention on the Ossipee Mountains in Moultonborough. In 1913-1914, Tom and his wife Olive built a unique and stunning country estate, which they called Lucknow. The property spanned 6,300 acres and featured a 16-room Arts and Crafts mansion, stable and six-car garage, two gatehouses, a greenhouse, a golf course and tennis court, a man-made lake, a boathouse on Lake Winnipesaukee, and miles of carriage and bridle trails. For several years the Plants enjoyed a luxurious lifestyle at Lucknow, with state-of-the-art amenities, beautiful hand-made furnishings, and a large staff to run the estate.
Poor investments and a penchant for overspending left Plant penniless at his death but the residence he left behind stands testament to his ambition and vision. Our final stop for the day was the Grove at Chocorua Lake, an idyllic setting with lovely views in all directions.
