Benjamin Ames Kimball

Crumbling Kimball Castle Could Be Inn, Restaurant

GILFORD - Two men with a successful track record in historic preservation hope to restore Kimball Castle and turn it into a country inn and restaurant.

Don Leavitt and Rick Miller of Bear Island Restorations in Meredith say the project may cost $1.5 million and take two years to complete, but both expressed optimism during an interview last week at the castle that it can be done.

Leavitt predicted the restored castle would become a top-notch tourist attraction and that it would preserve a bit of New Hampshire history which is in danger of being lost.

The crumbling castle, its once majestic view of Lake Winnipesaukee blocked by trees which have grown up since it was vacated 30 years ago, has been stripped of most of its furnishings and all of the windows have been broken by vandals.

It was built by railroad magnate Benjamin Ames Kimball around the turn of the century and was left in trust by Kimball's daughter in 1960 with the stipulation that the land be used to promote wildlife conservation.

There was not enough money in the trust, however, to maintain the property and it has deteriorated over the years.  The town acquired the 265-acre property several years ago and has tried unsuccessfully over the past few years to sell the castle, offering to subdivide the 12 acres which contain structures from the other 253 acres which are being developed as a wildlife refuge area.

Selectmen have voted to enter into final negotiations with Bear Island Renovations for development and use of the castle and its other buildings, which include a caretaker's house, a carriage house and ice house.

Town Administrator Dave Caron said Bear Island Renovations was chosen based on its experience in renovating the Red Hill Inn in Centre Harbor and the Plymouth Theatre.  he said any agreement will require approval from the state Attorney General's Office, which oversees all charitable trusts, and that informational hearings will be held by the town's planning board to receive public input before the project is finalized.

Caron said the plan proposed by the developers will satisfy the town's twin goals of preserving the castle and using the surrounding land as a conservation area.

Leavitt said he and his partner successfully restored all six buildings on the 60-acre Red Hill estate in Centre Harbor, where they now operate a country inn and restaurant.

They propose to create a country inn with 15 guest rooms, as well as a 100-seat restaurant with a small lounge.  An addition would be constructed on the south side of the castle for the restaurant's kitchen and lounge, as well as storage space, additional guest rooms and a conference room.

He said the other buildings on the property would be restored for guest rooms and trees near the crest of the hill would be thinned to open up the view of the lake and the mountains.

Leavitt said the restored castle property would also be linked to a network of cross-country ski trails, serving as the starting point and also providing ski rentals.

He said a feasibility study will be conducted to make sure the castle's stone walls are capable of being restored.  Engineers have previously estimated it would cost as much as $400,000 to do the stone work.

Leavitt said if the study looks good, a fundraising drive will be launched for the project.  He said there are already several interested investors.

©2004 Peter K Kimball