The Inn at Castle Hill is centrally located on the spectacular conserved landscape of the 2,100-acre Crane Estate, encompassing rolling hills, quiet woods, open meadows, vibrant salt marshes, miles of sandy beaches, and spruce-clad estuary islands. Once the summer home of plumbing magnate Richard T. Crane Jr., the Crane Estate now welcomes visitors to experience its unique and elegant seaside charm. The centerpiece of the Crane Estate is Castle Hill, with its glorious 59-room Stuart-style Great House. Presiding over 165 acres of designed and natural landscapes and commanding panoramic views of the ocean, this mansion can be seen from far out at sea. Its famous, rolling lawn - the Grand Alleé - stretches half a mile from the portico of the Great House to the precipitous bluffs which overlook Crane Beach, a four-mile expanse of pristine, white-sand beaches and meandering trails across dunes and through a rare maritime forest.
Castle Hill is preserved as a National Historic Landmark offering tours and an extensive schedule of public events - including picnic concerts, teas, theater, and holiday celebrations. You can find a full schedule upcoming events at Castle Hill on our Events Calendar. A system of footpaths and winding drives invites visitors to explore the multitude of historic buildings, natural habitats, and unique landmarks on this remarkable landscape.
Surrounding the Crane Wildlife Refuge is the Great Marsh, the largest contiguous salt marsh in New England, covering more than 25,000 acres from Hampton Harbor, NH to Gloucester, MA. The largest of the Refuge's seven islands, the 135-acre Choate Island supports myriad birds and mammals including deer, fisher, coyote, and otter. The c.1778 Proctor Barn and the c.1725-40 Choate family homestead remind us that the islands were once part of a prosperous farming community.
These special places await you and are just steps from your door when you are a guest of The Inn at Castle Hill.
