John Milton Hay was remarkable: Lincoln's assistant at 22, he was later Secretary of State for McKinley and T.R. Figure all of that in one life. The Fells is his summer home and gardens, beautifully restored, with trails in the woods for walking. The story of how the property was saved from destruction is fascinating, and the docents giving the tours -- ours at least -- are excellent. Maybe not worth a special trip, but more than worth a stop for an hour or two if you're in the area.
It is small, but definitely worth the visit. Take the house tour, and learn about this fascinating family. Leave time to take the walks into the woods.
A great place to spend the day, bring sneakers as there are beautiful paths to walk and enjoy nature! Each June they sponsor a "Garden Tour" of local private gardens..this year's was spectacular!
Great place to spend an afternoon, walking the grounds and gardens. House tour was very informative.
What a delightful surprise The Fells Historic Estate & Gardens were to us. We knew little of John Milton Hay's summer home. Hay was the private secretary to Abraham Lincoln, and Secretary of State under William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt. Overlooking Lake Sunapee (although only a small part of the Lake is now visible due to the growth of trees that obscure the view) the home and gardens are gorgeous. The docent that led our 40-minute tour at 11 a.m. was knowledgeable and kept our attention the entire time. They also do a garden tour at 1 p.m. that is included in the small admission price. The only caveat - a ¼ mile walk from the parking area to the main house - which isn't bad going in as it's downhill, but coming back it's all up hill. They do have benches strategically placed however, for short rests if necessary. Our suggestion, do the Fells house and gardens in the morning and then after lunch take the Lake Sunapee cruise. We did and spent a delightful day in the area.
We had a great tour. The volunteers are very passionate about The Fells and really are well versed and can answer any questions posed. The grounds were well maintained and we enjoyed hiking through the grounds
enjoy the outdoors, quiet walks, tree canopies, bird tweeting. The Fells is a picturesque place. easy access off of Route 103A and maybe 10 minute drive from exit 11 or 12 off of I-89. The people who work at the Fells are very knowledgeable.
Visited with a friend on a Sunday afternoon, and was greeted at the house by two volunteers. We had a lovely tour of the house, our guide was quite knowledgeable and was able to spend extra time with us answering questions. She seemed to be enjoying herself as much as we were.Our garden tour was led by an intern who was excited about the many plants/flowers etc. We especially were taken with the rock garden.
For 2 weekends in November, the Fells is decorated for Christmas. We toured last weekend and it was beautiful. Each of the 22 rooms was decorated by a different decorator or shop owner. This is not to be missed, along with the beautiful grounds.
Anyone who enjoys a walk in an historic property that has beautiful plantings and great views needs to be here, Property of John Hay Adams, Secretary of State to Abraham Lincoln. Anytime of year, but check google for the Sculpture Exhibit which is good fun. The Fairy Garden and lots of trails are good for all levels. Not to be missed when in the area.