Wordish Wednesday: Christmas At Kips Castle

Several months ago I wrote about Kips Castle, which is located in parts of both Verona (8 acres) and Montclair, New Jersey (2 acres).

Frederic Ellsworth Kip was a wealthy man who had his home constructed to look like a Norman castle. In the 1980's it was inhabited by a weird religious cult.

The property is now part of the New Jersey Green Acres program and is an Essex County Park. Anyone can stroll around the grounds from dawn until dusk, although the interiors are usually prohibited. Occasionally the castle is open for special events, especially during the holiday season. 


More photos after the jump!

The castle is beautifully decorated with TWO Christmas trees and is obviously lovingly maintained. When you walk around the balcony and look out the windows and also walk around the grounds, you do feel as if you're in a castle.





























I originally wrote about Kips Castle here.

You can read more about Kips Castle:

Wikipedia

Discover A Landmark Treasure (.pdf)

The New York Times (written when the cult was in the castle)

Dumont Castle/Kips Castle

The Kips Castle Parks Conservancy

Lost In New Jersey (written before the castle was restored -- photos are missing in the interesting article)

You can read more Wordless Wednesday here.

You can read more Wordful Wednesday here.