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Chesterfield, New Hampshire: Stairway to Nowhere

Now surrounded by forest, the rock staircase was once part of a castle built by an eccentric widow. The castle burned to the ground in 1962.

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Castle ruins.

Staircase to Nowhere

The parking lot is located on Gulf Road -- just follow the road until you get to the cornerish part.

As we were driving down the road an officer pulled up beside us and asked what we were looking for. He was extremely helpful and nice. I guess they get quite a few people looking for it.

Great stop. There is more to the house left than I originally thought. The parking lot has an informative sign about Madame Sherri and the place itself.

[Jennifer Avery, 07/27/2015]

Stairway.

Stairway to Nowhere

I stopped by Madame Sherri's Forest to see the "Stairway to Nowhere." It's maybe 200 yards from the parking area. Not only is the stone staircase there, but the stone remains of the house, including a cellar full of creepy graffiti, is nearby.

[Tom Breen, 10/22/2014]

Built by the colorful "Madame Sherri" in 1931, the castle formerly connected to the stairway burned to the ground in 1962.

Stairway to Nowhere

Madame Sherri's forest contains the remains of Madame Sherri's estate. Oddly enough, it burnt down the day she was admitted to a nursing home in Brattleboro, VT.

The stairs and stone walls are the only remains of the once beautiful estate that occupied the property. There is also a stone-walled pond on the property.

[Gayle Hedrington, 07/25/2010]

Stairway to Nowhere

Madame Sherri Forest

Address:
Castle Rd, Chesterfield, NH
Directions:
Madame Sherri Forest. Just east of CT River on Hwy 9/Franklin Pierce Hwy turn south at post office onto Gulf Rd. Drive 2.3 miles, parking lot on right. Short walk to wooden bridge across an old artificial pond. A few yards up the path are ruins.
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Nearby Offbeat Places

Sea SerpentSea Serpent, Brattleboro, VT - 2 mi.
Oldest Continuously Operating U.S. Post Office BuildingOldest Continuously Operating U.S. Post Office Building, Hinsdale, NH - 6 mi.
Santa's Land USASanta's Land USA, Putney, VT - 10 mi.
In the region:
America's Switzerland, North Adams, MA - 30 mi.

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