Castle Craig: A Stone Sentinel Over Meriden

Castle Craig, a distinctive stone observation tower, crowns East Peak within the expansive Hubbard Park in Meriden, Connecticut. Standing 976 feet above sea level, the 32-foot-tall tower provides visitors with sweeping vistas of the Meriden area, including views of New Haven and Long Island Sound to the south, the foothills of the Berkshires to the west, and the Hartford skyline to the north. Dedicated on October 29, 1900, Castle Craig was gifted to the people of Meriden by Walter Hubbard, a prominent local industrialist and philanthropist. The tower and the surrounding 1,800-acre Hubbard Park are named in his honor. Constructed from native trap rock by local stonemasons, the tower's design inspiration remains a topic of debate, with some suggesting Norman French towers, a 12th-century Turkish tower, or an ancient Scottish fortification as possible influences. Today, Castle Craig remains a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. Visitors can reach the tower via hiking trails, including the 62-mile Metacomet Trail, or by driving along Reservoir Road, which is open to vehicular traffic from May to October. The park itself offers a variety of recreational activities, including hiking, picnicking, and enjoying the natural beauty of the area. Hubbard Park also has a legend of the "Black Dog", who will supposedly grant worldly goods to those who see it once, physical ailments to those who see it twice, and death to those who see it a third time.