Madame Sherri’s Castle Ruins | A Legendary Site in Chesterfield, NH
Tucked away in the southwest corner of New Hampshire, you’ll find the Madame Sherri Castle Ruins, a sweeping staircase constructed of stone.
By Brenda Darroch|Sep 28 2021|
It was a user-submitted photo that first sparked my interest: a sweeping, arched staircase constructed of stone, fallen leaves strewn along its steps, curving upward to end mid-air in the midst of a forest. It was titled simply “Madame Sherri Castle Ruins, Chesterfield, NH.” Castle ruins in New Hampshire? Now that’s something worth exploring!
We weren’t planning on seeking out Madame Sherri’s castle last weekend, but as Jim and I cruised along Route 9 from Keene, New Hampshire, toward Brattleboro, Vermont, with no particular destination in mind, it seemed as good a time as any to make a detour. A quick Google search returned a site that listed the ruins’ location as Castle Road in Chesterfield, also known as the Madame Sherri Forest, and off we went.
Truth be told, I was starting to think we might have missed it when Jim spotted the sign for the “Madame Sherri Forest” marking the parking-lot entrance. After a quick perusal of the map at the information kiosk, we crossed the footbridge and headed in the direction of the Ann Stokes Loop — a trail extending almost two miles through both the Madame Sherri Forest and the Cook Town Forest. When the path split, we veered right, catching our first glimpse of the ruins, and within minutes, we were at the foot of the massive stairway.
Photo Credit : Photo Courtesy of Brattleboro Historical Society
It seems improbable, really. You wouldn’t expect to find the remains of a “castle” tucked into the southwest corner of the Granite State, yet there it is. Stories swirl around these ruins and its former occupant, but most folks in the area seem to agree on a few points: Madame Antoinette Sherri, a costume designer from New York, began buying land in the small village of Chesterfield, New Hampshire, in the late 1920s; she planned to build an extravagant summer home on the property. Her mantra, purportedly, was “Only the best,” and for years she threw wildly lavish parties at her “castle,” hosting an eclectic band of friends from the city. Until her money ran out, that is.
Photo Credit : Photo Courtesy of Brattleboro Historical Society
Madame Sherri eventually moved on, leaving the chateau to fall into disrepair, and it burned down on October 18, 1962. What remains today is the stonework from the staircase, the foundation, columns, and a fireplace. These medieval-looking ruins continue to spark the imagination of photographers, nature lovers, and more than a few ghost hunters. Legend has it that the lady herself has been spotted atop the grand staircase, which some call the “stairway to heaven,” and that if you listen closely, you’ll hear the faint strains of laughter and music coming from the ruins.
While we didn’t hear or see anything supernatural on our visit, this is one of several New England castles not to miss if you’re traveling through southern New Hampshire.
Directions to Madame Sherri’s Castle Ruins on Gulf Road in West Chesterfield, New Hampshire:
From New Hampshire:
Follow Rte. 9 to Rte. 63 South
Turn right on Stage Road
Bear left onto Castle Road
Castle Rd joins Gulf Road
Watch for the MME SHERRI FOREST sign and parking lot on the left.
From Vermont:
Take Rte. 9 East into New Hampshire
Turn right onto Gulf Road just after the Riverside Store along the Connecticut River
Gulf Road makes a hard left. If you end up following the river, you’ve missed the turn.
Watch for the MME SHERRI FOREST sign and parking lot on the right.
NH Forest Society Safety Update:
The top portion of the stone staircase collapsed in July 2021, and the area has been roped off due to safety concerns. PLEASE DO NOT CLIMB OR WALK ON THE RUINS.
Learn More about the Madame Sherri Forest:
The New Hampshire Forest Society: Madame Sherri Forest
Chesterfield Conservation Commission: The Madame Sherri Forest
This post was first published in 2014 and has been updated.
LEARN MORE:
Madame Sherri | New Hampshire’s Most Eccentric Resident?
New England Castles | Where to Find Them
It looks magical. I would love to visit sometime. I bet one’s imagination runs wild in a place like that.
I actually wrote a book on Madame Sherri last year. It’s been selling pretty briskly at the Toadstool Bookshop in Keene. Since the book was published, I came upon so much information that I’ve decided to put together a new edition, which will be much larger. If you want to talk to me on this subject, I can be reached at 603-585-6820.
We were amazed to visit the ruins. it’s great now to see what the actual building looked like then. So much speculation.
Thanks for publishing this story about an eccentric woman who once lived on this now Forest Society reservation. This property you visited is actually owned and managed by The Society for the Protection of NH Forests. For a trail map and more information about the property please visit the Forest Society’s Online Guide to our Lands. http://www.forestsociety.org.
I’m sorry that was missed in this lovely article.
-Wendy Weisiger, Reservation Stewardship, Society for the Protection of NH Forests
thank you for pic and info.excited to go,cant wait hopen this weekend. 🙂
I’m writing a fictional story based around these ruins. The pictures in this article as well as the book Eric wrote have been very useful in providing a much more colorful story. I hope to get to the site this spring to get my own pictures.
My daughter and her friends (college students) went to this site. While touring the beautiful ruins they found a key and picked it up. Once they got back to the car, my daughter started thinking about scary tv shows and how they always say that a ghost can follow an item taken. So they decided it should be put back. They hiked back to the site. While my daughter was bending over to put the key back, her friends were taking a few last pictures with their phone when they saw something move..they snapped the picture, grabbed my daughter and ran to the car.
The picture came out perfect… about 10 feet above the ground, a face is peeking around a tree…a face clear as day.
If you can tell me how to post it….I’d be happy to do so.
I worked on the new (2014) book that Eric Stanway mentioned. It has much new information on Madame Sherri. The title is Madame Sherri – The Special Edition. Available from Amazon, etc.
I would love to see that picture I love ghost stories of new hampshire any where really but especially Nh so if this pic is on you phone go to your gallery click on picture up in the corner their should be different symbols one of them will ask if you want to share the picture and then give you options facebook twitter phone contacts ect pick where you want to share it and it will post as long as you have internet accesas on your phone
Thank You for sharing! I will surely be taking this journey!
I would be very interested in your book. I have been there many timea. lived in Brattleboro, Vt, for several years
I’ve been there, done the whole ghost hunting thing. Nothing, not even an EVP. I even tried talking in French. Interesting place, but not haunted!
Those of you who have visited the site notice that there are two kiosks, one of which is empty. The latter will be filled with an insert summarizing the history of the site, including recent events/activities. We are waiting and will unveil it at the same time we unveil (hopefully) a new bridge. This should happen in September.
When Geoff Jones took a group of ghost hunters up there they did smell the telltale peach smell!
Tom Duston, Chair
Chesterfield Conservation Commission (unofficial stewards of the Madame Sherri Forest for the Forest Society)
I would love to see that! Lol Im sure u can understand why I’m skeptical though?!
Where is the picture? Could you email it to me? I could tell you the story of the challenge passed down from generations. There eas a guy who took the challenge. I met him a few years ago he was in his 50’s and got vy uncomfortable/scared and swears it was true happened to him.
While growing up in Keene, my friends and I found Mdm. Sherri’s and made it to be one of our party places. Several locals bands have played there and much fun has been had at these ruins. I am sure, if asked, it would be one of the best memories from mine and many of my friends childhood days growing up in Keene in the 60’s and early 70’s.
Hi Marcellle…….did you ever share that ghost picture of the face that was taken?? I would lovely see it…..can you share please or let me know where to locate it…thanks so much!!! 🙂
My aunt and uncle built a house up the road from the ruins. Remember walking down to the castle when I was a kid.
When I was younger me and some friends went there. The story we were told was that if you go to the top of the stairs and call her a certain name 3 times, she will knock you off the stairs. So I tested this story. Nothing happened at the time. On our way home, the car we were in went off the road into the brook below. I had my seat belt on but some how went out the window face down in the brook with the car on my legs. I did return to say I was sorry 2 days later.
I plan to visit the Madame Sherri Forest. How long (average time) would it take to explore? Also, is there a parking space for RV parking?
30 minutes to explore the old homesite but be sure to hike up to Indian lake or do the Ann Stokes loop trail which includes the lake.
Hi John,
We spent about an hour there wandering and taking pictures, but there’s not much to see or explore beyond what you see in the photos. There is a small parking lot, but I can’t recall whether it would accommodate an RV.
That is so cool. Thank for sharing your story. I work at the far west end of the Grand Canyon at Hermits Rest, a 1914 rest stop that has ghostly hauntings. Used to live in NH but never knew of this place. Will watch for more in Yankee.
I used to go to the ruins with friends back in the 90’s. There were no signs, no parking lot (when were those put in?), no bridge, we just used to go there and enjoy the old beauty of the place, although yes, I had heard about climbing the stairs and saying Madame Sherri’s name 3 times and she’d push you off. I never did it, but there were a few times that my friends and I just felt something creepy and not right there, and when leaving felt almost like we were being followed. We also all initially knew the story/heard it as that Madame Sherri’s was a Brothel. And that the women of Chesterfield and the surrounding towns burned it down with Madame Sherri inside. That’s the story we always heard growing up around the area.
I’ve never been to Madame Sherri’s ruins, and I’ve not taken a key or said her name three times at the top of the staircase, but from reading this article and comments, I’ve experienced a bad case of “the willies”.
Does that count?
We were planning to tour the Northeastern states and had run across an article about castles in the US. Madame Sherri’s castle was one of them. We put it on our itinerary and also came across a short biography that we downloaded onto our Kindle and read as we were driving here. It had been raining, but stopped before we got there. We had hoped to walk the Ann Stokes Loop, but ventured up to the castle first. We had been there only minutes when the rain returned in torrents! We sheltered under one of the arches of the staircase and when it showed signs of letting up we dashed back to our car. The path we had come up was a stream! All part of the adventure! The book was interesting – it’s always fun to read up on local history where ever you go. It was fun to read the comments and see the pictures and remember our visit here fondly!
We love Madame Sherri’s Forrest, we were married there September 29, 2012. It was magical to us the colored leaves on the stairs and the ground, the entire vibe of the place made it that much more memorable.
my daughter would love a wedding in a spot like this, how did you go about arranging it? any assistance would be appreciated.
Best wishes for a happy anniversary! I happened to be reading this today!
Hi! Firstly Happy Anniversary Bonnie. This castle staircase facinated me. I would like to know who you contacted to have your wedding on this spot. Hope you can share! Also did you have a reception close by?
I first visited Madame Sherri’s castle the weekend after it burned wth my father. It has been a central part of my life, especially during my younger years. I have taken a few mementos from the burned castle and her farmhouse residence across the street as bedroom door items. After college, I spent one summer living in the woods beyond the castle. I was involved in planning and implementing a rock concert there in the early 1970’s featuring Keene bands and Aretha Franklin, friend of the owner Ann Stokes. It was a challenge to do with no electricity. Madame Sheri’s was my first destination with my new car at age 16. Coincidently it was the first destination my son chose to practice driving standard transmission when he got his first new car. My parents always thought my attraction to the place was the rumor it used to be a brothel, but it was the natural beauty of the rock staircase and Indian Pond. I’d like to see Indian Pond again before arthritis totally takes over my knees. In all my experiences there since 1962, I have never had a supernatural experience. The thing that would make Madame Sherri most angry would be if you are one of those who have vandalized the place or littered the property. Let’s make sure what remains there today will be around for future generations.
From the parking area, how far is it to the ruins? I ask because of bad knees and hips. Thanks
It’s not far at all. Maybe 100 feet? You cross the little bridge and go up a rise and it’s right there. Less than a city block, for sure. Just watch out for poison ivy!
Thank you. It is now a doable adventure.
When I lived in those parts, a group of us went out to see the place, and the story we got at that time was that it was built by a wealthy Prohibition-era gangster , and that the infamous Al Capone once visited there. Legend, no doubt.
Years ago,on WUNH’s New Hampshire Journal,Fritz Weatherbee did an extended piece of video journalism on Madame Sherri ,her castle and her ghostly legacy.It was truly memorable.Find it if you can.
Is this a registered historical site? Who owns it now? Just curious if someone would be able to metal detect in the area. Thank you
How come no one has like thought of buying the property if it’s possible and bringing it back to life? I think that would be pretty awesome..
Was this image used in the television series Wynonna Earp? Did they perhaps film there or maybe just replicated it. It looks just like the one in the latest season. Thanks
I was thinking that also!
Like the stories I have read about the Castle. Would love to make a trip there with my husband to see it for ourselves this summer 2019.
Having grown up in the Keene area until joining the Army, I used to party at the ruins as did a lot of kids who knew how to find them back in the 70’s and 80’s. How times have changed…there’s a parking lot now?
Perhaps you should update this piece to note that a large piece of the stairway fell into ruins this past Summer.
My mother in-law was friends with Ann Stokes the last private owner of the property. My husband and I were married below the staircase on August 4th 1979. There was such positive energy at the sight, it followed us and we will celebrate 46 years together this summer.
Lynn Williams