Leon Levy Preserve - Flute

After a hike up at Pine Mountain plotting a new overlook trail [Link >] and another great lunch and IPA at The Hideaway in Ridgefied, the weather was so beautiful I decided to stop and check out the Leon Levy Preserve in Lewisboro.

Sadly, no bikes are allowed but its a great park with rugged scenery and a few historical ruins.

Trail south to Gorge

I first headed south to the Gorge Overlook. The trails are primarily old carriage roads but the offshoots are single track.

 Trail sign for Gorge Loop

At the trail sign, I veered off to hike the Gorge Loop...

Outcroppings overlooking the Gorge

...  and found a nice spot on mammoth rocks to play my Native American flute.

A nice bunch of hikers took my photo

Always enamored with the many shapes of trees

After my peaceful time by the Gorge Overlook playing the flute, I finished hiking the Gorge side loop and headed north on the main trail to visit the historical ruins.

At the Cottage Ruins

First stop was the Cottage Ruins that were located on a side trail.

"Rhino "Tree near the cottage Ruins

Black Mansion

Next I visited the Black Mansion. This was built in 1905 by Dr James Mason Crafts, former president of MIT on more than 100 acres. Abandoned in the 1920s, it burned in early 1979. All that remains are a few stone walls and structures.  It appears it is being restored.

Methinks this was an old road leading up to the mansion

Before Restoration 

These photos indicated its condition before restoration began...

Chimney Ruins

Finally, I circled back down the main trail and passed by the chimney ruins.

Near the front of the park - this would make a setting for a mini concert :-)

Conclusion

This is a great park, I will be returning to hike more of the trails  -- and of course bring my Native American Flute. :-)   

Further Info 

According to Town Historian Maureen Koehl, the mansion was developed along with many of the other structures on the property by an organic chemist and president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dr. James Mason Crafts, after he bought the property around 1890.

Among the structures built were a laboratory, ice house, coach house, and garage with six bays and a grease pit. A history of the mansion is included in Ms. Koehl’s book: Lewisboro Ghosts: Strange Tales and Scary Sightings.

Source: https://www.lakekitchawan.com/craftsestateblackmansion.html

The Black Mansion

A couple of great B&W shots of the Black Mansion ruins

Great photos of the Park 

(Wildlife, Trail, Ruins, etc.)