# Haystack Mountain Tower > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Haystack_Mountain_Tower > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Haystack_Mountain_Tower.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haystack_Mountain_Tower > Source revision: 1355108480 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Park in Connecticut, United States}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}} {{Infobox park | name = Haystack Mountain State Park | image = Haystack_Mountain_Tower.jpg | image_caption = | image_size = 280 | image_alt = Tower | map = USA Connecticut#USA | map_caption = Location in Connecticut | map_size = 280 | relief = 1 | map_label = Haystack Mountain State Park | location = [Norfolk, Connecticut](/source/Norfolk%2C_Connecticut), United States | nearest_city = | coordinates = {{coord|42|00|16|N|73|12|29|W|display=inline,title}} | coords_ref = | area = {{convert|292|acre|abbr=on}} | elevation = {{convert|1680|ft|m|abbr=on}}{{cite gnis|207746|Haystack Mountain}} | established = | free_label = | free_data = | designation = [Connecticut state park](/source/List_of_Connecticut_state_parks) | administrator = [Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection](/source/Connecticut_Department_of_Energy_and_Environmental_Protection) | visitation_num = | visitation_year = | visitation_ref = | status = | website = {{Official website}} | module = {{Infobox NRHP | name = Haystack Mountain Tower | nrhp_type = | image = 2013-06-22 Haystack Mountain State Park (42).JPG | caption = | location = 43 North St., [Norfolk, Connecticut](/source/Norfolk%2C_Connecticut) | coordinates = | locmapin = | built = {{start date|1929}} | architect = [Rossiter & Muller](/source/Rossiter_%26_Muller) | architecture = Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals, Jacobean Revival | added = December 2, 1993 | area = {{convert|1|acre|ha}} | refnum = 93001244 }} }} '''Haystack Mountain Tower''' is a stone observation tower at the summit of {{convert|1680|ft|m|adj=on}} [Haystack Mountain](/source/Haystack_Mountain_(Connecticut)) and the chief feature of '''Haystack Mountain State Park''', a public recreation area in [Norfolk, Connecticut](/source/Norfolk%2C_Connecticut). Built in 1929, the tower and the land on which it stands were donated by [Ellen Battell Stoeckel](/source/Ellen_Battell_Stoeckel). The tower provides views of three states and [Long Island Sound](/source/Long_Island_Sound). It was listed on the [National Register of Historic Places](/source/National_Register_of_Historic_Places) in 1993. ==Description and history== Haystack Mountain State Park is located just north of the village center of Norfolk, with its main access road, Stoeckel Drive, beginning on [Connecticut Route 272](/source/Connecticut_Route_272). The 1.3 mile long paved road ends in a small parking lot at the base of summit of Haystack Mountain, where the tower stands. It is {{convert|50|ft|m}} in height and {{convert|22|ft|m}} in diameter, and is built primarily of dark grey [granite](/source/granite) that was quarried at the site. The stone is randomly laid, with deeply recessed mortaring. The interior has concrete steps leading upward to two intermediate landings, with a metal stairway leading from the second landing up to a concrete observation platform, which is set under a conical roof. The elevation of the second landing is indicated on the exterior by a stone string course. The observation area has eight openings providing views in all directions. With clear weather, areas in [New York](/source/New_York_(state)), [Massachusetts](/source/Massachusetts), and [Connecticut](/source/Connecticut) are visible, with views as far south as [Long Island Sound](/source/Long_Island_Sound) possible. thumb|left|Inside the tower The tower was designed by [Ehrick K. Rossiter](/source/Ehrick_K._Rossiter) of [Rossiter & Muller](/source/Rossiter_%26_Muller), and is a significant local example of medieval Tudor Revival architecture. It was built in 1929 and was listed on the [National Register of Historic Places](/source/National_Register_of_Historic_Places) in 1993. It cost approximately $50,000 and was donated by Mrs. Ellen Battell Stoeckel, in memory of her husband, Carl Stoeckel.Citizen Reader, "Haystack Mountain," ''The Hartford Courant'', 1929. Carl Stoeckel was the son of [Gustave Stoeckel](/source/Gustave_Stoeckel). Mrs. Stoeckel's donation also included the initial tracts of land that make up the state park. ==Activities and amenities== The state park offers opportunities for hiking, picnicking, and cross-country skiing. ==See also== *[National Register of Historic Places listings in Litchfield County, Connecticut](/source/National_Register_of_Historic_Places_listings_in_Litchfield_County%2C_Connecticut) ==References== {{cite web |url=https://ctparks.com/parks/haystack-mountain-state-park |title=Haystack Mountain State Park |publisher=Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection |access-date=August 15, 2024}} {{citation |url=https://www.cga.ct.gov/pri/docs/2013/State%20Parks%20and%20Forests%20Funding%20Staff%20Findings%20and%20Recommendations%20.pdf |title=Appendix A: List of State Parks and Forests |work=State Parks and Forests: Funding |series=Staff Findings and Recommendations |publisher=Connecticut General Assembly |date=January 23, 2014 |page=A-2 |access-date=August 15, 2024}} {{cite web|url={{NRHP url|id=93001244}} |title=Haystack Mountain Tower |series=National Register of Historic Places Registration |date=June 1, 1993 |author=David F. Ransom |publisher=National Park Service}} and {{NRHP url|id=93001244|title=''Accompanying 7 photos, from 1993 (see captions page 9 of text document)''|photos=y}} ==External links== {{stack|{{Commons category|Haystack Mountain State Park}}}} *[https://ctparks.com/node/59 Haystack Mountain State Park] Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection *[https://ctparks.com/media/517/download?inline Haystack Mountain State Park Map] Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection {{NRHP in Litchfield County, Connecticut}} Category:Towers completed in 1929 Category:Norfolk, Connecticut Category:Buildings and structures in Litchfield County, Connecticut Category:National Register of Historic Places in Litchfield County, Connecticut Category:Towers in Connecticut Category:State parks of Connecticut Category:Parks in Litchfield County, Connecticut --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Haystack Mountain Tower](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haystack_Mountain_Tower) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haystack_Mountain_Tower?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.