Gay City State Park

Gay City State Park sits along the Blackledge River in Hebron and Bolton, Connecticut, covering 1,569 acres of deep forest, millpond, and marshland that border Meshomasic State Forest. What makes it distinctive is the layer of history beneath the trees: the land was home to a mill town for much of the 19th century, and scattered remnants of that settlement still remain within the park.

Visitors today experience the site as a working recreation area managed by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. The combination of woodland, water, and quiet ruins gives the park an atmosphere that rewards both history-curious explorers and those simply after a day outdoors. Access is off State Route 85, making it straightforward to reach by car.