kids encyclopedia robot

Sunrise State Park facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Sunrise State Park
EastHaddamCT SunsetResortSP 2.jpg
Sunrise State Park is located in Connecticut
Sunrise State Park
Sunrise State Park
Location in Connecticut
Location East Haddam, Connecticut, United States
Area 143 acres (58 ha)
Designation Connecticut state park
Established 2009
Administrator Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Website Sunrise State Park

Sunrise State Park (originally Sunrise Resort State Park) is a public recreation area occupying the site of the former Sunrise Resort in the town of East Haddam, Connecticut. The state park encompasses 143 acres (58 ha) on the east shore of Salmon River and shares an entrance with Machimoodus State Park to the south. The park is managed by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

History

Abandoned House at Sunrise State Park, East Haddam, CT
Abandoned house at Sunrise State Park

The property came to life as Ted Hilton's Vacation Hide-A-Way in 1916, before becoming the Frank Davis Resort, and finally Sunrise Resort, when the property was purchased by the state in 2009 for $3.2 million. At that time, the state planned to maintain the resort as a meeting place with camping and other recreational facilities in place. After failing to find redevelopers, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection demolished more than 80 dilapidated resort buildings in 2013, allowing the land to return to its natural state. As of July 2020, some abandoned buildings remain standing, but are closed to the public.

Activities and amenities

The park offers hiking trails and concessionaire kayak rentals added to the site in 2016.

kids search engine
Sunrise State Park Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.