Harkness Memorial State Park — Attraction in Waterford

To the Harkness Memorial State Park employee who was "just doing her job" and going only by my license plate, thank you for doing your job all too well and denying me admission to the parking lot without paying a $15 fee. I explained very reasonably and politely that I'm a Connecticut driver who is unfortunately driving an Enterprise rental car with a Rhode Island plate because my car is currently in an autobody shop. She replied, "I just go by the plate, sir" despite the fact that I produced my driver's license before I even pulled up to the booth. This type of "customer service" and public relations is absolutely poor and is a reflection of insensitive/inflexible training. While I produced my license as I drove up and provided a more than reasonable explanation (twice in a calm and measured tone) for the situation, the attendant was still unable/unwilling to respond reasonably and with human decency.

This is inconscionable. I'm a 57 year-old, single male who was simply coming into the park- alone- to eat lunch and play guitar by the water for a few hours. I guarantee that I will take my tourism dollars elsewhere in New England/to other states and avoid Connecticut state parks as a result of how I was treated. I, like everyone else residing in CT, pay automobile registration fees which include admission to Connecticut state parks. If that is fully paid, then I will now print out a copy and produce it regardless of the license plate on the vehicle I choose to drive (if there ever is a next time) and won't tolerate anything less than immediate admission without a fee being...

This place is BEAUTIFUL. Absolutely breathtaking, and my fiancée and I visited before the gardens were even in full bloom! We took a walk on the beach, then headed back towards the mansion. Read some plaques about the property and admired the gardens, and sat in the grass surrounded by daffodils. We had lunch under a pergola, then checked out the carriage house and old farmhouse, before finishing our walk back at the parking lot. Some of the buildings need a little TLC, the carriage house and what looks like it could’ve been a windmill? Many people were working there so hopefully that’s on their list because they are beautiful structures. There is plenty of parking, or was during April/May, but it probably gets pretty packed during the summer. There was a gift shop that wasn’t open during the “off-season,” and there were probably also actual bathroom facilities, but from probably September-end of May there are well maintained port-o-potties, the chart on the door of which said they were serviced every few days, and they were clean, full hand sanitizer dispensers, full toilet paper, and they didn’t smell. There were quite a few people here, some walking on the beach, some taking in some sun, and a few riding bicycles and rollerblades on the paved walk ways. There were people actively working in the gardens, weeding them and getting them ready for the summer. There were some kids running around and playing, some people having lunch at picnic tables, and some reading in the shade of ornamental trees. Truly this was worth every second of the 2 hour drive...

This review is not for the park but for the man working on Sunday January 21st 2024 he said his name was along the lines of "Jeffers" wearing all Charhartt , driving the silver F150 all over the lawn walking paths everywhere, (go look at the tire marks) , at 4:22 pm we arrived to Harkess an hour away from home! We wanted to see the sunset in the winter (who wouldn't it's beautiful right?) We first arrived and the entrance gate was already locked, exit still open 7 other cars came at the same time and we all just wanted to take a few photos, this crazy little man came speeding over herding people like sheep dogs , demanding everyone to leave "and he treats everyone the same" he says as he's yelling twards my 3yr old who just wanted to see the beach ,shame on you for making him cry and you watched him cry! All I simply said is your website says the park closes at sunset (well look up the sunset for 1/21/2024 it was at 4:51pm since Mr. Charhartt F150 likes to be so specific) he claimed there was a sign stating park closed at 4:30 no sign to be found (shocking) . Google says closes at 5:00 , so eaither way we were there before closing. When Mr. Carhartt F150 approached us we said we were just watching the sunset he demanded me to stop turn around and leave as my son is crying because he wants to see the beach , for such a great place SHAME ON YOU FOR HIRING MR. CHARHARTT F150!!!!! I'm not done with this I will be calling the...