Located on the scenic stretch of road in Newport, RI, known as Ocean Drive, sits Brenton Point State Park. The historic point is named after Governor William Brenton, who ran a large family farm on the property in the 17th century.
As early as the American Revolution, Brenton Point has been looked upon as a strategic point of military coastal defense. In 1776 a battery was setup on the point to protect Rhode Island from invading ships. In 1876, American Lawyer and famed sponsor of incredible discoveries in the Egypt's Valley of the King's, Theodore M. Davis built an incredible "cottage" (really a massive mansion) known as the Reefs (and later called The Bells). Rumor has it that he was plagued with a curse brought unto him from some items he may or may not have kept from his digs in Egypt.
After Davis' death, the property was purchased by the Budlong family, who owned the property up until World War II broke out. At this point in time, the military seized the property to once again make use of the property's strategic positioning overlooking the East passage and proximity to Newport Harbor.
When the war ended, the Budlong's donated the land to the state to become the park we adventure in today. Not much is left from the coastal defense battery built for WWII except for one Panama Mount built for a 155mm gun. In the early 1960's the mansion caught fire and was torn down shortly after.
However, the servants quarters remain intact to this day and serve as the Ranger's office's as well as public restrooms. The stable house also still stands, but is in complete and total shambles. We do not recommend venturing inside the stables, as the second floor is extremely derelict and poised to collapse at any moment.
An observation tower also remains around the backside of the stables where you can look out over the forest, get a great view of the stables and catch a glimpse of the ocean. Beware though, the grounds are said to be haunted and while we were there, we experienced a strange phenomenon that we still cannot explain to this day.
The property also offers magnificent stretches of rocky beach, hiking trails and the occasional food truck. For more information on the park please visit: http://www.riparks.com/Locations/LocationBrentonPoint.html
