Waveny Park
Encyclopedia
Waveny Park is a park in New Canaan, Connecticut
. The park's centerpiece is "the castle" built in 1912 and surrounded by 300 acres (1.2 km²) of fields, ponds and trails. The architect for the structure was William Tubby
. Landscape design for the original residence was by Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr.
The house was used for exterior shoots of the original Batman television series and in the 2004 remake of the movie The Stepford Wives
.
The park is bordered by Farm Road to the North, the Merritt Parkway
to the South, South Avenue to the East and Lapham Avenue to the West. Over the years, numerous additional town structures have been built on parts of the property including New Canaan High School
, Waveny Care Center (an adult/retirement community and continuum of care) an aquatic center, two public water supply towers, as well as paddle tennis courts.
Lewis Lapham
, one of the founders of Texaco
and the man who built Waveny House, spent summers there with his family for many years. The Lapham family gave the Town of New Canaan most of the estate land in 1967 and sold Waveny House and its surrounding 300 acres (1.2 km²) to the Town for $1,500,000.
New Canaan, Connecticut
New Canaan is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, northeast of Stamford, on the Fivemile River. The population was 19,738 according to the 2010 census.The town is one of the most affluent communities in the United States...
. The park's centerpiece is "the castle" built in 1912 and surrounded by 300 acres (1.2 km²) of fields, ponds and trails. The architect for the structure was William Tubby
William Tubby
William Bunker Tubby was an American architect, particularly in New York City.Tubby was born in Des Moines, Iowa and graduated from Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute in 1875. He worked in the architectural offices of Ebenezer L. Roberts until beginning his own firm in 1883...
. Landscape design for the original residence was by Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr.
Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr.
Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. was an American landscape architect best known for his wildlife conservation efforts. He had a lifetime commitment to national parks, and worked on projects in Acadia, the Everglades and Yosemite National Park. Olmsted Point in Yosemite and Olmsted Island at Great Falls...
The house was used for exterior shoots of the original Batman television series and in the 2004 remake of the movie The Stepford Wives
The Stepford Wives
The Stepford Wives is a 1972 satirical thriller novel by Ira Levin. The story concerns Joanna Eberhart, a photographer and young mother who begins to suspect that the frighteningly submissive housewives in her new idyllic Connecticut neighborhood may be robots created by their husbands.Two films of...
.
The park is bordered by Farm Road to the North, the Merritt Parkway
Merritt Parkway
The Merritt Parkway is a historic limited-access parkway in Fairfield County, Connecticut. The parkway is known for its scenic layout, its uniquely styled signage, and the architecturally elaborate overpasses along the route. It is designated as a National Scenic Byway and is also listed in the...
to the South, South Avenue to the East and Lapham Avenue to the West. Over the years, numerous additional town structures have been built on parts of the property including New Canaan High School
New Canaan High School
New Canaan High School is a public high school in New Canaan, Connecticut.- History :Construction on the school was finalized in 1971. The school is located on grounds donated by the Lapham family, carving off approximiately 46 acres of Waveny Park....
, Waveny Care Center (an adult/retirement community and continuum of care) an aquatic center, two public water supply towers, as well as paddle tennis courts.
Lewis Lapham
Lewis Lapham
Lewis Henry Lapham was an American entrepreneur who made a fortune consolidating smaller business in the leather industry. He was also one of the founders of Texaco Oil Company....
, one of the founders of Texaco
Texaco
Texaco is the name of an American oil retail brand. Its flagship product is its fuel "Texaco with Techron". It also owns the Havoline motor oil brand....
and the man who built Waveny House, spent summers there with his family for many years. The Lapham family gave the Town of New Canaan most of the estate land in 1967 and sold Waveny House and its surrounding 300 acres (1.2 km²) to the Town for $1,500,000.
Events
- Annual Fourth of July Fireworks (the only day of the year alcohol is allowed in the park)
- Annual Easter Egg Hunt
- Available for rent for parties/functions
- Shows/Plays at the Powerhouse
- Summer Cross-Country Race Series (Tuesdays at 7pm, early June through early September - see ClubCT.org for details)
- Outdoor Professional Theater under large open-air tent venue: The Summer Theatre of New Canaan (Mid June through Early August - see stonc.org for details)