About Madame Sherri Forest
A stone staircase rises from the woods near Chesterfield, but the chateau it once served is gone. Costume designer and socialite Antoinette “Madame Sherri” Bramare built her French-inspired summer home here in 1930, entertaining visitors with a flair that still colors local stories. Fire and neglect took the house. Its foundation, chimney, and battered stairway remain as an unexpectedly theatrical scene among the trees.
The ruins are only a short walk from the Gulf Road trailhead, and a longer loop leads toward Indian Pond. Look closely at the surviving stonework, but do not climb or walk on it. Part of the upper staircase collapsed in 2021, and the Forest Society has roped off unsafe areas. The contrast between an extravagant former party house and a quiet protected forest is the real draw. It feels like stumbling upon the last stage set after a very long-running play has ended.