Entry No. 52 — the Washington, D.C. file — filed under: ruins

Glen Ellen Castle Ruins

Built in 1833 for Robert Gilmor III, Glen Ellen was a grand Gothic Revival mansion designed by architect Alexander Jackson Davis to resemble Sir Walter Scott's Scottish estate, Abbotsford. The estate was abandoned in the late 19th century due to the construction of the Loch Raven Reservoir, which flooded the surrounding valley. In 1929, the decaying structure was dynamited for safety, leaving behind only stone foundations, cellar walls, and scattered masonry hidden in the woods.

The move: Hike the scenic Glen Ellen Trail through the Loch Raven Reservoir Cooperative Wildlife Management Area to search for the hidden stone foundations and photograph the historic ruins.

📍 Before you go The ruins are located within the Loch Raven Reservoir Cooperative Wildlife Management Area and are legally accessible to hikers via the public Glen Ellen Trail.

• 📍 Parkville
• 💸 Free
• ⚡ Low-key
• 🌗 Outdoors

Where: Loch Raven Dr, Parkville, MD 21234, USA

Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current access before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Further reading: hmdb.org · YouTube

last checked: 2026-07-20