It's only fitting that I include Borderland on Hidden Gems MA because it was one of my favorite spots before I knew what a hidden gem even was. There’s so much history behind the park, and tons of incredible things to discover even if you’ve been a million times.
There is a main path that I hope to highlight in this post because it is my personal favorite, although there are many, many more to discover. The first is the Pond Edge Trail. To start out, go to the main parking lot of Borderland. There is a small fee, and parking is sometimes full on unusually nice weekends, but you can get in for free with a DCR pass. Continuing on, you’ll notice the first highlight of the trail, and of Borderland as a whole--the Ames Mansion.
The Ames Mansion was designed by Blanche Ames in 1910. You may know Blanche Ames, as she’s had a bit of press in Easton over the past year as the new elementary school is going to be named after her. She was a multi talented woman, an artist, a suffragette, an inventor, and author. Her inventions included hexagonal lumber cutter, a method for ensnaring enemy aircraft, and a color charting system. One of my favorite stories about her is when her car broke down in the Yucatan Jungle in Mexico and she fixed it with only a hairpin and a bullet.
She also helped the turkeys in Borderland become disease-free, and you can see plenty of them roaming around the grounds today. Beware though, the turkeys are vicious. I have a personal grudge against them ever since one blocked my path as I was walking through Borderland and deliberately walked back and forth so I couldn’t go around it. Despite the turkeys though, Borderland is an amazing place to go to relax and take a hike.
Ames Mansion itself is a stunning building, the ivy coated stone walls and green window sills looking out over the sprawling grounds. Blanche oversaw the construction and interior design of the building, as well as designed a swimming pool with a complex series of pipes in the back of the mansion.
The swimming pool was my favorite spot to visit in Borderland when I was a kid. Even though it has been drained of water, there were plenty of trees around that were perfect for climbing or investigating the unusual graffiti.
If you continue on past the pool, you’ll enter the official Pond’s Edge Trail. A short walk, the trail takes you through the forest and a clearing until you reach Leach Pond. If
you continue along the edge of the pond, you’ll see another, much smaller building used by the Ames. The Lodge is located on the edge of the pond. On a nice day, you can see swans and lily
pads scattered over the lake. Near the Lodge, there is also a small brook and a bridge, perfect to cool off on a hot day. Winter is still a great time to visit, though, because the Lodge will sometimes have a warm fire going where you can catch your breath for a few minutes.
Borderland has been on the big screen quite a few times. Most recently, it was featured in Oscar-nominated Knives Out (which is one of my favorite movies--check it out and see if you can spot the Ames Mansion library). The library has also been in the reboot of Ghostbusters and the lodge on Leach Pond was used in Shutter Island and Mermaids. That means Chris Evans, Daniel Craig, Melissa McCarthy, Leonardo DiCaprio, Martin Scorscese, Jaime Lee Curtis, Christopher Plummer, Kristen Wiig and Kate McKinnon have all been to Borderland.
Cher, according to an article on Easton Patch, reportedly tried to purchase the Ames Mansion before being informed that it was not for sale.
There's tons of history in Borderland State Park, from suffragettes and starlets all making their marks on the park. Whether you are interested in history, architecture, or are just looking for a beautiful spot for a walk, Borderland is the place for you.
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