Sleeping Giant State Park gets its name from the Quinnipiac people due to its resemblance to a figure lying on its back. They believed the figure to be Hobbomock, a wicked figure in local mythology. Today, the area is one of southern Connecticut’s most popular state parks, and this unique stone tower is its main attraction.

The tower, and the wide path leading up to it, were developed in the 1930s as part of the New Deal’s Works Progress Administration. The Romanesque structure was completed in 1937 and includes multiple rooms, fireplaces, and an observation deck. 

The park’s 1,447 acres also includes ruins of an old mill and quarry. 

Juxtaposed to Quinipiac University, you are ultimately served a stunning view of the campus amongst a sea of New England foliage dotted with the tips of white steeples.

The state park offers miles of trails including the wide gravel path to the tower with winding offshoots to cliff-side vistas worthy of a Monet rendering. Sleeping Giant State Park captures the soul of Connecticut.