As you explore South County, you’ll find all kinds of beautiful, unique, and popular places to check out on your vacation. However, most of these spots will be relatively mainstream because everyone knows about them and visits them frequently. The beaches, ponds, forests, and paths are great, but generally, you won’t see anything hidden or rare, and you’ll have to contend with some crowds in many of these areas.
However, if you venture into North Kingstown, you’ll have the chance to see Hamilton Lotus Pond, a site most locals don’t even know about and fewer have visited. This small pond is almost hidden in plain sight, as it’s just off a main road, but it’s difficult to see unless you’re specifically looking for it.
Checking this area out will unquestionably become one of the most memorable parts of your vacation. Here’s everything you should know about Hamilton Lotus Pond in North Kingstown, Rhode Island.
What Is the Lotus Pond?
As the name suggests, Lotus Pond is a body of water surrounded by lotus flowers. The flowers at this venue are massive, as some grow higher than a human being, extending over the water and throughout the small gully where they’re located.
Walking into this sunken pond is like entering a magical garden with flowers everywhere and lily pads covering the water. Make sure you bring a camera because you’ll want to document your short trek into one of South County’s most scenic locations.
Where to Find It
We mentioned that Lotus Pond is hidden in plain sight, and that’s because it sits on the side of Boston Neck Road, the main street connecting Narragansett and Wickford. This road cuts through the John H. Chafee Nature Preserve, which is also worth checking out, but the pond isn’t in this park.
Heading north on Boston Neck Road, you’ll eventually pass the Rome Point Cafe. You’ll then come to the entrance to Hamilton Harbor, and there’s a pullout just past this entryway. Pull over there, and you’ll see a sign directing you toward Lotus Pond.
There are often at least a couple of cars pulled over in this area, but it never gets too busy because most people don’t know about it. This lack of attention keeps the pond pristine and is one reason why it remains so beautiful year after year.
The History of the Pond
You might be wondering how these flowers, which are native to Asia and parts of Australia, got to North Kingstown, Rhode Island. Lotuses don’t grow here naturally, so it stands to reason that someone planted them near this pond at some point for some reason.
The story begins in the 1850s, when the Hamilton Web textile mill sat where Lotus Pond is now located. At that time, the Hamilton Web company built a waterpower trench to run its looms, with water flowing between Annaquatucket Mill Pond and the Annaquatucket River. This trench is where present-day Lotus Pond is located.
The mill eventually closed in 1979 and sat vacant until 1982, when a pair of developers, Carl and Ralph Dworman, purchased the complex to turn it into a major condo development.
The Dworman brothers hired famed architect William D. Warner to design the new property and Edward Williams and his firm, Grass Unlimited, to handle the landscaping. Williams knew he had to do something to beautify this trench, so he planted the first lotuses. From there, landscaper Paul Cliff cared for them over the first few years while they established their roots.
Lotus plants can live for more than 1,000 years, and their seeds continnue spawning new life for just as long, which is why these flowers remain so prevalent over 40 years later.
Lotus Pond should stay in good shape for years to come if people or nature don’t destroy it. Fortunately, that means you’ll have more than enough time to check out this spot, no matter when you visit the region.
A Hidden Gem in North Kingstown
Hamilton Lotus Pond is on private property, as it’s still part of the Hamilton Harbor Condominiums. However, the owners allow locals and visitors alike to visit this spectacle, as long as you’re respectful and don’t pick any flowers.
Parking at Lotus Pond is free, although you’ll have to ensure you don’t block the condo’s entrance or exit. Take the time to visit this small park on your South County vacation; you won’t regret it.