Drone Flight - Hobs Island Groton, CT

During historical tours on the Thames River, it’s not unusual for attendees to ask about the unique structure resting on stilts on a small rock island on the Groton shoreline near the mouth of the river. I’m sure many residents and visitors to the area have also wondered about this landmark.

The small rock island, comprising just under six-tenths of an acre, is located on the east side of the river, approximately 400 feet northwest of Eastern Point Beach. Although this parcel of land is listed in Groton land and tax records as Hobbs Island, many state and federal maps have it spelled as Hobs Island without the double “b.”

In October 1975, the island was purchased by David A. and Leonore L. Hays of New York City. Mr. Hays, at the time, was vice president of the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center in Waterford and director of the National Theater for the Deaf. He had previously been a successful and prolific set designer for many Broadway plays.

The basic design of the house can best be described as a non-conventional, composite-type building encompassing a combination of a medieval Russian church design with accents of Japanese architecture. Hays received help in designing and constructing the house from Norwich architect Richard Sharp and Old Saybrook engineer Rudy Bessier.

The three-floor wooden structure is perched on top of vertical steel beams. Its many large windows provide spectacular views of the New London shoreline and the never-ending boat traffic on the river.