John Hay National Wildlife Refuge

John Hay National Wildlife Refuge comprises the former estate of John Hay, ambassador to Great Britain and personal Secretary of Abraham Lincoln. The historic house and immediate grounds, known as "The Fells," are managed by Memorandum of Understanding by The Friends of John Hay National Wildlife Refuge.

The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests conducts a conservation education program. The Service maintains oversight of the entire property and manages the area not designated as "The Fells" for migratory birds and resident fauna. The Refuge is located along one mile of undeveloped Lake Sunapee lakeshore. John Hay, noted author, naturalist and grandson of John Hay, maintains a life use of 20 acres on the Refuge.

Management Programs
Management is focused on resource protection primarily for migratory birds and resident mammals. Natural processes are maintained where possible.

Accessibility
The National Wildlife Refuge System is working to ensure that facilities and programs are accessible to visitors. Please contact the refuge office for information about accessibility at this unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System.

The refuge grounds are open to public use year-round. The John Hay II Forest Ecology Trail offers a self-guided walk through mature mixed hardwood conifer forest and along the shore of Lake Sunapee.

The Friends of the John Hay National Wildlife Refuge offer tours of the alpine garden and historic house known as "The Fells," a 16-room two-story Dutch Colonial mansion, once the home of John Hay, personal secretary to President Abraham Lincoln and Secretary of State under Presidents McKinley and Roosevelt. Tours are offered on weekends in spring through fall. The Friends sponsor educational programs and other activities. Tour information is available from the Friends at (603) 763-4789.

Directions
John Hay NWR is located on Rt 103A north of the town of Newbury, NH.

c/o Great Bay NWR
100 Merrimac Drive
Newington, NH 03801
Phone (603) 431-7511
Fax (603) 431-6014
E-mail fw5rw_gbnwr@fws.gov