Waveny House in New Canaan, Connecticut traces its origins to the early 20th century, when the property was developed as a private estate for Lewis Henry Lapham. Drawing on the wealth he accumulated through the leather industry and his role in building Texaco, Lapham assembled more than 400 acres and constructed a Tudor-style mansion to serve as a summer residence for his family.
The house was designed by William B. Tubby and built to accommodate both family life and large-scale entertaining, with a grand hall, library, and formal rooms typical of estates of that era. The surrounding grounds were laid out by the Olmsted Brothers into a landscape of open lawns, gardens, and wooded paths that gave structure to the property.
Waveny was not simply a residence. Under the Lapham family, it functioned as an active estate. Polo was played on the grounds, and in the late 1920s one of the first private planes to land in New Canaan touched down on the property. Hangars were later constructed, reflecting the family’s early interest in aviation.
After Lapham’s death in 1934, the estate remained in the family and eventually passed to his daughter, Ruth Lapham Lloyd. During her ownership, portions of the property were gradually set aside for public use, including land that would become New Canaan High School. Her son, Christopher Lloyd, spent part of his childhood at Waveny before the estate was opened to the public.
In 1967, Lloyd sold approximately 250 acres to the Town of New Canaan for $1.5 million and donated an additional 50 acres along with the estate’s buildings. This marked the transition of Waveny from a private estate to a public resource.
Today, Waveny Park encompasses much of the original property. The mansion remains a focal point and is used for community events, performances, and private functions. The surrounding grounds have been integrated into daily life in New Canaan, with a network of walking and jogging trails, open lawns, and wooded areas that see consistent use throughout the year.
The park also includes athletic fields for soccer, baseball, and softball, as well as picnic areas and a public swimming pool. In addition to recreational uses, portions of the former estate support civic and cultural functions, including art spaces, community buildings, and dog parks.
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Doug Cress
(212) 203-5251
doug@cress.co
License #RES.0832278
Fairfield County, CT
Enterprise Realty Inc.
License #REB.0751297
45 Huntington Plaza
Shelton, CT 06484
