Ted Hilton's to Sunrise: A Personal Reflection/ Documentary

[@The1833FarmhouseFerals]

Amazing history, thank you.

[@RonHamill818]

Thank you

[@williamkinnane1606]

A fond trip down memory lane. It was touching to watch.

[@daviddesmond2143]

My Parents would spend a couple of weeks there and they loved it. I recall buying one of the wooden rowboats when they were selling them off for $20 with my paper route money, I played in rock bands and played at high school graduation parties. Coo Coo the clown gave us strict direction on what to do and what not to do. He was very energetic and spread lots of happiness. However if you did something wrong, you soon found out he was very strict and took no guff. Drill Sargent. Fun place. I rode my bike on the grounds in 2000 and it was a huge mess. A shame the state of CT has not lived up to making this a beautiful state park. Loved your film and you did a wonderful and accurate job describing it.

[@selinath1]

I worked at Franks the summers of 1969, 70, 71, and 73. Lots of memories. Loved the video!

[@RonHamill818]

Thanks!

[@tlb12]

I worked there in 1977, I drove the ski boat and was a lifeguard. Great memories.

[@retrotechandmore8899]

What an amazing documentary! I'm 17 but I was told I had attended the resort a year before it closed ( I was only a baby). very unfortunate that the state doesn't bother doing anything with it and let it turn into a bunch of dense brush

[@jamessantos8609]

Many great childhood memories there. Well done!

[@daybom]

This was such a joy to watch. My grandparents had a cottage across the river and I remember going down to the dock when Coo Coo came by in his canoe to wave. A few times we were lucky enough to get invited to go up to the pool. I miss it!

[@RonHamill818]

Thanks so much!

[@HTNPSullivan]

This was very well done. I never attended the resort. As a former reporter, I wrote a story about its demise. It's a shame, but life has a way sweeping over our memories. I'm 68, so some of the photos simply reminded me of how the world was when I was a teenager.

[@RonHamill818]

Thanks so much!

[@gloriahill3770]

I just discovered this delightful video (5/2024). I am thinning out my possessions as I prepare for a move and I came across 3 Ted Hilton tablecloths belonging to my mom. She and my aunt - her sister - worked there for a couple of summers back in the early 40s. They had great memories to reminisce over and share with my generation. Thank you, Ron Hamilton, for sharing your memories with us.

[@RonHamill818]

Thank you, yes the tablecloths were great!

[@deborahsanchez3832]

What a lovely time capsule! I had one of the best summers of my life there when I worked at the front desk with Debbie(I think?) and Liz.

[@sassysue6472]

This was so well done. I’ve watched a couple videos of explores of the ruins but this makes it so very interesting-to see all the families and fun that was had. And knowing the history of the place brings it to life. So sad that people choose places like Disney instead of these jewels. This brought people together and friendships-and romance-happened. You don’t get that at Disney!

[@circe41]

What a great documentary! Living in the area, I recall the Ted Hilton & Frank Davis days. Who knew that I would end up performing at Sunrise. I performed kid magic & ventriloquism shows as MC every Friday. The scale-model Statue of Liberty at the entrance was just one of many unique features about the place. Some parents said they had been coming to Sunrise since *they* were kids.

[@RonHamill818]

Thanks

[@c.a.shirley7938]

I grew up in East Haddam, but we were too poor to stay at Hilton's. So glad the State saved it for a state park! I would have hated to see the land developed!!! Thanks for the memories and the great job you did on this video - sure makes me miss the good old days.

[@RonHamill818]

Thank you!

[@georgemancini1910]

What a FANTASTIC presentation, thank you SO MUCH for the time you put into that! Only vacationed there twice, '87 & '88 I believe, but the fun times with CooCoo (and Jocko, who I believe was a retired NYC firefighter) and the friends that we made - I will cherish those sweet memories to my last breath. My wife and I STILL remember the names of the friends we made. I wonder if the opportunity to bond with staff and vacationers like that even exists anymore. Went to visit that site 4 weeks ago while camping in East Hampton, was like visiting a graveyard. Now I must go and find my VHS tapes and bag of memorabilia (including those BELLS and AWARDS) from there and reminisce some more! Thank you again.

[@RonHamill818]

Thanks so much. That means a lot!

[@johnmarsoobian1642]

thanks for putting this together ron. we went there 70's, 80's and into 90's. i showed this to my parents yesterday and they loved it. my father used to go there when it was ted hilton's. i think many families, like ours, went there the same week every year- for us it was august. so we saw alot of the same people and kids every year. driving by guard house and white house and walking down the large concrete stairs from upper parking lot to check in was a treat. i remember the Frog, 1st and 2nd sittings at the diningroom, candlight races in swimming pool, I remember when the pool didn't have a fence around it, it was something special to have breakfast with coo-coo after the band got to diningroom. i remember when the hot tubs went in at the exercise building. and the staff vs guest softball games- the staff rarely lost! and having ice cream sodas at the snack place across from the office. i think after 9 or10pm kids were not allowed in the clubhouse. i don't think any alcohol was ever formally served there. adults used to bring their own.

[@RonHamill818]

Thanks so much!

[@delittlefield]

Thank you for the memories. My father was the Chef for the resort for seasons 61? and 62? I was nine and participated in those stage shows with CooCoo.

[@RonHamill818]

Thank you!

[@brianbaldino3496]

I went there when I was a kid in the 80's and 90's. Coo Coo was so cool, thanks for including him in the video! I have so many weird dreams related to this place - dreams of the pool, clowns, and strange night parties behind the tennis courts. Edward Sirico was my grandfather, the trumpet player.

[@RonHamill818]

Thanks!

[@ctsean]

Very nice video. Live right up the road from here and have walked here many times and had no idea of the history

[@RonHamill818]

Thanks!

[@georgegeysen6499]

Thank you so much for this!! What a treat. I grew up in East Hampton and attended high school in Moodus. I worked at Yankee Pastry. This brought back such memories for me. Thanks!!

[@RonHamill818]

Thanks!

[@malyman24]

This was awesome. Thank you. I worked for Frank Davis in 1981 as his right hand man/electrician. Was so much fun. I worked with COO COO as well. I all so worked on his amphicars. He had about 25 for parts and 3 that ran. Dot was very nice. I remember Bob Johnson as well. My neighbor Mrs Stano use to work and make the eclairs there. My mom lost her class ring there back in the 50's. I went back there in 2018 to look for it with my metal detector but did not find it, but found a few others. It was so sad to see the place so over grown. It is now owned by the state of CT. I remember my first day of work there, I was 17 years old. At the end of the day Frank asked me to take his brand new 1981 Cadillac Eldorado down the street to the store and get him a newspaper, I never been so nervous. That was the only time I ever drove a Cadillac. Thank you Mr. Davis. I got you subbed. I too have a KZbin channel. Very nice job. I will share on Facebook.

[@RonHamill818]

Thank you! Interesting story.

[@gregdolecki8530]

This was both fascinating and sad. I went here in 1982 for my senior class trip. I remember the pool, the canoe races and Coo Coo very well. Now it's just a memory, like the Catskill resorts.

[@RonHamill818]

Thanks so much!

[@fazct]

Same here but it was 1987...great documentary

[@RonHamill818]

Thanks@@fazct

[@richardragusa9093]

A friend shared this with me as I am not on FB. I along with many members of St. Ann’s Band Neponset ( Dorchester) Mass would go there for fun and relaxing. I have so many memories of all the times and the special people that have now passed along to be with Coo Coo and the great people who made it possible to enjoy this unique place.

[@RonHamill818]

Thank you.

[@debrafoti9773]

Wonderful documentary. We went to Ted Hilton’s with our Drill Team, St. Anthony’s from Everett Massachusetts from the late 60’s to the late 70’s. Every summer for one week we got to have the time of our life - swimming, dancing, playing softball, waking everyone up with Coo Coo’s band. Such priceless memories. I visited Sunrise back in 1987 with my husband but you can never capture the same feeling as an adult. Thanks again for reminding me of a wonderful memory.

[@RonHamill818]

@@debrafoti9773 Thanks!

[@gregrinckey5639]

Outstanding video! Brought me back to my summer vacations there in the 1980s. I felt like I was back in time! Wonderful and thank you for helping to preserve these memories for all of us!

[@RonHamill818]

Thanks!

[@tyzndattic]

That was fantastic. I encourage people to share it to others who they may know who may have been there so they can see it too. It's an amazing job. Thank you.

[@RonHamill818]

Thanks Larry, I could not have put this together without you or Linda. The picture was a little jerky for me here but I believe it's because there were several people watching at the same time. Its smooth now.

[@lindykat3581]

Ron, you did a very professional job pulling the history together and sharing so much of it, yet keeping your experience to the forefront. I have no doubt that many others will have their own happy memories, or even will dig through old albums to remember their days at the resort. Larry, I did not remember your dad was Dot’s nephew. It sort of feels like it was always in quasi family hands. Thank you for the years your family took such good care of Grandpa’s dream.

[@RonHamill818]

@@lindykat3581 Thanks Linda. You were a tremendous help.

[@fangpe]

Outstanding Ron. Brought me back in time to the wonderful 3 summers working at the Resort as a young person.

[@RonHamill818]

Thanks!

[@frankcuce591]

Great job of story-telling… as a person who vacationed at that resort virtually every year across three ownership groups from age 1 (1956) until it closed -- this presentation truly captured the essence of the “Most Unique Resort in America”… and that was not an easy task given the arch of the resort’s life… very well done.

[@RonHamill818]

Thank you!

[@lennyvescovi2444]

This hit the spot perfectly we vacation there every year and you brought back many good times and now sad to everything gone we miss it all Thanks for the memories Great job

[@Babygirl61784]

Thank you for making this. I really wish this place was open had so much fun here & really miss it.

[@RonHamill818]

Thanks!

[@karenmann6923]

Very well done! I especially liked how you'd fade from pics of the past to how it looks now. I went there to take pictures in 2013 but only got to see so much before I got kicked out! :/

[@RonHamill818]

Thank you!

[@RonHamill818]

Thanks so much!

[@susanfielding3582]

My parents stayed at singles cabins and became engaged to be married on a canoe trip off the shores of Ted Hiltons, 1944. I met my husband as I was employed by Frank and Dot Davis, Frank Davis resort. I was a live-in for the summer , residing in The Chapel. Then our children all worked during the summers at Sunrise Resort.

[@RonHamill818]

Thanks!

[@davidearias]

Very informative and entertaining. Well done!

[@RonHamill818]

Thanks!

[@jackiefacinelli2531]

EXCELLENT!!!! Well done. A wonderful trip down memory lane. Worked here in the summers in the 80’s. Made life long friends! Thank you this is a Gift! Jackie (Paardenkooper) Facinelli.

[@RonHamill818]

Thanks!

[@SimonPureMedia]

Nice job!

[@RonHamill818]

Thanks!

[@jamessantos8609]

This was so nice to see, thanks for doing this. My family would make the two hour trip from from Swansea Ma. to Connecticut also. It brought back so many memories of my parents that have long since passed.

[@RonHamill818]

Thank you!

[@brianbystrek]

It's wonderful to see so many of those photos from a place that a lot of us have a past connection with. The documentary came out great. Very nice.

[@RonHamill818]

Thanks!

[@mailman9811]

Very good job Ron only wish you had added a part about Jocko. I thought he played an im portant part of the resort

[@RonHamill818]

There were many people and things I wanted to cover, sorry.

[@dennisadorno6721]

My mom is 89, whenever we drive I-84 through CT and pass the sign for Moodus she will tell stories when My dad, mom, and their friends would go to Ted Hiltons and "raise hell"

[@Monkee3415]

Now I noticed the price, 80-150. Was this a cabin back then?

[@RonHamill818]

I pulled that ad from an actual 1966 newspaper file. I think that was the price. Remember that a fast food burger was about 15 cents so the price is relative to that time period. But, a 27" color television back then was about $500. Now you can buy a 60" TV for $350.00

[@Monkee3415]

@@RonHamill818 interesting. What I’m curious about.. was this price per person or per cabin. If you’re saying a burger was .15 that means likely it was per cabin. But I’m sure back then, that was quite a bit of money. To us today, that’s nothing. I love your documentary! You did a fascinating job! My whole family got into it. Thank you so much!!

[@RonHamill818]

@@Monkee3415 Give me some time and I’ll look it up in my files. They are extensive since starting this. I’ll get back to you tomorrow sometimes.

[@RonHamill818]

I looked up the pricing. I believe that price was per adult. I believe children had a different rate.