Town Profiles

Danby, Vermont

The quiet Village of Danby, conveniently located midway between Rutland and Manchester, has over 100 buildings listed in the National Register of Historical Places, many of them indicators of the town’s former prosperity in the early 19th century as a hub of commerce for marble, logging and charcoal. The library, church, town hall, school, post office and Veterans’ Memorial Park are a a short walk to each other, and a general store/gas station is nearby. A popular swimming hole offers summer fun in the picturesque Mill Brook as it tumbles into the Otter Creek watershed, a favorite fishing spot.

Middletown Springs

The charm of Middletown Springs resides in its historical architecture and village vibe. The Historical Society Museum and the Community Church border the village green, which is the site of community events like the Memorial Day Parade. It’s also the site of the town’s Maple Festival, Strawberry Festival (featuring local artists, artisans and musicians) and a Museum Open House, all hosted by the Historical Society. Other highlights include the annual Pie for Breakfast, a fundraiser for the Middletown Springs Public Library. Grant’s Village Store is across the street, and a short walk past some very charming historic homes is Sissy’s Kitchen, where chef Sissy Hicks, formerly of the Dorset Inn, prepares a menu spotlighting local and organic ingredients for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The library and Saint Anne’s Catholic Church are nearby, and the town’s 1904 schoolhouse and playground just up the hill still serves its original purpose for kindergarten to grade six. A stroll to Mineral Springs Park at the bend in Burdock Avenue will bring you to an ornate pavilion, historic spring house and picnic spots along the banks of the Poultney River.

Wells, Vermont

Beyond the charmingly small 19th-century village of Wells and the town’s farmland lies a wealth of recreational opportunity. Lake Saint Catherine State Park is a popular destination; amenities at the 117-acre park include a campground, beaches for swimming and fishing, and a boat launch. Canoes, kayaks and paddle-boats are available to rent. There is also a nature center that offers various programs, and a short hiking trail that highlights some of the area’s oldest trees. Larger boats are also available to rent from Woodard Marina.

Within the village, which is listed in the State Register of Historic Places, are the Wells Public Library, two churches, the elementary school and Modern Woodmen Hall. The Wells Country Store is a destination in itself, offering baked goods, coffee and sandwiches; maple syrup, locally grown vegetables and baked goods tempt buyers at Wellsmere Farm; and fresh milk and yogurt can be bought at the Larson Farm store. 

The Lakes Region Film Society screens art, international, classic, independent and documentary films for its members in the Town’s beautiful office building. Wells Lakeside Park on the banks of shallow Little Pond is a nice spot for family picnics. The Modern Woodmen hall is the site of many community gatherings, including craft fairs, dinners and fundraisers hosted by nonprofit organizations. 

Pawlet, Vermont

Pawlet is best known for its quiet rural character, idyllic scenery, farmland and creative community. Stretching along the fertile Mettowee Valley in the Taconic foothills, its bucolic working landscape includes 31 family farms on 4844 acres protected by the Vermont Land Trust. These farms produce milk and cheese, beef and pork, forage crops and market vegetables. Many sell their goods on site, as well as each Sunday at the Dorset Farmers Market ten minutes down the road. The Mettowee River – acclaimed for its fly fishing – flows through the valley and into Pawlet Village where it is met by Flower Brook, with its dramatic waterfall at the site of a former grist mill.

Tinmouth, Vermont

Tinmouth is a quiet farming town sandwiched between Tinmouth Mountain and the Tinmouth Channel, which gives rise to the Clarendon River. A lot of community is packed into its tiny village. Many of the surrounding buildings in the town’s are reflective of life in a rural 19th-century village. The United Methodist Church, a pristine example of the New England white steepled meetinghouse, the library, the town offices and the elementary school are just steps away from each other. Agricultural artifacts on display in a shed formerly used to shelter the carriage horses of church-goers is thanks to the efforts of the Historical Society, which plays an active role in preserving the stories of the town’s former residents and Civil War veterans.

Rupert, Vermont

Picturesque and peaceful, Rupert’s agrarian landscape includes dairy farms, maple sugaring operations and specialty farms. The east part of town between Dorset and Pawlet is nestled in the fertile Mettowee Valley, whose farmlands are among 4844 acres protected by the Vermont Land Trust. To the west is Merck Forest and Farmland Center, the legacy of George Merck, who established the Vermont Forest and Farmland Foundation in 1952. MFFC’s 3000-acre preserve is both a working landscape and a field classroom open to the public. Visitors can access over 30 miles of trails, long-range views, hunting, rustic camping and educational programming for all ages.

Dorset, Vermont

Dorset’s restful location between some of the highest peaks of the Taconic Mountains led in great measure to its rich history; first as an early settlement, then as a seat of industry, and finally to its current status as an upscale destination. The architectural integrity of Dorset’s historic inns and well-kept homes is defined by marble sidewalks and a pristine village green. Its appeal is enhanced by two thriving historic general stores, a welcoming art gallery, a bakery and fine dining at a choice of restaurants. The Dorset Playhouse, widely renowned for its professional summer theater since 1945, offers productions year-round; run by local thespians the Dorset Players, it hosts the acclaimed Dorset Theatre Festival, which stages professional productions during the summer months. Local farmers and producers sell their wares every week, year-round, at the Dorset Farmers Market. The Marble House Project at the historic Manley-Lefevre House is a multi-disciplinary artist residency program focusing on conservation, organic food production and the arts. The Dorset Church, built from locally quarried white marble in 1910, is known area-wide for its community service, twice-yearly rummage sales and commmunity dinners.