Bridport has farms, lake access and rustic scenery
Addison County is full of rolling farmland, Champlain Valley views in the distance and Lake Champlain flowing along the western border. Among this natural beauty is Bridport, a farming community with lake access, dairy farms and plenty of room between neighbors. “It’s a very rural town with a good number of farms. I’m 100% sure there are more cows than people there,” says Nancy Foster, principal broker at Champlain Valley Properties, who has been in real estate for over 45 years. Foster and her husband know farmers in Bridport personally because her husband runs a dairy farm and composting business. “There are two reasons people move there. One of them is people who work in Middlebury or the larger area but want some land and a more rural setting. The second group is people who want to be on the lake.”
Lake houses and homes on spacious lots
“Probably 50% of homes on the lake are secondary homes,” Foster says. “If you’re in Bridport on the lake, you can get a property for a little bit less than those more north. Homes not on the lake are almost always primary residences.” Ranch-style homes with at least 3 acres or Cape Cod-style homes near Lake Champlain can range between about $180,000 and $490,000. Some Colonial Revivals or log cabin-style lake houses have sold for $630,000 to about $780,000. Farmhouses on hundreds of acres have been listed for up to $1.5 million. Homes in Bridport often have septic tank systems, though there is public water access through Tri-Town Water.
Backroads and Route 125 to Middlebury
The area is so rural, residents often drive down long, two-lane roads. There are only two churches, across the street from each other. Bridport is about 10 miles from nearby Middlebury, where some people commute to for work. Residents drive down Vermont Route 125 to reach the city, a trip that takes less than 15 minutes. Anyone visiting Vergennes in the north takes Route 22A. Middlebury also has the Porter Medical Center, the nearest hospital to Bridport. Heavy rain can occasionally cause flooding on roadways. Residents can sign up for VT-ALERT to get notifications when severe weather is approaching.
Learning in Bridport and nearby Middlebury
There are many school districts in Addison County alone, but Bridport falls in the Addison Central School District. Bridport Central School offers preschool through fifth grade and earns a B from Niche. Middlebury Union Middle School gets a B-minus and feeds into Middlebury Union High School, rated B-plus. The district has bus routes that run from Bridport to Middlebury schools.
The community meets at Pratt's Store and restaurants in Middlebury
“The only real store in Bridport is a little store called Pratt’s,” Foster says. “It’s one of the best delis around by far. They’re really good and community-minded.” Pratt’s Store has been owned by the Pratt family for over 50 years. The store is stocked with products made by Bridport farms, like Bridport Creamery and Champlainside Farm. Anyone who wants more restaurants to choose from visits Middlebury. “We have a lot of good restaurants,” Foster says. “We have one little shopping center that has a Hannaford, which is a regional grocery store.” Two Brothers Tavern and the Fire & Ice Restaurant are some of the city's more popular restaurants. Mad Taco is a regional chain restaurant, but the location in Middlebury is near Otter Creek, so visitors can sit outside and dine as the water rushes by.
Exploring D.A.R. State Park or touring family farms
D.A.R. State Park is a grassy open area where residents visit to picnic, camp at historic Chimney Point or fish in Lake Champlain. Before the area was a park, it was one of the first agricultural settlements in Vermont after the British soldiers won the land. John Strong was one of the earliest residents, and his brick mansion is now a museum that’s open on the weekends from May through October, so visitors can see relics from the Revolutionary War. The Lemon Fair Wildlife Management Area is a popular destination for spotting wild turkey, river otters and rare four-toed salamanders. Visitors should stay on the paths to avoid bumping into cattle roaming the area.
Family farms in Bridport often offer tours, like Bridport Creamery, where visitors can watch curds be turned into tasty treats. The town hosts a book club, and participants meet at the garage on Short Street, down the road from town hall.
