Cornwall is an artsy rural town near outdoor recreation
Cornwall’s scenic location — featuring the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains, hundreds of acres of protected forest and a covered bridge that’s one of Connecticut’s most photographed places — has made this rural town a popular getaway for artists, writers and actors. “Cornwall is known for being home to many people in the arts,” says Ann Stettner, an associate broker with Neil Charles Real Estate who’s sold homes in the area for over 35 years. “It’s very residential and very rural but wedged between lots of nice towns.” Cornwall has earned a reputation as “The Greenest Town In Connecticut,” and residents here have plenty of ways to get outside, including fly fishing on the Housatonic River and hiking in Mohawk State Forest.
Colonial and custom houses on large, secluded properties
Cornwall’s homes are spread out on secluded multi-acre lots with views of the surrounding hills. Many properties have cottage gardens and landscaping that evoke the town’s English namesake, and some have luxury amenities like in-ground pools and guest houses. Homes here were built as early as the 1700s and have colonial and saltbox architecture, and custom homes built since the 1950s have contemporary details like floor-to-ceiling windows. The median home sale price is around $800,000, roughly double the national median, but large custom homes can cost up to $3.3 million.
Fishing, swimming and hiking opportunities
“There’s just an endless number of things to do,” Stettner says. The Housatonic River borders Cornwall’s western edge and is a popular place for fly fishing and canoeing. The over 450-acre Housatonic Meadows State Park has river access and hiking trails. The Appalachian Trail, which stretches from Georgia to Maine, passes just west of the river, and more trails can be found in the over 4,000-acre Mohawk State Forest, which has mountain views and a popular winter ski area. Cream Hill Lake is the local swimming spot, and residents can buy an annual pass to access the lake at Hammond Beach. Foote Field is the area’s sports complex, where kids can play Little League baseball and soccer.
Upscale restaurants and markets selling local goods are nearby
Furniture stores, galleries and restaurants are in a small commercial area near the covered bridge in West Cornwall. RSVP is an upscale French bistro here that’s only open on weekends and has a fixed menu. The Pink House also has an upscale menu but focuses on American cuisine. Stettner recommends Le Gamin in Sharon, which offers French comfort food in a casual atmosphere. “You definitely want to make reservations at these places,” she says. Nearby grocery stores include The Local and Sharon Farm Market, which both stock locally sourced meat and produce. National retailers and big-box stores are about 13 miles away in Torrington.
Events and festivals highlight local creativity
For a weekend each August, Cornwall Days celebrates the community with events like the Rose Algrant Art Show, which exhibits the work of Cornwall’s visual artists, and Taste of Cornwall, which highlights local restaurants and food producers. Nearby, the Music Mountain Summer Festival hosts classical music and jazz performances throughout the summer.
A- and B-rated public schools with a variety of sports and arts
Kids can start school at Cornwall Consolidated School, which earns an A-minus from Niche and serves kids from kindergarten through eighth grade. At the B-plus-rated Housatonic Valley Regional High, students can join 19 sports teams, including ice hockey, alpine skiing and lacrosse. Kids interested in the arts can use the school’s Art Garage, an open studio space where community members teach skills like pottery, sewing and drawing.
A car-reliant area near a train route to New York City
U.S. Route 7 and state Route 4 are the main roads in Cornwall. Torrington, which is Litchfield County’s largest city, is about 13 miles away, and New York City is a roughly 93-mile trip. There’s no public transportation in Cornwall, but the Metro North’s Wassaic Station is about 19 miles away and has routes into Grand Central Terminal. The United Church of Christ in Cornwall, Congregational, was formed with the town, and its two meeting houses were built in the 1800s. Sharon Hospital is around 12 miles away, and Bradley International Airport is a 45-mile trip.
Written By
Annie Franklin
Photography Contributed By
Ed Messenger
