Ellington

Crystal Lake radiates out from its eponymous body of water in northeast Connecticut, bookended by a pair of state forests with pockets of lush foliage weaving between the neighborhood’s homes. The lake itself bridges Ellington and Stafford and the neighborhood is a veritable midpoint between the two areas, drawing locals from around the region to its waters to boat, fish or simply bask in the sun during the summer months. “The lake is definitely beautiful,” says Matthew Egan, a broker associate with Regency Real Estate. “There is a sandy beach on the south shore. I think the draw to have a nice lake home, one that’s also close to Bradley International Airport, is a draw for some people.” Thought the lake is a hub of recreation for the area, the homes are built up around much of the water besides a small beach section. “There are a lot of residential homes built around the lake, but there is a public beach and a boat launch on the south side,” Egan says. “Ellington is pretty rural. There’s a lot of farms, a brewery over there and a couple of apple orchards.” That rural expanse is part of the neighborhood’s primary draw, providing an escape from the more populated areas while retaining a sense of community thanks to events at the lake. Fans of the “Friday the 13th” franchise might also recognize the neighborhood’s name as similar to the camp from the films, though none of the installments were ever filmed at the real-life Crystal Lake. Crystal Lake itself spans almost 200 acres. Residents can enjoy the views of the water from Sandy Beach on its southern end, cast lines in the water or take boats out into the lake. Regulations are in place for all forms of recreation at the lake. “It’s a beautiful lake,” Egan says. “They have quiet time at the lake, where they don’t allow personal watercraft like jet skis. The nice part about that lake is people can feel free to cruise around on a paddleboard or kayak on the water, without worrying about the bigger boats.” Quiet time takes place on Sundays during the summertime, where speeds for engine-powered watercraft are reduced for several hours. Anglers have no shortage of fish to catch, either. “It’s a big trophy trout lake,” Egan says. “It’s stocked regularly with different species, mainly trout and some salmon. Trout is the draw there for fishermen.” The lake also serves as the site of various events throughout the year, including annual boat parades as tradition and for the 4th of July. Shenipsit State Forest – Soapstone Mountain sprawls just north of the neighborhood, spanning nearly 7,000 acres and topping out at just over 1,000 feet, while the Nye Holman State Forest sits east of Crystal Lake. Single-family homes are scattered throughout Crystal Lake, with some concentrated around the water and the rest sprinkled across the landscape. Prices in the Crystal Lake neighborhood can often range from $250,000 to around $700,000, but cost is largely dependent on location. “If you want lakefront, it’s minimum $400,000 to $500,000,” Egan says. “Over the past 100 years, there were little summer cottages on the lake. Some are still like that, but for the most part, they were rebuilt or expanded. It’s kind of a mix.” Many homes on the lake have docks extending into the water, and architecture includes colonials, Cape Cods and ranch-style homes. Farther out from the lake, properties are fewer and farther between as thickets of trees separate them. “Headed towards 32, it gets more rural,” Egan says. “It’s definitely rural between Crystal Rock and the turnpike. There’s a lot of farms and private residences.” A few roads run throughout the neighborhood, but homes rarely sit immediately alongside one another and often come with the privacy of foliage between them. Crystal Lake also receives a CAP crime score of 1 out of 10, significantly lower than the national average of 4. Two small restaurants sit within the neighborhood, though residents typically venture into Ellington or Stafford proper to shop or go out to eat. “Crystal Lake itself is all residential around there,” Egan says. “There’s a decent amount of bakeries, sports bars and gathering places farther out. There’s JRego’s Gathering Place, an Italian place and a little deli. All four are in Ellington, and then it starts going to the outskirts.” Within Crystal Lake, 3-J’s Deli and Market serves up food ranging from grinders to ice cream, while the nearby Backroads Smokin’ BBQ stocks macaroni and cheese, brisket and more. Orchards in the area include Johnny Appleseed’s Farm. A Big Y location about 6 miles south in Tolland is the closest stop for grocery shoppers. Access to Interstate 84 is about 6 miles south of Crystal Lake, and Hartford sits less than 25 miles southwest of the neighborhood. Bradley International Airport is about 20 miles west. “A lot of people like that,” Egan says. “It’s close to the airport, so the location is nice.” The airport serves numerous airlines, with travel ranging from stateside cities like Chicago and Detroit to international destinations Dublin and Cancun. Crystal Lake Road, within the neighborhood, links it with neighboring towns. Johnson Memorial Hospital is located less than 6 miles from Crystal Lake and offers oncology, pediatric care and more. Crystal Lake Elementary School, part of the Ellington School District, spans kindergarten through sixth grade and is the only educational institution situated within the neighborhood. Niche awards it an A-minus rating, and after graduating students can head less than 10 miles west for the rest of the district’s pipeline. Ellington Middle School and Ellington High School are both rated B-plus by Niche, and Ellington High offers programs in family and consumer science. At Stafford Motor Speedway, motorsports fans attend modified and late-model races at the half-mile oval. Drivers who have competed there in the past include current NASCAR Cup Series racer Ryan Preece, as well as modified legends like Mike Stefanik and Ted Christopher.