Fairlee is a rural village surrounded by lakes, forests and low mountains
Fairlee is a Vermont village of around 1,000 residents nestled between the Connecticut River and the foothills of the Green Mountains. Its streets are surrounded by lush forests and a lakeside resort, making it a popular summertime vacation destination. Things quiet down in the wintertime, when heavy snowfall and ice blankets the countryside. One of its lakes is home to the longest ice-skating trail in the United States at just over 4 miles. “I love my town and all the natural beauty here. We’ve got two lakes, tons of hiking trails, the Connecticut River and a beautiful town forest. The greenery is magnificent in the summertime. And it’s not out in the boondocks. We’re close to Levanon, Hanover and Dartmouth College,” says Realtor Susanne Pacilio of Marth E. Diebold Real Estate, who has lived in Fairlee since 1995.
Summertime brings visitors to Lake Morey Resort
Lake Morey Resort and Lake Morey Country Club sit at the water’s edge, with a view of the hills rising above the pristine blue. For more than a century, it has attracted New England vacationers who want to beat the summer heat of coastal cities. “The resort has a beautiful view down the lake, and there’s an amazing concert series that happens every Thursday on the golf course during the summer,” Pacilio says. When Lake Morey freezes over in the wintertime, the resort opens the Lake Morey Ice Skating Trail, the longest maintained ice-skating trail in the United States. The resort is surrounded by deep forestland with trails that crisscross the low mountains and hills. Eagle’s Bluff, an intermediate hike, takes people to a vista overlooking the lake.
Cabins, cottages and farmhouses are nestled on country lanes
Fairlee offers a mix of lakeside cabins, rustic cottages, spacious farmhouses and Folk Victorians. Most of them are situated along country lanes with large lots that offer plenty of peace and quiet. Some are situated in the forests where residents can open the windows to hear birds chirping or see white-tailed deer bounding through the thicket. Prices range from around $250,000 to $750,000. Smaller, older homes typically sell for less, while larger, newly renovated list for a higher price.
There are a few shops, eateries and a grocery store on Main Street
A handful of shops and restaurants are scattered along Main Street. Residents can wake up for breakfast at Jan’s Fairlee Diner, stop off for a burger and fries at Broken Hearts or order a latte and pastries from Sunnyside Coffee Company. Snacks, produce and artisan goods are found at Chapman’s General, a family-owned store that’s been in town since 1807. There’s also the Fairlee Motel & Drive-in Theater for cinema and Fogg’s Lumber and Hardware for home goods. Groceries are found at Wing’s Supermarkets in town, while bigger chains are about 8 miles away in Bradford.
Students attend public schools in both Vermont and New Hampshire
Fairlee is within the Rivendell Interstate School District, which serves students in both Vermont and New Hampshire. Students start their education in town at Samuel Morey Elementary School, which gets a C rating from Niche. The school offers a Farm to School program that provides students with locally sourced and healthy foods, in addition to providing students with on-campus education about greenhouses and gardening. The next step is C-rated Rivendell Academy, a middle and high school across the river in Orford, New Hampshire. The school enrolls around 240 students and has a teacher-student ratio of 1-to-8.
Getting around the countryside via I-91 and Route 5
Fairlee is traversed by Interstate 91, a major north-south highway that runs from the Canadian border down to Hartford and New Haven, Connecticut. U.S. Route 5 serves as the town’s Main Street, linking up with nearby towns. It’s about an 80 mile-drive to Burlington, 150 miles to Boston and 170 miles to Hartford. Locals will likely need a car to get around as there is no public transportation in Fairlee. Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital is the nearest medical center, about 27 miles south in Lebanon, New Hampshire.
