Glover is a rural town with lakes, museums and more
Home to forests, farmland and lakes, Glover is a picturesque town in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. The Orleans County community is small, with just over 1,100 residents. Many locals live on the town’s two lakes, which offer boating, fishing and hiking opportunities. “It’s rural,” says David Rowell, principal broker at Peter D. Watson Agency, who grew up in the nearby town of Greensboro. “But it’s got beautiful topography and options for buyers.” In addition to scenic beauty, Glover also has a sense of identity, with a well-known puppet theatre, museums and an active historical society.
Boating Shadow Lake and Lake Parker, getting active at nearby parks
Glover is part of Vermont’s Lake Region, an area known for its several lakes, beautiful scenery and water-based recreational activities. Glover has two bodies of water. Shadow Lake spans 210 acres, with a public beach and an active lake association, preserving water quality and ecology. Nearby Lake Parker also has an association that maintains the water’s health and offers outdoor opportunities, from kayaking and boating to fishing and swimming. On Heights Road, Glover Park has sports fields, a pump track, walking trails and more, while the 300-acre Holbrook State Park, just east, offers hiking, fishing and hunting.
Glover is also located near many of the Northeast Kingdom’s outdoor destinations. Burke Mountain, with its world-class ski resort and elite ski school, is about 30 miles away. The Kingdom Trails, an over 100-mile bike path attracting cyclists from around the world, runs through neighboring towns. Caspian Lake, a long-time Vermont vacation spot, is about 18 miles southwest, while Lake Champlain, the largest in the state and eighth largest in the country, is a roughly 80-mile drive east.
Cultural institutions, from puppets to races, and annual Glover Day
There are also many cultural institutions in Glover. The Bread & Puppet Theatre and its museum, based on a working farm, is a unique, political puppet theatre. Before each show, spectators and performers break bread, as the group believes that art is as fundamental to life as bread. “They have wonderful children’s programs and put on a circus each year,” Rowell says. “Many community members participate and are members.” The nearby Museum of Everyday Life celebrates the mundane, from toothbrushes to dust, through a thoughtful, self-guided display. Housed in the Bean Hill building, the Glover Historical Society is committed to preserving the town’s heritage through gathering documents and texts before publishing works on the community.
The town’s annual Glover Day celebrates community, bringing residents together for nearly 30 years. It begins with a race, which ends in the town center, where the festivities take place, from live music and local food vendors to potato sack and bike races.
Lakefront properties and homes with scenic views
Among maple and pine trees, homes in Glover are nestled in the woods. Many properties back up to a lake, giving some residents private access to the others, while others may be perched on a hill, offering views of the scenic Vermont countryside. Home styles can range from Colonial Revivals and Victorians to small cottages and quaint Cape Cops. There are many historic properties in the area, including houses from the 1800s and 1900s. Prices can span from around $120,000 to $430,000, depending on the property’s size, age and condition. Land is also available, typically costing about $70,000 to $380,000, depending on the size and location of the plot. Because of Glover’s beautiful scenery and location near outdoor destinations, there are some secondary residences in the area. But, Rowell says, “It’s more of a year-round community, but there are still second homes.”
Glover’s local bites
Housed in a wooden building with a red and whitecoat of paint, the Lake Parker Country Store has been a cornerstone of the community since 1845. With a rustic vibe, the store sells craft beer, coffee and wine, as well as local eggs, dairy, meat and produce. Attached in a red wooden building with a tin roof, The Parker Pie Company sells handmade pizzas. Visitors can eat in the timber dining room or outside on a picnic table when it’s warm. Nearby, Busy Bee Diner serves classic breakfast and lunch favorites, from pancakes and omelets to BLTs and burgers. The closest grocery store, C&C Supermarket, is about 3 miles north in Barton, where there are also a few more dining options.
Students zoned for Lakes Region Elementary-Middle School District
The Lakes Region Elementary-Middle School District, which receives a C-minus from Niche, serves Glover. For kindergarten through eighth grade, students can attend Glover Community School, which receives a B-minus from Niche, before Lakes Region Union High, which earns a B. For students’ junior and senior year, the high school’s English program allows students to choose an elective course, from creative writing to literature of Vermont.
Central location and nearby roads make travel easy
Glover is rural and car-dependent. U.S. Interstate 91 runs north-south just west of Glover. “It’s fairly central,” Rowell says. “The interstate is 3 miles from the center of the community, so you can go north-south very easily. Vermont state Route 16 is Glover’s main thoroughfare, running north-south through the town, leading north to Barton and south toward Hardwick. For air travel, Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport is about 80 miles west.
Written By
Adreanna DeMarino
