Goshen offers lakeside living just outside of Torrington
Amid the rural Litchfield Hills in northwest Connecticut, Goshen stands apart for its lakeside communities and busy summer event schedule. “When people think of Goshen, the people who are drawn to it are people who like that lake vibe,” says Ann Stettner, an associate broker with Neil Charles Real Estate who’s sold homes in the area for over 35 years. “You have a bunch of big lakes that have been developed. Woodridge Lake is the biggest and best-known.” Access to the lakes here is limited to residents only, but hiking areas like the Mohawk State Forest offer plenty of entertainment for everyone. Torrington, Litchfield County’s largest city, is about 7 miles away, and small villages with boutique stores and locally owned restaurants are scattered throughout the region.
Custom houses around private lakes
The median home price here is around $650,000, higher than the national median of roughly $400,000. Most of the homes are situated around the private waterfront communities of Woodridge Lake and Tyler Lake. Woodridge Lake features late 20th-century custom homes that blend cabin, colonial, and shed architecture. Tyler Lake’s homes date back to the early to mid-20th century, and many here are seasonal cottages. These lake communities have private access to the water, and Woodridge Lake has other community amenities; residents here have to pay monthly homeowners association fees around $165. Other houses throughout Goshen have a more secluded feel, with large properties and lots of space between neighbors. Undeveloped lots are also available, including lakefront properties, private forested getaways and land in the new Meadowcrest subdivision near Torrington.
Hiking trails and boating are popular ways to get outside
Parts of the over 4,000-acre Mohawk State Forest are in Goshen. The park’s hiking trails lead to views of the surrounding Berkshire, Taconic and Catskill mountain ranges. The Fox Brook Trail System provides more hiking opportunities. Residents in the Woodridge Lake subdivision and Tyler Lake area have private lake access. “Woodridge Lake is a big lake, so people go out in their boats and have cocktails and run into other friends,” Stettner says. A community marina provides boat storage, and tennis courts and a clubhouse provide another place for Woodridge Lake’s neighbors to spend time together. The private Torrington Country Club has an 18-hole golf course designed by Orrin Smith; golf, social and dining memberships are available. In winter, the Mohawk Mountain Ski Area nearby has over 25 trails and also offers night skiing and snow tubing.
Local events highlight the area’s agricultural roots
Goshen was a farming community when it was founded in the 18th century, and its agricultural heritage is celebrated today at events throughout the summer. The three-day Goshen Stampede kicks off with a demolition derby before a weekend full of rodeo activities, like bull riding, barrel racing and trick riding. The event also has live music, monster trucks and carnival rides. The Church of Christ Congregational’s Blueberry Festival each August is a quieter affair, featuring a blueberry pancake breakfast and a pie sale. Each Labor Day Weekend since 1910, the Goshen Fair has attracted thousands to the Goshen Fairgrounds for the county’s largest event. Livestock, produce and craft competitions are the main draw, and there are also special competitions like the pork cook-off and an apple fritter eating contest.
Kids attend A- and B-rated schools in a newly formed school district
Goshen is part of the Regional School District 20, which was formed in 2024 and has not yet been rated by Niche. Kids can go to Goshen Center School, which earns an A-minus from Niche, and then attend the unrated Plumb Hill Middle. The B-rated Lakeview High was formerly called Wamogo Regional High. Students here can join the agriscience program, where they select a major, like veterinary science or sustainable food systems, to study during their junior and senior years.
Most restaurants and shopping are in nearby villages
AJ’s Steak and Pizza is one of the few restaurants in Goshen. This casual hangout has served a variety of sandwiches and other comfort food since 1995. Stettner says that many folks also go to villages like Bantam and Litchfield for a bite to eat. Arethusa, a dairy farm nearby, has three businesses in Bantam: a coffee shop, a fine dining restaurant and an ice cream shop. “There’s phenomenal food at Arethusa, and their ice cream is the best I've had anywhere,” she says. These villages also have grocery stores like Stop & Shop and The Market, though most locals head to Torrington for shopping. “If you’re anywhere in Litchfield County and need to go to a Target or a Walmart, Torrington is where you go,” Stettner says.
A car-reliant community 7 miles from Torrington
State Routes 63 and 4 are the main roads through Goshen. Torrington is about 7 miles away, and Hartford is a 35-mile trip. Charlotte Hungerford Hospital is 7 miles away, and Bradley International Airport is about 29 miles away.
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