Lakeville

A small-town village community surrounded by lakes and forests, there’s no confusion on how Lakeville got its name. This hamlet southwest of Salisbury, Connecticut is a prime locale for both full-time water lovers and big-city dwellers looking for a weekend getaway. Some homes from the 1800s still standing in Lakeville preserve the town’s historic feel, while more modern houses speak to the comfort and activity of lake life.

“In Lakeville, there are a mix of smaller village properties that are walkable to restaurants and lakes and larger properties with acreage and waterfront views,” says Elyse Harner Realtor and Lakeville local, Evan Cooper. A variety of 1,600- to 1,900-square-foot Cape cods, ranches and Colonials with spacious porches or enclosed sunrooms and up to an acre of yard space in the $650,000 to $900,000 range are some of the houses that can be found in what Lakeville locals refer to as the village. Hidden in the woods or on one of the many lakes in the area are 2,600- to 3,500-square-foot colonial revivals, farmhouses and postmodern contemporaries with intricate gardening and multiple acres of landscape in the $1 million to $2 million range. “Many homes in Lakeville belong to weekenders who live full-time in New York City, Boston or other cities. It’s a big second home community,” adds Elyse Harney Realtor John Panzer.

An ideal place to make either a first or a second home, Lakeville has the ingredients to be in a woodland fairy tale. “There are lots of little walking trails and small lakes and ponds if you want privacy,” says Cooper. “A lot of people ride bikes or jog along the Rail Trail, a former railway that used to run all the way up to Massachussetts.” The two big lakes surrounding the neighborhood, Wononpakook Lake and Wononskopomuc Lake—which locals refer to as Lakeville Lake—host swimmers and kayakers most of the year. At Mary V. Peters Park at the southern tip of Wononpakook Lake, families play in the sand and splash around in the water while dogs enjoy the attached Salisbury Community Dog Park. Lime Rock Park, where actor and racecar driver Paul Newman used to frequent, hosts racing events in the summer and was even the setting for a few scenes in the movie Days of Thunder. As Cooper puts it: “Wherever you are in Lakeville, there’s a park, lake or a hiking trail nearby.”

Fitting in with Lakeville’s woodland fantasy feel, the nearby public and private schools, surrounded by treescapes and water views, offer a picturesque backdrop to each student’s education. Salisbury Central School, a public school for elementary through middle school aged children, received an A-grade on Niche and is ranked among the Best Public Schools for both Elementary and Middle School Teachers in Connecticut. Housatonic Valley Regional High School, which received a B-plus Niche grade, is ranked among the Best Public High Schools in Connecticut. Located near the two big lakes sit two private schools, Indian Mountain School—a boarding school for students in Pre-K through 9th grade—and The Hotchkiss School—a high school ranked No. 2 in the state for Best Private High Schools, according to Niche.

Although Lakeville is tucked away in the woods, there are plenty of dining options in town. Try some molcajetes at Picante’s South West Mexican Grill, a restaurant with intimate outdoor patio seating. For a more upscale, chic atmosphere, taste the sesame-crusted tuna at Woodland or the shrimp salad sandwich at The Boathouse, both Americana-inspired bistros with a sushi menu. “Sweet William’s Coffee Shop & Bakery is a local favorite, and The Fern is a cool spot in Lakeville Village that’s a renovation of an old firehouse” Cooper recommends. Also nestled in the village is Bad Corner Antique Shop, a quirky vintage boutique in a quaint schoolhouse-style building. The Interlaken Inn is a resort sitting between Lakeville Lake and Wononpakook Lake that offers 30 acres of lush green grounds, tennis courts and a swimming pool, hosting seasonal visitors staying in town.

With Route 44 running through town, Lakeville locals are only 20 minutes from Wassaic train station that goes into Grand Central Station, and it’s about a two-hour drive to New York City and a little over a two-hour drive into Boston.

Lakeville residents grow accustomed to hikers along the wooded trails at sunrise, boaters on the glimmering lake mid-afternoon and seafood lovers on the patio at sunset. Or, as Cooper describes it, “this village neighborhood is a charming little town with a big community feel.”

Written By

Mary Beth Greene

Photography Contributed By

Brandon Schulman

Video By

Jacob Cooperman