Waterfront views and quiet living near the Canadian border in Lyme
Fishmen, boaters and anyone seeking a quiet life on the water will find that in Lyme. Bordering Lake Ontario, Lyme is a largely rural community with waterfront views just south of the Canadian border. Locals meet up at the town’s yacht clubs or popular restaurants like Wise Guys overlooking the bay. While many live here seasonally, year-round and park-time residents alike feel a strong sense of connection and community in their corner of the North Country. “I think it’s an adorable area,” says Beth Miller, broker at Lake Ontario Realty and area resident who’s come to the bay since she was a child.
A variety of home styles facing Chaumont Bay
Homes on spacious lots line the waterfront, and many have private boat launches or docks. Homes further from the water have a more rural feel, often on several acres. Miller explains that many homeowners along the waterfront only stay in the area during the summer. “People will buy their second home, but then they’ll Airbnb it out in the winter to ice fishermen when they’re not here,” she says.
Traditional-style homes built throughout the 1800s and early 1900s are found across Lyme, and Chaumont has a handful of ornate Victorian properties from the same era. Cottages, ranch-style homes, A-frames and New Traditional homes built between the mid-20th century and today are also common. Houses usually sell for between $150,000 and $650,000. Larger waterfront properties tend to be on the higher end of the range. Lyme’s CAP Index Crime Score is a 1 out of 10, much lower than the national average of 4.
Boating and fishing on Chaumont Bay, among other rec options
Most of the waterfront in Lyme is along Chaumont Bay, which connects to Lake Ontario. The area has several public boat launches, as well as the Chaumont and Crescent Yacht Clubs. The Crescent hosts boating regattas, social events and a Junior Division where kids can learn how to sail. Boaters hang out on the water or dock across the bay at spots like Montanna Shores. “Montanna Shores, it’s all sand. In the summer, you just get tons of boats out there,” Miller says. Fishing is also popular on the bay, as the diverse water depth and rocky shoal make it an ideal breeding ground for catfish, bass and other species. Anglers throw lines out from their boats in the warmer months and ice fish during the winter. The wider region has more outdoor fun as well: Dry Hill Skiing Area has skiing, snowboarding and tubing trails, and Tug Hill State Forest has snowmobiling and hiking.
Popular restaurants and small businesses in Chaumont
The village of Chaumont has several of the town’s businesses. One popular spot is Wise Guys Ristorante, an upscale Italian spot with waterfront views. “It’s like a destination place. People will travel to go to Wise Guys to eat,” Miller says. “They will be jam-packed every single night you come by.” For casual sit-down dining, The Waypoint Bar & Grille has salads, sandwiches and seafood dishes, and just down the road, Laker’s Eats Diner has breakfast platters, soups and paninis.
In the village, Chaumont Country Store has groceries and Chaumont Hardware has home basics. Both are off Great Lakes Seaway Trail. This road also has the village library, a bank and the post office. For larger grocery runs, Watertown has major retailers like Walmart and Target about 12 miles away.
Sally Port View has a variety of public and private waterfront events
Sally Port View is an event center on the waterfront that opened in 2024. With sweeping views of the bay and thousands of square feet of space, Sally Port View hosts community festivals, concerts and weddings. One public event held there is the Lyme Field Days, which includes face painting and inflatables for the kids, lawn games, live music and competitions. The venue also has trivia nights, bar and food nights and live music. The venue also has trivia nights, bar and food nights and live music.
K-12 students under one roof in the Lyme Central School District
The Lyme Central School serves kindergarten through 12th grade in one building and has a C rating from Niche. In 2025, the school started a $7.5 million project to update the nearly hundred-year-old building’s infrastructure, including new plumbing, roofing and HVAC. The project also includes a complete renovation of the gymnasium.
Commuting to Fort Drum and Watertown
Lyme residents typically get around by car, and State Route 12E takes drivers across the region. The Fort Drum Army installation is about 20 miles east, and Watertown — near the Watertown International Airport and home to the Samaritan Medical Center — is less than 15 miles east. Syracuse is also about 80 miles south.
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Written By
Faith Wakefield
