New Preston is a shopping Mecca on the shores of Lake Waramaug
At first glance, New Preston’s quaint, button-sized downtown might not look like a shopping destination, but that changes on the weekends. “It’s a Mecca for weekenders; they walk around, they eat at The Smithy or The Owl, and it’s really quite lovely,” says Rebecca Doh, an associate broker and senior sales associate at William Raveis Lifestyles Realty. She’s lived in the area her entire life and has sold homes here for 15 years. The village, which is part of the Town of Washington but has its own identity, is 84 miles from New York City; a significant portion of residents live in the city during the week and in New Preston on the weekends. Lake Waramaug is a short walk from downtown and it's a big draw for homebuyers, giving the village what Doh calls a laid-back lake lifestyle.
Antiquing, furniture shopping and dining along Main Street
Although New Preston’s downtown looks small, it’s full of high-end locally owned shops. It’s best known for home goods and antiques, but there’s also clothing stores and a popular candy shop. Two restaurants bookend it; The Smithy Café at 9 Main has sandwiches with vegan and gluten-free options, and The Owl Wine & Food Bar is best known for its wine, but also offers pizzas and sandwiches. “On a summer night, you can sit out on the terrace after a day of shopping,” Doh says. Beyond the walkable downtown, The White Horse is set along the river and has the vibe and menu of a traditional British pub. New Preston’s many farms sell fresh produce at stands. The Smithy Market & Loft Gallery offers a few essentials and local goods. For other groceries, residents drive about 3 miles to Washington Food Market or 4 miles to The Market in Northville, both of which Doh says are also family-owned businesses.
Kayaking and swimming on Lake Waramaug, hiking through protected land
People head to Washington Town Beach to swim in Lake Waramaug and launch kayaks or boats. Fishing is also popular. “And people do like to bike ride around the lake and there are a lot of hiking trails in the area,” Doh says. Macricostas Preserve is 547 acres of meadows, forest and wetlands, all threaded with popular hiking trails and scenic overlooks. Mount Bushnell State Park is smaller, but its 214 acres also have popular trails. Both parks are hemmed in by bigger areas just outside the neighborhood, including Lake Waramaug State Park and Steep Rock Preserve. One of Steep Rock Preserve’s trails leads to an abandoned hand-carved railroad tunnel that hikers love to explore. Residents don’t have to go on hikes to admire nature, though. The East Aspetuck River runs behind the village, and just behind its shops is New Preston Falls. The 20-foot waterfall once fueled mills along the river, but now it makes for a short but scenic walk or a nice spot to sit with a book. Lake Waramaug Country Club also offers its members access to a nine-hole golf course, tennis courts and a private beach on the lake.
A mixture of historic, newer and waterfront houses, potential acreage
New Preston has a mix of colonial homes and expanded Cape Cods. Historic homes sometimes date to the early 1800s and are particularly common along the East Aspetuck River, Doh says. “There were old mills all along that river, and some have been converted to homes,” she says. A couple of historic hotels along the river were also converted into private homes. More recently built colonials, new traditionals and 2000s contemporary-style homes are also common along the river and lakefront, though, often replacing smaller houses. It’s easy to find houses with acreage well into the double-digits. Inland houses range from $475,000 to $3.1 million for a renovated historic house with acreage. Homes on the lake don’t sell often, but estimated values typically fall between $1.5 million and $5 million. In rare cases, lakefront estates with acreage and special amenities like greenhouses can list for up to $14 million.
Live music at Spring Hill Vineyards, Litchfield Jazz Festival
Just outside New Preston, Spring Hill Vineyards hosts live music performances almost every summer weekend. During winter, the Lake Waramaug Polar Bear Run starts at Hopkins Vineyard on the north side of the lake. Runners complete the 7.8-mile loop around the lake, and all proceeds go to Guiding Eyes for the Blind, an organization that trains guide dogs. Residents also attend Washington's Litchfield Jazz Festival. “World-renowned jazz musicians come for the weekend and there are many different venues and concerts throughout the course of the whole weekend,” Doh says. “And there are students that come and perform as well, so it’s pretty popular.”
Agriscience at Shepaug Valley School
Regional School District No. 12 gets an A from Niche. Children in New Preston can attend Washington Primary School, which earns an A, and Shepaug Valley School, which teaches sixth through 12th grade and earns an A-minus. In 2019, the high school added an Agriscience Center, which has programs in fields like agricultural mechanics, equine science, animal science and aquaculture. The center has a small animal lab and a livestock barn where students work with animals. Children enrolled in equine science courses learn about animal husbandry, anatomy and physiology and care and feeding alongside handling, riding and driving skills.
Commuting to NYC, nearby New Milford Hospital
U.S. Route 202 runs through New Preston, making it easy to hop on the highway to leave town. Following it south forms the first leg of the commute to Manhattan 84 miles away — a common drive among many locals that typically takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes, depending on traffic. New Milford Hospital is less than 8 miles away, but it’s about 27 miles to the more popular Waterbury Hospital.
Heavy rains can lead to flooding, no swimming notices
Heavy rains and severe storms can cause flooding along the East Aspetuck River and its brooks, and occasionally along Lake Waramaug, potentially impacting homes along the water or leading to road closures. Flooding can also lead to temporary “no swim” notices at Lake Waramaug due to concerns about high bacteria levels and water quality.
Written By
Christina Norwood
