Old Lyme paints a portrait of New London County
Old Lyme can be defined by two main communities: artists and out-of-towners. Not only is it home to several museums and art galleries established in the 20th century, but Old Lyme is also a hot tourist destination with beaches, boats and waterfront excursions along the Connecticut River to the west. “We have two kinds of areas in town – the more traditional single-family homes, and the more seasonal beach communities,” says Liz Squillacote, William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty associate broker. “A lot of the shoreline population doubles in the summer.” Between the public arts, local shops and summer recreation, Old Lyme is a coastal community where seasonal visitors find their place among long-term homeowners.
White Sand Beach lives up to its name
While mostly made up of private beaches, a few sections of coastline are open and available to Old Lyme residents. Locals like to swim and sunbathe at Sound View Beach, which has waterfront bars as well as Italian ice and carousel rides, while the White Sand and Hains Park beaches are also open to the public. Parks around the area have playgrounds, sports facilities and driving ranges, while around 20 walking trails lead through woodlands and old caves. Five marinas provide easy access to the ocean for boats and fishing charters. “Old Lyme has the nicest beaches on the Connecticut shoreline,” Squillacote says. “It’s a very desirable town. People love living here.”
Cape Cod houses by the Connecticut River
There are homes by the beaches as well as further inland, closer to Route 156. Housing styles include cottages, condominiums and ranch-style houses, and there are also many antique houses built as far back as the 1700s. Most smaller houses with 1-acre lots cost between $100,000 and $500,000. Many of the larger contemporary and Cape Cod houses on the coast can cost between $500,000 and $1 million. The largest homes, often with three to five bedrooms and up to 15-acre lots, are most expensive, running anywhere from $1 to $3 million. “It is one of the stronger markets on the shoreline,” Squillacote says. “We’ve seen incredible price appreciation across the board at every price range in Old Lyme.”
Art galleries and museums on Lyme Street
Old Lyme’s museums, art academies and galleries are on the northwestern end of the arts district. The Florence Griswold Museum, named after the local impressionist painter, has 12 acres of historic gardens and trails, while local artists’ work is showcased in The Cooley Gallery. Self-guided tours take residents through the historic homes on Lyme Street, and live concerts and festivals are held downtown over the summer.
Sipping and shopping at the Old Lyme Marketplace
Local businesses and restaurants are mainly located within the Old Lyme Marketplace, past the arts district, north of the highway. Retail is largely driven by home, garden and specialty gift shops run by local artisans, while the many waterfront restaurants include casual dining, sports bars and pubs. Music lovers catch live performances at Side Door Jazz Club and Nightingale’s Acoustic Café. Most of the country stores and supermarkets are by Halls, Shore and Boston Post Roads.
A ratings across the board for Lyme-Old Lyme Schools
Lyme-Old Lyme Schools earn an A rating from Niche. Lyme School has a gifted and talented program and earns an A-minus on Niche, while Lyme Middle receives an A and is rated the best middle school in the county by Niche. A-rated Lyme High School has a 9-to-1 student-teacher ratio.
Highway transportation between New Haven and New London
The River Valley Transit provides 18-mile rides on Interstate 95 between Old Saybrook and New London. The closest 24-hour hospital is at the Middlesex Health Shoreline Medical Center 8 miles west in Westbrook. The Tweed New Haven Airport is over 30 miles west.
