Tinmouth offers serenity with a strong community spirit
In Tinmouth, swaths of lush, largely undeveloped territory in the hills of the Taconic Mountains provide a setting for tranquil living. The landscape dictates life in this southwestern Vermont community, with homes built close to a natural lake and within 10 miles of a 1,245-acre wildlife management area. And though the population is small, residents come together for various events, from a community plant sale to a concert series held in an antique firehouse. “A lot of people move to Vermont by choice, for the community. And they bring with them amazing experiences and skills and backgrounds. So you meet some of the most amazing people here,” says Robin Chesnut-Tangerman, a Realtor at McChesney Real Estate for about five years and a resident of neighboring Middletown Springs for over 30 years.
Chipman Lake is a magnet for homes in this area
Some of Tinmouth’s houses date back to the 18th century, but others were built as recently as the 2010s. Many are situated around or close to Chipman Lake, in the southeast corner of the community, offering direct access to the water in some cases. Cape Cod and colonial are common styles. Properties sell for $230,000 to $680,000. Listings last over 80 days on the market, much longer than the national average of 48. “For a long time, it’s been a popular destination for people from the Northeast,” Chesnut-Tangerman says. “They spend their professional career in New York or Boston, and are looking for a more relaxed pace of life here.” Chesnut-Tangerman says he’s seen an increasing number of climate refugees moving to the region, from areas of the country prone to events like wildfires and droughts.
Opportunities for water recreation are easy to find
Chipman Lake is open to swimming, fishing and boating but, with an assortment of homes around it, access is private. However, the community’s Tinmouth Channel Wildlife Management Area is a public space for all sorts of recreationists. The WMA’s terrain features wetlands and forests, and hiking and hunting are permitted. A section of the Clarendon River runs through the area, too, providing opportunities for fishing, canoeing and kayaking. The 930-acre Lake St. Catherine, roughly 15 miles west, is an option for activities like water skiing and tubing. The Tinmouth Community Center has free weekly pickleball sessions and open gyms.
Tinmouth Roadhouse is a respected spot for a bite to eat
While commercial attractions are limited in this rustic area, residents have the Tinmouth Roadhouse nearby. Located in the center of this community, Tinmouth Roadhouse is open for dinner on Wednesday and Thursday nights and brunch on Saturdays. Menus vary weekly, from garlic cashew chicken to beef bolognese. “It’s very popular, and the food is delicious,” Chesnut-Tangerman says. Residents gravitate to the city of Rutland for more amenities. Located 15 miles north, Rutland has Walmart, Hannaford, ALDI, T.J. Maxx and Petco.
Mill River Unified Union School District offers enrollment flexibility
The Mill River Unified Union School District serves students in Tinmouth and carries a C-plus rating on Niche. Students and their families can choose to attend the C-minus-rated Clarendon, C-plus-rated Shrewsbury, B-minus-rated Tinmouth or C-rated Wallingford for prekindergarten to sixth grade. All four schools have after-school programs. The district’s Mill River Union High has a C-plus rating and 10-to-1 student-teacher ratios.
Multiple routes lead to the nerve center of Rutland
Tinmouth residents are close to Vermont Route 140, which fans east and west, offering different paths north to Rutland. Route 140 links with Vermont Route 133 to the west and U.S. Route 7 to the east. The city serves as the seat of Rutland County, which includes Tinmouth, and is home to the Rutland Regional Medical Center. The Rutland Southern Vermont Regional Airport, located 10 miles away in North Clarendon, offers daily Cape Air flights to the Boston Logan International Airport.
With game suppers and plant sales, events pull from the environment
Tinmouth’s volunteer fire department hosts an annual Game Supper each November, like multiple other communities in the region. Tinmouth’s supper is considered one of the oldest in the state, in place for more than 50 years. Held at the Tinmouth community center as a fundraiser for the fire department, the supper features plates for purchase with dishes made from wild game, including smoked bear and venison stir fry. Tinmouth’s annual community plant sale comes around every May, at Squier Family Farm. The plants range from herbs to flowers, and the money goes to the Tinmouth Scholarship Fund. The fund awards scholarships to local graduating seniors. Tinmouth’s “Old Firehouse,” a renovated building that dates to 1885, serves as the venue for a series of concerts in the spring and fall.
Written By
Wayne Epps Jr.
