Westmore is a draw for its water accessibility
In Westmore, the 1,653-acre Lake Willoughby draws buyers eyeing homes in this pocket of northeast Vermont. “Most people who are looking in Westmore are looking to be on the water,” says Andrea Kupetz, a local Realtor with Century 21 Farm & Forest who has more than three decades of experience. Westmore has an assortment of houses on the lake, providing a prime position to one of the most popular outdoor attractions in a region full of them. Residents are also relatively close to the commercial conveniences in some of the surrounding communities.
Lake Willoughby offers recreation on water and land
With a depth of 300 feet, Lake Willoughby is the deepest lake in the state and is considered a National Natural Landmark. The 7,682-acre Willoughby State Forest is by the south end of the lake and has 12 miles of trails. There are also beaches at Lake Willoughby’s north and south ends; the one to the south is a nude beach. The lake’s waters are open for swimming, fishing and boating. The 5,721-foot Mount Pisgah towers over the lake to the east. “The hike on Mount Pisgah is very well known,” Kupetz says. Long Pond, Bald Hill Pond and Jobs Pond are among the other bodies of water in Westmore and are also open to the public. Westmore has multiple trails open to snowmobiling in the winter, too, including some within Willoughby State Forest.
Westmore’s homes are woven into the natural landscape
Housing in this community primarily consists of cottages and cabins by Lake Willoughby, with some larger waterfront estates on several acres. Many were built between the 1920s and the 1970s and take advantage of the shoreline with water views and private docks in some cases. The properties commonly serve as seasonal homes in a state that averages several feet of snow yearly. “You have to be kind of hearty to want to be at Lake Willoughby in the winter,” Kupetz says. Prices in Westmore vary widely because of the mix of homes, from about $220,000 to $1.6 million.
Boat parade takes over the lake in July
Lake Willoughby hosts an annual boat parade for the Fourth of July. Boats are decorated based on a different theme every year, from “Under the Sea” to “Superheroes.” The Burke Fall Festival is another tradition on the calendar in this region, held on the last Saturday of September in the town of Burke, 13 miles south. The festival includes a parade, food, craft vendors and music.
The Gap and Willoughby Lake Store offer close-by eats
Locals can hop from the beach and onto Willoughby Lake Road to reach The Gap Pub and Grill. The Gap’s burgers are popular, and the restaurant is close to a snowmobile trail for wintertime adventurers. The Willoughby Lake Store, located just off the water, offers grocery items and some prepared foods including sandwiches, pizza and salads. The neighboring town of Barton has a C&C Supermarket and a Kinney Drugs Pharmacy. Orleans, a village within Barton, offers the small Thibault’s Market grocery and J.B. Colton Lumber & Hardware, which dates to 1875.
Public schools are available in nearby Orleans
Kids who live in Westmore may attend public schools in the Orleans Central Supervisory Union in the village of Orleans. Orleans Elementary School has a C-minus grade, includes prekindergarten to eighth grade and hosts a summer program for kindergarten to third grade. The B-rated Lake Region Union High School has elective courses in agriculture and technology.
Vermont Route 5A is a link to other areas
Vermont Route 5A, Westmore’s main road, is a connection to other roadways for trips around the region. Barton is 8 miles away using Route 5A and Vermont Route 16, and Orleans is a 9-mile trip on Route 5A and Vermont Route 58. The Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital is 26 miles away using Route 5A and U.S. Route 5. Locals traveling farther out of town can make the 90-mile drive to the Lebanon Municipal Airport for a connecting flight to the Boston Logan International Airport or the Westchester County Airport, through Cape Air.
Written By
Wayne Epps Jr.
