Wheelock is an outdoorsy community in rural Vermont
In Wheelock, dirt roads lead to charming homes, and there’s not a single stoplight in town. Only about 760 people live in this Caledonia County community, and they commute to the next town over to go to the grocery store. “You blink and you’ve gone through the center of Wheelock,” says Patricia Emery, owner/broker with Parkway Realty, who has been selling homes in the Northeast Kingdom since the 1970s. Eleazar Wheelock, the founder of Dartmouth College, also founded the town, and any resident who gains admission to the school can attend tuition-free. But those who live here are more drawn to the natural beauty and wealth of outdoor activities in the area than an academic upper hand. A short drive from Burke Mountain, where world-class skiers glide down the slopes , and mountain bikers take advantage of the Kingdom Trails, Wheelock is an outdoorsy community offering a slower pace of life in the picturesque Vermont countryside.
Wheelock is an outdoor hub experiencing all four seasons
This part of Vermont, called the Northeast Kingdom, is an outdoor destination for athletes from across the world. The Kingdom Trails, an over 100-mile bike path running through private landowners’ backyards, goes through Wheelock, and each year, nearly 100,000 cyclists traverse the area’s scenic landscape. About 15 miles east, Burke Mountain is home to 260-acre Burke Mountain Resort, with over 50 ski trails, and Burke Mountain Academy, an elite ski school that’s trained 36 Olympians and other highly successful athletes.
Wheelock also experiences all four seasons. Winter brings piles of snow and freezing temperatures, bright leaves change color in the fall and, in the spring and summer, a vibrant green shades the town. “In my opinion, the spring is the most beautiful,” Emery says. “We get a rejuvenating green and flowering apple blossoms.”
Houses along dirt roads
Homes in Wheelock sit along dirt roads, with pine trees and dense brush lining roadsides, and the median price for a single-family home is just over $212,000, which is about half of the state median. “It’s a little more affordable than surrounding towns,” Emery says. “But a lot of things depend on the view and the attributes of the property itself.” Potential homebuyers can find mostly single-story houses in the area, including small cottages and ranch-style homes; however, two-story properties, including Colonial Revivals, are also available. Prices typically range from $100,000 to $750,000, depending on the size, age and condition. Land is also available and can cost $50,000 to $70,000.
Shopping and dining in nearby towns
Because it’s so rural, Wheelock doesn’t have a large commercial presence. On Burroughs Road, amid gently rolling fields, Chandler Pond Farm is open from April to October. From its classic red building, the farm sells fresh-cut flowers, grass-fed beef and local produce from the adjacent farmstand. Visitors can buy pumpkins and seasonal décor in the fall or strawberries and blueberries in the summer, which can also be picked from the fields. Each weekend it’s open, the farm hosts Donut Saturdays, when visitors can order fresh-baked donuts. For most errand runs, though, Emery notes that locals must travel to nearby towns. “People who live in Wheelock do their grocery shopping in Lyndon or St. Johnsbury,” she says. In Lyndon, about 6 miles southeast, folks will find quaint stores in the historic downtown district. They can grab prepared foods or limited grocery items from The White Market and Freighthouse Market & Café. In St. Johnsbury, about 15 miles south, there’s a Price Chopper grocery store and restaurants like 98 Mill, which serves sandwiches, pasta, flatbreads and more in a trendy setting.
School choice and a chance to attend Dartmouth tuition-free
Wheelock is served by the Kingdom East School District, which receives a D grade from Niche. The district has a student-teacher ratio of 23-to-1 and educates about 2,000 students. However, students have options when it comes to choosing where to attend school. Through the Vermont Town Tuitioning Program, students may apply to any school, public or private, in or out of state, that is approved by the Vermont Board of Education or an equal state authority. There’s also a chance for high school graduates living in Wheelock to go to one of the best schools in the country for free: “Wheelock was founded as a land grant by the founder of Dartmouth College,” Emery says. “If you’re a resident of the area and can get in, you can go to the school tuition-free.”
Getting around Wheelock
Due to the area’s remoteness, Wheelock is car-dependent. U.S. Interstate 91 cuts through the town, leading north-south through New England. Backroads, many of which are not paved, are the main way of getting from one town to the next or through the community. For air travel, Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport is just over 80 miles west.
Written By
Adreanna DeMarino
