Scenic Wolfeboro is considered the country's oldest summer resort
Wolfeboro is a bustling town along Lake Winnipesaukee, 40 miles from Concord, New Hampshire. The area is between the Squam Range and the Appalachian Mountains, with Cotton Mountain to the east and Moody Mountain to the northwest. The town is known as the oldest summer resort in America, attracting tourists as early as 1872 with its scenic views, lakeside location and plentiful outdoor recreation. “It's such a beautiful place and has all four seasons,” says Joy Messineo, a Realtor with Maxfield Real Estate and a Wolfeboro resident. “A lot of people come here for the summer or weekends and then retire here. It's still a small-town community. I had many friends who grew up summering here, and we all ended up back in Wolfeboro.”
Recreation on Lake Winnipesaukee, Lake Wentworth and Wolfeboro Bay
Lake Winnipesaukee, Lake Wentworth and Wolfeboro Bay are recreational hot spots for boating, fishing and swimming. Albee Beach, Brewster Beach and Carry Beach are popular, and Wentworth State Park has a beach along Lake Wentworth. The Town Docks downtown provide a public space for fishing and boating. During the winter, ice fishing is popular. Cate Park has a view of the water, a paved walking path, benches and a gazebo. The 18-hole Kingswood Golf Club is open to the public. Bordering Back Bay, also near downtown, Foss Field has space for baseball, soccer, tennis and basketball, and the Sue Glenn Playground is nearby. Farther inland, The Nick has 27 acres with a dog park, sports fields, a playground, walking paths and a skate park. Hiking trails are throughout the Wolfeboro area, including the Cotton Valley Rail Trail, which spans 12 miles from Wolfeboro to Wakefield. The trail attracts bikers and hikers and, in winter, snowmobilers and cross-country skiers. The Wolfeboro Abenaki Ski Area has a terrain park, cross-country skiing trails and a rope tow. Walking and biking paths connect the Abenaki Ski Area to the Swall Woods Conservation Area near downtown.
Homes blend old New England charm and modern updates
Houses are densely packed near downtown Wolfeboro, but homes in the more rural part of the community are farther apart on large lots near winding roadways. “Most have private septic and private wells, but if you live within 2 miles of downtown, it's more town water and sewer,” says Messineo. Homes along the water usually have a private dock and many residents use their boats to travel along the lake. “You have a lot of old antique homes, going back to the pre-revolutionary days, beautiful old homes that were part of farms, but they sold off the back lots,” says Messineo. “There’s still much land around, so new homes are being built, and old homes are being renovated.” Homes are in the New Traditional, Dutch Colonial Revival and Colonial Revival styles. Single and multifamily homes range from $250,000 to $975,000, while large homes and estates range from $1.1 million to $4.2 million. Townhouses and condos range from $350,000 to $800,000.
Locally owned shops and dining on Wolfeboro Bay
Black’s Paper Store & Gift Shop is a staple that sells toys, games, clothing, home décor and other knick-knacks and locally sourced goods. “The shop is right in the center of town, and everybody knows it,” says Messineo, whose family once owned the shop. “People bring their children, then their grandchildren. It's still going, but it has different owners.” Across the way, Garwoods Restaurant & Pub is on the water and serves American food. “I like Garwoods because I can go by boat, they have a dock right there, and they have an outdoor patio,” says Messineo. “If it’s wintertime, you can sit by the windows and look out at the ice.” Harvest Market, in Wolfeboro Shopping Center, sells groceries.
Fourth of July parade attracts residents, politicians
New Hampshire is the first state to vote in the presidential primary elections, so many political figures participate in the Wolfeboro Fourth of July Parade and Fireworks. The parade extends along Main Street, and hundreds gather to watch. Fireworks, live bands and other festivities take place in Cate Park. The Wolfeboro Area Farmers Market takes place at The Nick every Thursday from May to October. Local vendors and farmers sell fresh produce and handmade artisanal goods. The Wentworth Watershed Association holds the Ice Out Contest online each March to predict when the ice on Lake Winnipesaukee will melt.
Governor Wentworth schools receive Bs and Cs
The Governor Wentworth Regional School District serves the area and gets a B-minus from Niche. Children attend Carpenter Elementary for kindergarten through third grade and Crescent Lake for fourth through sixth. Both schools receive a B. Kingswood Middle also gets a B, and Kingswood Regional High gets a C-plus. The Lakes Region Technical Center allows high school students to take courses and receive certifications for their future careers.
State Routes 109 and 28 pass through the area
Since Wolfeboro is primarily a summer destination and most residents are retirees, daily commutes are uncommon. A few major routes pass through the area, such as state Route 109, which leads to Portland, Maine, 58 miles away, and state Route 28, which leads to Concord, 40 miles away. Huggins Hospital is in Wolfeboro, and the Portland International Jetport is 56 miles away. Most houses of worship in the area are along state Routes 28 and 109, including All Saints Church and First Baptist Church.
Mud season and rising waters during inclement weather
Mud season in New Hampshire lasts from mid-March to mid-May, when frozen ground begins to melt and the excess water seeps into the soil, creating a thick muck that can be difficult to navigate for hikers, bikers and automobiles on unpaved roads. Lake waters rise during inclement weather and mountain snowmelt, but it’s uncommon. Lake Winnipesaukee leads into the Merrimack River, and Lakeport Dam controls its outflow.
Written By
Isabella Pontecorvo
