Berkley & Veller Real Estate Blog

      Mike Purcell

The Mount Snow Valley area is a wonderful area, blessed with a convenient location, rich in natural beauty, affording a wealth of outdoor recreational opportunities every season and supported by a vibrant professional, service, & crafts community, catering to the needs of resort visitor and resident alike. Additionally, as “the hub of a larger wheel”, an even broader choice of activities are available within a short drive or day trip.
   Physically, the headwaters of the Deerfield River start on both the east & west side of the ridge connecting Haystack in Wilmington & Mount Snow in Dover. While the west side offers a more primitive recreational setting on USFS and TransCanada lands, someone on the east side, along scenic Route 100, will find restaurants, lodging, shops, professional services, service stations, etc… Picturesque Wilmington, with it’s Village Strolls, Block parties, Memorial Hall productions, shops, etc… provides visitors with opportunities to shop and sample a variety of offerings all along the major east-west route, Route 9, also known as the Molly Stark Trail.
   Both branches of the Deerfield flow south in their respective valleys and join up a little west of Wilmington in the Harriman Reservoir (aka Lake Whitingham), the largest wholly contained lake in the state. The dam was once considered the largest earthen dam in the world. It was a short lived distinction, but an impressive feature, including The Glory Hole, nonetheless. Somerset, the reservoir at the head of the West Branch, is the other significant body of water. While power boating & water skiing is permitted on Lake Whitingham, Somerset is more primitive, restricting motor sizes and speeds. Fishing, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, etc..  are all permitted at various public launches and accesses. Then there’s Lake Raponda in Wilmington with it’s sandy child friendly beach and Lake Sadawga in Whitingham, with it’s floating island. There are a number of trails that follow these water courses that provide seasonal hiking and biking or snowshoeing and cross country skiing as well.
   The mountains and forests play as an important part of the recreation scene as the water does. Even more hiking trails, mountain peaks, mountain bike trails, rail beds, all afford winter opportunities like snowshoeing, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, etc… Combine that with a wealth of natural and man-made attractions and historical sites, there is plenty to keep people entertained year-round.
   Within a half hour to 45 minutes away, activities and attractions include more state parks, National Forest offerings in the form of hiking, swimming, boating and the seasonal variety, antiques, shops, theater, live entertainment, college athletics, restaurants, etc…
   When considering owning a property in the Mount Snow Valley area, the choices are almost as diverse and plentiful as the recreational opportunities. Properties come in all manners, sizes, qualities and locations. There is large or small acreage, with homes and without, small or large homes near recreation, some with enough land to support your own on-site enjoyment. Rest assured, once we help you locate the place of your dreams, it will be hard to leave. There’s something to enjoy every day!