The Lakes Region of New Hampshire

The Lakes Region Guide to NH Lakes Region

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Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire

Panorama of Lake Winnipesaukee from summit of Mount Major.

backdrop for the movie “On Golden Pond” screenplay written by New Hampshire native Ernest Thompson staring Henry and Jane Fonda and Katharine Hepburn. Other movies included “What about Bob”with Bill Murray, ’Click” with Adam Sandler and referenced to it in Three Stooges 1940 short "No Census, No Feeling",

Rattlesnake Island in the Broads of Lake Winnipesaukee

Lake Winnipesaukee is the largest lake in New Hampshire at over 44,000 acres and 200 feet deep surrounded by mountain vistas and the best that Mother Nature can provide. It encompasses the towns of Alton, Gilford, Laconia, Meredith, Center Harbor, Moultonborough, Tuftonboro and Wolfeboro. Each town has its own amenities and personality, all connected by the natural Luxury Estate on the Big Lake splendor of “The Big Lake”.

You will find some of the most valuable waterfront homes in the State on the 180 miles of shoreline, though by comparison to properties in surrounding states, the value is clear. The lake is a boating, fishing, scuba diving and water enthusiasts paradise. From late May to October, the MS Mount Washington, dating back to 1872 and today carries over 60,000 passengers a season with daily excursions and dinner cruises.

In the winter you will find some of the most unique “Bob Houses” dotting the icescape. Snowmobile trails criss cross the lake all the way to the Canadian border. You are in the heart of the best skiing in all of New England. Alton Bay has the the country's only FAA designated iceport on the frozen ice on Alton Bay. Winnipesaukee and the surrounding lakes make up what is known as the Lakes Region. The area was the inspiration and

MS Mount Washington c 1872 and today.

©2013, Michael Travis, www.WaterfrontAgent.com

Lake Winnipesaukee History.

It is an unusual glacial Lake that reversed flow from going toward the ocean to the direction of the Merrimack River. Early explorers came to Laconia in the 1600’s hoping the rivers would lead to Lake Champlain and the Great Lakes. Native Americans name Alton Bay Iceport Winnipesaukee means either "Smile of the Great Spirit" or "Beautiful Water in a High Place." At the outlet of the Winnipesaukee River, the Winnipesaukee Indians, a subtribe of the Pennacook, lived and fished at a village called Acquadocton. Today, the site is called The Weirs, Lake Winnipesaukee Firsts.

• Center Harbor witnessed the first intercollegiate sporting event in the US when Harvard defeated Yale in the first Harvard-Yale Regatta on August 3, 1852.

• The M/V Sophie C, is the oldest, and one of only two currently operating floating United States Postal Service floating post offices since 1892.

• Alton Bay has the country's Wolfeboro Bay boating only FAA designated iceport on the frozen ice on Alton Bay. Lake Winnipesaukee • “Ice Out” contest is an annual • Lake Winnipesaukee is the event where people guess the largest lake in NH, 44,000 ac. date that the Mount Washing• Third largest in New England. ton can reach all of its ports, • 21 miles long and ranges from 1 to 9 miles wide.

There are records since 1851 • 72 square miles.

• French President Sarkozy • Maximum depth of 212 feet. spent his first US vacation in • 182 miles of shoreland.

Wolfeboro.

• 63 miles to drive around lake.

• Wolfeboro is Americas Oldest • There are at least 253 islands.

Summer Resort.

Wolfeboro, NH - “The Oldest Summer Resort in America”

Downtown Wolfeboro / Wolfeboro Bay

For over 250 years, Wolfeboro has been the destination of choice for dignitaries, celebrity, heads of State, heads of business, heads of households and families that can appreciate the fresh New Hamp- Antique Boats and Great Estates shire air, surrounded by the most beautiful lake and mountains. No wonder French President Sarkozy chose Wolfeboro for his historic visit to the US. Wolfeboro is a place of picturesque shops and historic buildings, free concerts at the Concerts in the Park town bandstand at waters edge. It is a place where you can charter antique boat rides or have a dinner cruise on the MS Mount Washington. A place where you can see original plays in the theatre to concerts at the performing arts center. It is a place with one of the longest Forth of July Parades with antique cars, World War ll vehicles and even Presidential Candidates participate. You have your choice of classic diner fare to exquisite restaurants, quaint B&Bs, the historic Wolfeboro Inn, rustic cabin rentals to multi million dollar homes for rent.

From the town docks and ramps, you have access to all of Lake Winnipesaukee at your disposal. There are also four public beaches and so much more.

With a base population of just over 6000 that jumps to 35,000 in the heart of summer, you have small town charm yet big town services including Huggins Hospital as well as everything you need and some things you won’t find anywhere. It has its own ski hill and ice rink. It is home to ©2013, Michael Travis, www.WaterfrontAgent.com

Brewster Academy which attracts students from around the world.

Wolfeboro is under two hours from Boston, an hour to the seacoast and the White Mountains, making it the perfect destination year round. In spring and fall, the weather is ideal for golf, hiking, biking, fishing, sailing, canoeing, kayaking and birding. The winter in Wolfeboro provides access to hundreds of miles of snowmobile trails and more than 18 miles of groomed cross-country ski trails.

Wolfeboro History Wolfeboro, settled in 1768, was granted by Governor John Wentworth and named for General Wolfe, a hero of the Battle of Quebec. Colonial Governor John Wentworth, his nephew, established Kingswood, an estate on Lake Wentworth, making it the “Oldest Summer Resort in America”.

With the end of the Civil War and the building of the Wolfeboro Railroad in 1872, tourism began to come to this charming town. The historic Depot building still remains. The track now serves as an 11 mile walking and bike path past Crescent Lake and Lake Wentworth, ending in the town of Wakefield.

Depot Square c 1880s

Wolfeboro, NH

• Wolfeboro contains 47.9 square miles of land area and 10.6 sq. miles of inland water area.

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Winnipesaukee Belle MS Mount Washington Huggins Hospital Wentworth State Park Clark House (1778) Libby Museum Monitor Engine Company Firehouse New Hampshire Boat Museum Wright Museum-WWII History Brewster Academy Abenaki Ski Area Pop Whalen Ice Arena Klickety-Klack Railroad

Melvin Village, NH - Antique & Classic Car Haven

Antique Car Alley

Time stands still in Melvin Village, a haven for anand Center Tuftonboro. There is also postal service tique car restorers and collectors alike. The Stanfrom Wolfeboro and Moultonborough. There are 3 ley Steamer was made nearby. state roads running south to north through TuftonSome of the most meticuloulsy restored farms and boro – Route 109 (Governor Wentworth Highway), homes are intown like the Jeromy Wingate farm Route 109A (Middle Road) and Route 171 (Mountain Antique Cars and Great Estates c1790.

Road).

Melvin Village History Lake Winnipesaukee has 274 islands with 27 of them located Wolfeboro, settled in 1768, was granted by Governor John Went- in Tuftonboro. Tuftonboro’s population dramatically increases durworth and named for General Wolfe, a hero of the Battle of Quebec. ing the summer months more than doubling our year-round popuColonial Governor John Wentworth, his nephew, established lation of approximately 2500. Tuftonboro visitors can visit the Indian Kingswood, an estate on Lake Wentworth, making it Grave by the Lake, the view from Abenakee Tower, the “Oldest Summer Resort in America”. With the end a vibrant Historical of the Civil War and the building of the Wolfeboro RailSociety, hiking trails, road in 1872, tourism began to come to this charming scenic roads and Melvin Village town. The historic Depot building still remains. The mountain vistas. We track now serves as an 11 mile walking and bike path past Crescent also offer two public beaches on the The General Store Lake and Lake Wentworth, ending in lake and several boat launches for the town of Wakefield. boating or kayaking. In winter ice fishTuftonboro, a town in Carroll County ing and cross country skiing is very • Wolfeboro contains 41 square miles of land area and 8.9 NH, on the shores of beautiful Lake popular. The fall offers stunning foliage sq. miles of inland water area.

Winnipesaukee was first granted as and the very popular salmon stripping • Several Antique and Classic wingate Farm c1790 Tuftonborough in 1750 and incorpo- at Pope Dam. car collectors and restorers • Part of Tuftonboro rated in 1795. It is the only town incorporated in New Hampshire • Two public beaches and ramps to be owned by one person, John Tufton Mason.

• Abenakee Fire Tower Tuftonboro has a total of 50.1 square miles of which 41.1 square • Historic Indian Gravesite miles is land and 8.9 square miles is water. There are 3 post offices • Libby Museum • Monitor Engine Company in the town serving the villages/areas of Mirror Lake, Melvin Village

Melvin Village, NH

©2013, Michael Travis, www.WaterfrontAgent.com

Firehouse • Tuftonboro Historical Society & Museum

Alton, NH - “The Gateway to the Lakes Region”

Spectacular Estate in Clay Point

Originally called New Durham Gore because of and Winnipiseogee Railroad.[7] In 1872, the rocky upland areas, or "gores," the town was setBoston & Maine Railroad launched at Alton Bay tled in 1770, mainly by farmers because the highthe steamer Mount Washington, the first sideland areas provided less frost. Merchants then wheeler and largest vessel on Lake Winfilled the lowlands. Early Alton history recounts stonipesaukee. When destroyed by fire in 1939, a View of Rattlesnake Island ries of the merchants trying to convince the farmreplacement ship was found, also christened ers to incorporate. They would succeed on 15 January 1796, when Mount Washington. Today, it continues to carry summer tourists the community was named after between stops on the lake. The railAlton, a small market town in way survived until 1935, and the old Hampshire, England. station at Alton Bay is now a comAlton was part of Strafford County munity center. until Belknap County was erected Thre are two parts to Alton. Alton Fishing off town docks on 22 December 1840.[5] By 1840, the village of Alton existed at the Bay is Northwest of the Alton Circle, town's center. In 1847, the Cochecho Railroad began bringing pas- covering the bay which is the South sengers and freight to Alton Village and Alton Bay. By 1859, the Eastern part of Lake Win- • Alton contains 62.2 square town had two gristmills, seven sawmills, and five shoe factories. nipesaukee. The Winnipesaukee miles of land area and 19.3 sq. miles of inland water area.

But the most famous business was the Rockwell Clough Company, River feeds into the lake at the base established by William of the Bay where several marinas • MS Mount Washington Rockwell Clough, inventor and public launches exist. The • Alton Historical Society & Museum of the corkscrew. By 1903, properties leading north toward • Harold S. Gilman Museum his company was produc- Wolfeboro are soe of the most valu• Gunstock Ski Resort ing 30 million corkscrews able on the lake. Life is good here.

(Year round activity) worldwide • 8000ft Zip Line Alton Bay Iceport • Mt Major hiking trails

Alton, NH

Since the mid-19th century, however, tourism has been the principal business. In 1863, the Adventist Campground held their first camp meeting at Alton Bay, which was the terminus of the Dover ©2013, Michael Travis, Prudential Spencer-Hughes Real Estate

• One of two FAA approved airports on ice (other in Alaska) • Alton Bay, with an arcade, mini-golf, ice cream shop, multiple areas to eat, a marina, and other attractions