Top 15 Activities and Attractions in Stafford, CT

In Tolland County, adjacent to Massachusetts, Stafford comprises a collection of small villages centered around Stafford Springs, located where the Middle River and Furnace Brook converge to form the Willimantic River.

This area has been popular for its natural springs for many years, and in 1771, a young John Adams visited to benefit from the waters.

Until the late 20th century, the source of the Willimantic served as a center of industry, and one can delve into the history of manufacturing at Stafford’s remarkable historical society museum.

Main Street in Stafford Springs features a unique, artistic vibe, highlighted by a restored vaudeville theater, quirky shops, and a cherished craft cider brewery.

Let’s explore the premier attractions in and around Stafford, Connecticut:

1. Stafford Historical Society Museum

The Stafford Historical Society is housed in a beautiful Victorian structure that once served as the bottling house for the Stafford Mineral Waters Company, built in 1885. Over the past 135 years, this site has also hosted the Converse Woolen Company, the Stafford probate judge’s offices, and the town library.

The museum showcases two floors rich with details about local industries and companies, including B. Schwanda & Sons, renowned for their button manufacturing using mother of pearl imported from Australia.

Additionally, visitors can explore the artifacts of an early-20th-century pharmacy from Stafford Springs.

Insights into the Podunk and Nipmuck tribes that utilized Stafford Springs’ waters, as well as the town’s 18th and 19th-century health resort prominence, are also provided.

One notable figure featured is Ephraim H. Hyde (1812-1896), who served as Connecticut’s Lieutenant Governor during the 1860s and played a role in establishing what is now the University of Connecticut in nearby Storrs.

2. The Stafford Palace Theater

This unassuming brick building on Main Street in Stafford Springs offers a wealth of history, initially established as a venue for vaudeville performances in 1900. By the early 1940s, the Stafford Palace Theater transitioned to showing films but closed its doors in 1960 to become a bar and club.

Since the 2010s, the building has been revitalized as a vibrant performing arts venue, hosting live music, comedy, film screenings, and annual events like the Wicked Weekend horror market and film festival in December.

3. Stafford Springs Art Walk

A remarkable aspect of Stafford Springs is the vibrancy present within this rural village.

Over the past decade, Main Street has cultivated a dynamic art community, with historic mill buildings providing a picturesque backdrop for various studios, independent restaurants, and unique shops.

The second Friday of each month sees shops extending their hours until 8:00 PM, often spotlighting featured artists throughout the evening.

Live music in diverse genres accompanies the evening, and for those unable to attend during the night, the “Morning After Party” offers an alternative the following morning.

4. Crazy Cock Cider

While many towns in Connecticut feature craft breweries, Stafford Springs uniquely boasts a cidery.

Crazy Cock Cider emphasizes creativity in producing innovative hard ciders, with a taproom on Main Street available for pints, samplers, and growler refills from Thursday to Monday.

Noteworthy flavors include Tea-Hee, brewed with chamomile, the chocolate-infused Cock-O-Lot, Sweet Vanilla, Gingerade with ginger, and Hot Cock, which delivers a cayenne pepper kick.

For those seeking a more classic flavor, Sanity offers a traditional semi-sweet hard cider with pure apple taste.

5. Stafford Motor Speedway

Well before it became recognized as a venue on the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series tour, this half-mile oval track began its life as Agricultural Park in 1870. Interestingly, the speedway maintains the same course originally designed for horse racing over 150 years ago.

The speedway is now a modern sports venue, accommodating 8,000 attendees and featuring infrastructure for national television broadcasts.

Racing events occur every Friday night from May to September, with the NASCAR Whelen modifieds making appearances three times during the season for major races including the NAPA Auto Parts Spring Sizzler 200, the Stafford 150, and the NAPA Fall Final 150.

6. Rusty Wallace Racing Experience

If you have ever been curious about the experience of driving a genuine NASCAR racecar or riding along, Stafford Speedway offers the opportunity to do just that.

Through the Rusty Wallace Racing Experience, sanctioned by the NASCAR icon, participants can enjoy driving experiences or ride alongs in authentic stock cars.

Ride alongs consist of three to five laps, while those interested in taking the wheel can drive from five to 50 laps, providing a comprehensive race day experience.

7. Shenipsit State Forest

A significant portion of land on the western side of Stafford is dedicated to the Shenipsit State Forest, which spans 11 parcels throughout Stafford, Ellington, and Somers.

The headquarters of the forest in Stafford features an informative museum dedicated to the Civilian Conservation Corps, which will be discussed next.

The forest is located on the eastern edge of the Connecticut River Valley, enhancing the prominence of peaks such as the 328-meter Soapstone Mountain in Somers.

This summit includes a lookout tower, offering breathtaking views of the valley, the Berkshires in Massachusetts, and Mount Monadnock in New Hampshire.

Soapstone Mountain also marks the highest point along the Shenipsit Trail, which stretches south roughly parallel to the Connecticut River over a distance of 50 miles.

The northern section can be accessed at Greaves Road in Stafford, leading to an adventurous journey through the forest, passing Soapstone Mountain and other notable peaks such as Bald Mountain, Perkins Mountain, and Rattlesnake Mountain.

8. Connecticut Civilian Conservation Corps Museum

Visitors to the Shenipsit State Forest during summer weekends can explore an engaging museum focused on the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), which was a labor relief initiative during the Great Depression.

The CCC created manual labor job opportunities for unemployed, single men ranging from ages 17 to 28. Located at 166 Chestnut Hill Road, the museum resides within the only remaining CCC barracks building in Connecticut and showcases tools, documents, photographs, memorabilia, and personal accounts gathered from across the Northeast United States.

9. Stafford Library

Stafford Library offers a vital resource that many small towns aspire to provide, serving not only as a venue for borrowing books, magazines, and DVDs.

The library hosts an array of programs for individuals of all ages, which include outdoor summer movie screenings, storytimes, open art studios, book clubs, informative talks, and engaging events such as a Halloween celebration for children.

For those merely passing through, the Stafford Library serves as a resourceful place to gather information about the area, with access to materials, computer facilities, free Wi-Fi, and accommodating staff members.

10. Holt Memorial Fountain

A distinctive feature at the junction of Main Street and River Road in Stafford Springs is the Holt Memorial Fountain.

This fountain is dedicated to Charles Holt, the proprietor of the Phoenix Woolen Company and president of the Stafford Savings Bank.

Holt passed away in 1892, and two years later, the monument was erected, a donation from his wife, Joana, and daughter, Celia.

The shallow outer basin is often adorned with flowers, and the fountain serves as a roundabout.

A proposal in 1990 to relocate the Holt Memorial Fountain for enhanced traffic flow was met with strong opposition from the local community.

11. Peaked Mountain

For breathtaking natural beauty, Peaked Mountain is a nature reserve just minutes across the state line in Monson, MA.

This expansive 2,000 acres of former commercial forest features the summit of the 374-meter Peaked Mountain, providing striking views of the New England countryside, reaching 60 miles north to Mount Monadnock in New Hampshire, and southward towards Shenipsit State Forest.

From the Valley View lookout point, vistas extend westwards to Springfield and Boulder Hill.

The hike from the main entrance entails an elevation gain of over 140 meters, ensuring a rewarding workout on a round trip of approximately 90 minutes.

Hikers may encounter various bird species such as cardinals, blue jays, warblers, and thrushes, alongside raptors including owls, hawks, and turkey vultures.

12. Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary

In the Quinebaug Highlands upland region, another expanse of protected nature lies by the state line in Monson.

The Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary was established by Arthur D. Norcross in 1964 and has grown from a 100-acre woodlot to 8,000 acres encompassing meadows and forests dedicated to the conservation of New England’s native flora and fauna.

The sanctuary features 2.5 miles of trails, and the foundation actively promotes engagement with the public through lectures, guided walks, classroom programs, and opportunities to assist in the construction of bluebird nestboxes with children during January, February, and March.

13. Queen Bee Vineyard

Offering expansive views across the rugged southern Massachusetts landscape, Queen Bee Vineyard is a boutique winery available for tours, tastings, and sales during weekend afternoons.

The property is primarily planted with French and American hybrid grape varieties that thrive in the robust New England climate, resulting in a selection of mostly single varietal wines.

Among the whites available are Aurore, Chardonnay, Edelweiss, La Crosse, Traminette, Vidal, and Vignoles, while reds include Frontenac, Chancellor, Marquette, Vincent, and Chambourcin.

The winery offerings in the tasting room change with the seasons, with selections such as a fruity La Crosse, aromatic Traminette, and full-bodied Vincent noted during our autumn 2019 visit.

14. Nipmuck State Forest

Spanning across Union and Ashford, this 9,000-acre state forest includes a southeastern parcel directly adjacent to Stafford Springs.

It’s critical not to confuse this 900-acre tract with the one in Union near Bigelow Hollow State Park.

In the southeastern corner of Stafford, visitors can hike peacefully through mixed woodland via the Bradley and Murray Trails.

The two trails intersect near a spur on Stone House Road, with the Bradley Trail heading east, while the longer Murray Trail extends south to Polster Road in Willington.

15. Staffordville Reservoir

This elongated body of water extends northward from Stafford’s Staffordville section, covering almost 150 acres with residential properties lining its eastern shore.

Residents, tenants of Staffordville, or visitors to the area may enjoy the small sandy beach at the southern end, which offers an appealing view along the reservoir’s length.

Motorized boating is permitted at the Staffordville Reservoir, subject to strict regulations, while kayakers and paddleboarders are frequent during the warmer months.