Top 15 Attractions and Activities in Ansonia, CT

The small town of Ansonia is situated in the lower Naugatuck Valley, near the confluence with the Housatonic River.

Colonel David Humphreys (1752-1818), a figure from the Revolutionary War and a confidant of George Washington, was born in Ansonia. His birthplace, dating back to the 1690s, has been preserved as a museum.

From the 19th century until recently, the lower Naugatuck Valley was a center of industry, producing textiles, plastics, copper, brass, sheet metal, clocks, and iron castings, among other goods.

Visitors can learn about this significant manufacturing history at the Osborne Homestead Museum, the former residence of industrialist Frances Osborne Kellogg. Noteworthy buildings that reflect the industrial era include the Ansonia Opera House (built in 1870) and the Church of the Assumption (completed in 1907).

Let’s delve into the top attractions in and around Ansonia, Connecticut:

1. Ansonia Nature & Recreation Center

Formerly a dairy farm, this center now serves as a venue for connecting with the natural environment of the lower Naugatuck Valley.

It features three miles of trails that traverse typical southern New England habitats.

The Visitor Center, an impressive structure built from Connecticut stone in 1977, houses both static and live exhibits in terrariums, as well as classrooms, offices, a natural history library, and a nature store.

Among the resident fauna are a ball python, three owls, a slider turtle, three box turtles, a guinea pig, two small brown bats, two anoles, a tarantula, and a beehive.

Every Saturday at noon, children can participate in the free Creature Feature to handle one or two of the animals and learn interesting facts about them.

Guided walks are offered on Sundays at 1:00 PM, allowing participants to observe songbirds, turtles, and frogs.

2. Bad Sons Beer Company

This craft brewery has a compelling name that also serves as an acronym for the towns in the lower Naugatuck Valley: Beacon Falls, Ansonia, Derby, Seymour, Oxford, Naugatuck, and Shelton.

Bad Sons Beer Company enjoys a robust business standing, with a spacious taproom featuring a large bar, fire pit, and extensive outdoor area open every day of the week.

Live music is hosted on Sundays, and two local restaurants alternate in providing food on Wednesdays (Drop Inn) and Thursdays (Roseland Pizza). Food trucks offer a variety of cuisine Friday through Sunday, including hot dogs, BBQ, and crepes.

The brewery typically features eight beers on tap, including five IPAs, a stout, a pale ale, and a lager, in addition to local guest ciders.

3. General David Humphreys House

This clapboard, five-bay house, constructed in the 1690s, is the birthplace of Colonel David Humphreys, a prominent American Revolutionary War figure. He served as a close aide to George Washington and was later appointed by Washington to be the first ambassador of the United States to Portugal. Additionally, Humphreys introduced merino sheep to Connecticut while serving as ambassador to Spain.

The house currently functions as the headquarters for the Derby Historical Society and is open for tours during weekdays from 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM. Its interior is preserved to reflect the era of Humphreys’ youth, featuring exhibits of period furnishings, spinning wheels, clothing, kitchenware, weapons, and paintings.

Many original features have been restored, including hand-carved wooden paneling and a significant fireplace in the back chamber.

4. Church of the Assumption

The Church of the Assumption stands out as a notable neo-Gothic monument in Ansonia, constructed for the local Catholic parish between 1889 and 1907. Designed by Irish-American architect Patrick Charles Keely, the church is primarily built from local granite.

Notably, the builders navigated a significant height differential, with the vestibule at the front elevated three floors above the vestries located 55 meters to the rear.

Inside, visitors can admire the five-sided apse of the sanctuary and the intricately designed high altar, enhanced by three stunning stained glass windows depicting scenes of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, alongside the Assumption of Mary.

5. Osbornedale State Park

This large expanse of woodland adjacent to the Housatonic River encompasses a vast network of hiking trails within its 417 acres.

Before being granted to the state in the 1950s, the land belonged to the Osborne family, who operated multiple textile and metalworking factories in the Naugatuck Valley.

Frances Osborne was a savvy investor who, in the early 20th century, acquired various separate farms that now constitute the state park.

Historically, this land served as a lush hunting ground for the Paugussett Indians and was briefly mined for silver following the Revolutionary War.

Today, much of the area is forested again, concealing impressive glacial erratics.

Visitors can indulge in fishing at Picketts Pond, enjoy ice skating during the winter months, or have picnics at tables and rentable shelters within this serene setting.

6. Osborne Homestead Museum

Located adjacent to Osbornedale’s scenic hills and meadows, the former residence of influential businesswoman Frances Osborne Kellogg is noteworthy.

The house, which was originally constructed in the 1840s, underwent an extensive renovation in the Colonial Revival style during the 1820s, orchestrated by Frances Osborne’s husband, Waldo Stewart Kellogg.

The charming formal gardens that surround the house are particularly captivating, offering a vibrant display of colors from spring through autumn.

Guided tours of the house are conducted Thursday through Sunday from May to October, providing insights into Frances’ significant contributions to agriculture, industry, and the arts in early 20th-century Connecticut.

7. Kellogg Environmental Center

This facility is located adjacent to the Osborne Homestead Museum and is operated by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

The Kellogg Environmental Center hosts a variety of workshops, lectures, exhibitions, and nature activities for the community, focusing on environmental awareness and appreciation.

For those interested in the diverse species inhabiting the Naugatuck and Housatonic Valleys, this center provides an informative experience.

Exhibits include mounted birds, models, local nature artwork, and a turtle pond situated in the grounds.

Weekend activities such as birdwatching and geological walks aim to foster closer connections between the community and nature.

8. Derby Greenway

Starting at Division Street in southern Ansonia, visitors can embark on a scenic two-mile walk, jog, or bike ride along the west side of Derby, beside the Naugatuck and Housatonic Rivers.

The journey includes passing seven bridges and crossing O’Sullivan Island, a peninsula at the confluence of the two rivers, offering lovely views along the way.

The greenway initially follows the crest of a dike built following the severe floods of 1955, which significantly altered the landscapes of Ansonia and Derby.

Moreover, the Derby Greenway is recognized as Connecticut’s most heavily trafficked multipurpose trail, part of the larger Naugatuck River Greenway Trail System set to span 44 miles from Torrington to Derby.

9. Naugatuck State Forest, Quillinan Reservoir Block

Naugatuck State Forest encompasses an impressive protected area of nearly 4,200 acres, divided into five separate blocks, one of which is located directly northeast of Ansonia.

This forest features four distinct trails weaving through its wooded terrain, adorned with rocky outcrops and traversed by small streams.

The most accessible route from downtown Ansonia is the purple-blazed trail originating from the parking lot on Buswell Street, which extends north to Rimmon Road.

This area, particularly the Quillinan Reservoir, is also popular among mountain bikers, offering nine trails totaling over eight miles in length.

Hikers are advised to wear orange during the hunting season for safety purposes.

10. Warsaw Park

An inviting open space, bordered by trees, Warsaw Park serves as a popular venue for various outdoor events in Ansonia throughout the spring, summer, and fall.

The highlight of the park’s calendar is the Midsummer Fantasy Renaissance Faire, which spans three weekends from late June to early July. During this festival, the park transforms into a fantastical realm inhabited by fairies, orcs, goblins, elves, dwarves, and historical figures.

This event features comedy, live music, stunt performances, games, traditional food and drinks, a variety of craft vendors, and activities for children.

Additionally, Warsaw Park hosts outdoor parties, music festivals, car shows, culinary events, and in October, the annual CT National Pit Bull Celebration Day, showcasing contests, food trucks, and adoptable dogs.

11. Savino Vineyards

Established in 2000, this vineyard, located in the picturesque countryside east of Ansonia, produced its first wines in 2006. Savino Vineyards offers a range of blends and single varietals, including Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Frontenac, Saint-Croix, Vidal Blanc, and Seyval Blanc.

The tasting room is open on weekend afternoons from May through late November, with tastings priced at $10 per person, which includes a souvenir glass to take home.

Additionally, visitors can order an antipasto platter, featuring extra virgin olive oil sourced from the winemaker’s private olive grove in Teggiano, Campania.

12. Ansonia Opera House

Located at 100 Main Street, adjacent to the Naugatuck River, lies a grand yet somewhat neglected remnant of 19th-century culture.

Currently sealed off, with commercial establishments occupying its ground floor, the Ansonia Opera House was the first venue of its type in Connecticut when it opened in 1870. For decades, it was a cornerstone of the community’s cultural life, hosting live performances, dances, basketball games, and even boxing matches.

Public gatherings at the venue were prohibited in 1971 by the Fire Marshal.

While restoration is needed for the upper levels, the building remains striking, characterized by its triangular and curved pediments, corbels, grand round-arched windows on the third floor, and white quoins adorning the storefronts.

13. The Tradition Golf Club at Oak Lane

This accessible yet challenging daily fee course is renowned as one of the premier golfing destinations in the New Haven area.

Though established in the early 1960s, the club has undergone several modifications under new management.

Most fairways are straightforward, with a few demanding doglegs requiring precision to navigate the mature trees and strategically placed bunkers and water hazards.

The Tradition Golf Club boasts comprehensive practice facilities, including putting and chipping greens, along with a grass driving range.

14. West Rock Ridge State Park

If you seek a respite from urban life, West Rock Ridge State Park offers a lengthy section of the Metacomet Ridge, a geologically significant basalt formation spanning northern Connecticut to the Massachusetts-Vermont border.

The park features rugged cliffs, ranging from 120 to 210 meters high and extending for seven miles facing west.

Along with East Rock, it is a prominent feature of the New Haven landscape, offering vistas worthy of the effort required to ascend.

Visitors can see an estimated 200 square miles of land from the ridge, including views of New Haven Harbor and Long Island Sound.

The Blue-Blazed Regicides Trail leads hikers to Judges’ Cave, reputed to have served as a hideout for 17th-century judges Edward Whalley and William Goffe, who fled to the colonies after signing the death warrant for King Charles I.

15. Maltby Lakes

Located across Route 15 from The Tradition Golf Club, the Maltby Lakes are within land owned by the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority.

These three reservoirs, surrounded by dense woodland, provide opportunities for activities such as hiking, cycling, jogging, cross-country skiing, and fishing.

A permit is required for usage ($50 for two years for a family), a worthwhile investment for local residents.

The area features well-maintained, color-coded trails (red, white, green, and yellow) that connect the lakes, which are noted for their excellent fishing opportunities.

Largemouth bass, pickerel, sizable catfish, and pike are commonly caught here.