The Lime Rock Park Neighborhood
The Lime Rock Park area, located in the northwest corner of Connecticut, boasts one of the most beautiful natural settings of any race track in the world. Lime Rock is only 7 miles from the New York state line and 10 miles from the Massachusetts state line. There are three quaint Connecticut towns within 5 miles of Lime Rock Park; including Sharon, Lakeville and Salisbury. Also nearby, just over the Connecticut state line, are Amenia and Millerton, New York.
Connecticut’s Litchfield County is a year-round tourist destination for many reasons. For starters, there are no chain motels, resort hotels or “big box stores” within 45 minutes of Lime Rock. The single “fast food” restaurant in this entire area is a McDonald’s that’s located 10 miles away. Additionally, there is an endless number of beautiful drives around the Lime Rock Park region, which includes neighboring New York State and the Berkshire Mountains of southwestern Massachusetts.
Pick any direction, start driving and you’re sure to find winding “sports car” roads with world-class scenery, picturesque towns and no traffic.
To get you started on a great day-long adventure, here’s one of my favorite loops. In just over 100 miles, this remarkably varied drive packs in tourist destinations like Millerton, Stockbridge and Great Barrington, a couple of state parks, lakes, rivers, a famous waterfall, hills, meadows, trees, forests, flower gardens, long views, open roads, incredible twisty stretches, cattle and lamas. You’ll also see colonial towns and farms unchanged for 300 years, secret antique shops, organic fruit stands and back country roads in three states.
Lime Rock Area Tour
The route begins by turning right out of the infield main entrance at Lime Rock Park. This will take you past Hotchkiss School, a famous prep school. Among its graduates with an automotive industry connection is Edsel Ford II. Continue to Indian Mountain Road, which passes Mudge Pond, made famous by racer Sam Posey’s autobiography, Mudge Pond Express. The last big hilltop house on the right, adjacent to the lake, is the home of Lime Rock Park owner, Skip Barber. The house was designed by Sam Posey. You then proceed past Moles Hill Farm Stables, taking a right onto 61 North, and a left on 62 North.
To your left at this intersection is the cozy, restored downtown Millerton, which boasts a movie theatre, a Ford dealership, a hardware store/lumberyard, a whole block of antique shops and a youthful trendy restaurant in a Fifties stainless steel diner, Oakhurst Diner. You’ll also find the gorgeous, totally-restored 19th century mansion, The Millerton Inn. Original Lotus importer, Lotus East, once occupied what’s now the recently sold Gilmore Glassworks.
Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts
From Millerton, Route 62 takes you past scenic Taconic State Park’s Rudd Pond. Famed automotive artist, Peter Helck, lived in the white house on the left. You continue past Taconic State Park, Copake Falls and Bash Bosh Falls. Heading towards Mt. Everett / Salisbury, you will pass the picturesque Mt. Washington Church, and head towards Great Barrington, MA, which has an interesting downtown, complete with quaint shops and restaurants. After heading onto 41 North, you will pass the Norman Rockwell Museum and Studio.
Next, you come to Stockbridge, which has been a special summer resort for more than a century, with shops, restaurants, galleries, upscale homes and the historic Red Lion Inn. It’s almost always busy, especially on summer weekends. Lastly, take 57 West and 7 South back down to Lime Rock Park. Enjoy the ride.
If you enjoyed our little drive, you’ll surely have fun on one of our 1000-mile Vintage Rallies. Visit www.vintagerallies.com to learn more.
Written by Rich Taylor, Founder of Vintage Rallies
For Premier Financial Services