- For other places with the same name, see Gloucester (disambiguation).
Glocester is a town of 10,000 people (2020) in Providence County, Rhode Island.
Understand
editGlocester contains the villages of Chepachet and Harmony.
Get in
editBy car Route 44 (Putnam Pike) will take you through a large portion of Glocester and will lead you to the heart of Chepachet, the historical town that resides here. From I-95N take 295N to exit 7B onto Route 44W. Follow Route 44W through Smithfield, once you have passed Powder Mill Creamery (on your right) you have crossed into Glocester. Continue to follow Route 44W for several miles, once you reach the first and only traffic light you are located in the center of Chepachet. If you decide to follow Route 44W through the rest of Glocester you will reach Putnam Connecticut within 10 miles.
Get around
editDriving is the best way to get around Glocester, especially if you are seeking out access to hiking trails, fishing areas and boat ramps, and swimming areas since some of these attractions are not located along the main route (Route 44; Putnam Pike). The historical town of Chepachet is easily accessible by foot. You can walk across the town in less than an hour.
See
edit- Pulaski Memorial State Park, 151 Pulaski Road (off Route 44 just before the Connecticut state line), ☏ +1 401 568-2085. Open daily from sunrise to sunset. The recreation park is 100 acres and part of the 4000 acres that makes up the George Washington Management Area. The park offers something for everyone including hiking trails, picnicking areas, fishing or swimming in Peck Pond which is one of the best places to enjoy a swim in the area. The park has bathrooms and offers a pavilion however reservations are required for its use. Hunting is allowed during open seasons so orange is a must while enjoying a stroll through the miles of trails that run through the protected area. No entrance fees.
- Echo Lake (Pascoag Reservoir), Jackson Schoolhouse Road (follow Route 44W from the center of Chepachet and take a right onto Jackson Schoolhouse Road; you will cross over a very narrow bridge; once you have, take the first right onto a dirt road and the boat ramp will be on your right.). Open daily from sunrise to sunset. Echo Lake is one of the largest lakes in Glocester and one of the most popular for boating. The boat ramp is easily accessible and the area also provides plenty of onshore fishing spots. Swimming in this area is not recommended. No fees.
- Heritage Park, Chestnut Oak Road (take Route 44E from the center of Chepachet and take a right on to Chestnut Oak Road; take your first left into the parking area). Open daily from sunrise to sunset. Heritage Park offers hiking trails that are great for children and short in length. The longest trail is about 1½ miles and along it you will find picnic tables, a play area and a Shepard's hut. No fees.
- Town Pound, Corner of Pound Road and Chopmist Hill Road (Route 102S). This historical stone enclosure was built in 1749 and is the oldest pound that still stands in all of America. This site was built to contain stray livestock, and has been preserved and protected.
Do
edit- Melody Hill Country Club, 55 Melody Hill Road (take Route 44E towards Smithfield and take a right onto Saw Mill Road; Melody Hill Road will be the first road on your right), ☏ +1 401 949-9851. M-F 6:30AM-5PM, Sa Su 6AM-6PM. Walk 18 hole on weekdays for $27 and weekends for $31.
Events
edit- Ancient and Horrible's Parade, Main Street, Chepachet (Money Hill Road to Putnam Pike). The parade began in 1926 and has been an annual event ever since. It is held each year on the 4th of July at 4PM.
Buy
edit- Brown and Hopkins Country Store, 1179 Putnam Pike, ☏ +1 401 568-4830. M-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su 11AM-5PM. Brown and Hopkins has been in business since 1809 and is America's oldest country store in continuous operation. The store offers a variety of country gifts and furnishings and no one can resist its traditional penny candy counter.
- Holidaze Stained Glass, 712 Putnam Pike, ☏ +1 401 568-5140. Tu-Th 10AM-8PM, F noon-4PM, Sa 10AM-12:30PM. Nancy Kay Chase has been in business since 1985 and provides beautiful stained glasses pieces of all varieties. She also provides classes at her studio and will make custom pieces to satisfy her customers taste.
- The Old Post Office Antiques and Such, 1178 Putnam Pike, ☏ +1 401 568-1795. Th-Sa 11AM-5PM, Su noon-5PM; May-Dec: also M 11AM-5PM. The former post office of Chepachet is a great antique shop that has a wide variety of antiques to choose from.
- The Town Trader Antiques, 1177 Putnam Pike, ☏ +1 401 568-8800. W-Sa 11AM-5PM, Su noon-5PM. The Town Trader was built as a trading post in the 1690s and is now the oldest structure to stand in Chepachet.
Eat
edit- Aegean Pizza, 1195 Putnam Pike, ☏ +1 401 568-2725. Daily 11AM-10PM. This great pizza parlor offers a variety of subs, fried foods and specialty pizzas. Delivery is available to anywhere in Glocester however delivery charges may apply. $8-20.
- Chepachet Deli, 842 Putnam Pike, ☏ +1 401 567-8979. M 10AM-2PM, Tu-Th 10AM-6PM, F Sa 10AM-7PM, closed on Sundays. Chepachet deli offers a variety of subs, pizzas, calzones and the famous NY system wieners. They use Boar's Head products and real Willow Tree Chicken Salad. Local delivery is available.
- DePetrillo's Pizza and Bakery, 1153 Putnam Pike, ☏ +1 401 568-4700. M-Th 7AM-7PM, F Sa 7AM-8PM, Su 7AM-6PM. The great bakery provides homemade pizza stripes, party pizzas, hot pizzas, calzones and rolls. They have a variety of items ready to be purchased or you can call in and place a specific order. Wine, pepper and egg biscuits and assorted cookies and pastries are baked fresh every day.
- Dino's Park-n-Shop, 1020 Putnam Pike, ☏ +1 401 568-6590. M-Sa 7AM-9PM, Su 7AM-8PM. The market will provide you with all of your grocery needs. There is a great bakery to indulge your sweet tooth and a deli that provides ready to eat meals and made on the spot deli sandwiches.
- Mr. Z's By The Lake, 2400 Putnam Pike, ☏ +1 401-205-6274. Daily 11AM-9PM. Pizza.
- Gentlemen Farmer Restaurant, 617 Putnam Pike, ☏ +1 401 371-2683. M-Sa 6AM, Su 6AM-8PM. The diner is best known by the locals for its great breakfast menu which is available all day, every day. A full menu including lunch and dinner plates are also available every day.
- Pinewood Pub, 16 Terry Lane (located right off Putnam Pike), ☏ +1 401 568-5660. M-Th 3PM-1AM, F Su noon-1AM, Sa 10AM-1AM. The pub offers a relaxing atmosphere and a full menu that will appeal to anyone's appetite. If you’re a pizza lover the pub offers create your own pizza and several signature pizzas that are unique to the restaurant and intriguing to try. $6-18.
- Tavern on Main (Stagecoach Tavern), 1157 Putnam Pike, ☏ +1 401 710-9788. Tavern open W Th 4PM-1AM, F-Su 11:30AM-1AM; dining room open W Th 4-9PM, F Sa 11:30AM-9:30PM, Su 11:30AM-8:30PM, Closed M Tu. Originally known as the Stagecoach Tavern this historical place was built in the early 1700s and remarkably has been kept in its original form. Step back into time and experience the taverns historical nature and feel while dining around artefacts that are hundreds of years old and sitting in a place that is thought to be haunted by the ancestors of Chepachet. $7-20.
Drink
edit- Stick's Tavern, 417 Putnam Pike, ☏ +1 401 349-4410. M 5-9PM, Tu W 7PM-midnight, Th-Su 1PM-1AM. Stick's offers great live entertainment and karaoke nights and provides and outdoor area equipped with lots of picnic tables and a large fire pit. Noted as one of the most popular bars in town you are sure to meet lots of locals and hear some great local bands perform their finest hits.
Sleep
edit- Bowdish Lake Campground, Putnam Pike (Route 44) (on the right just before the Connecticut state line.), ☏ +1 401 568-8890. Bowdish Campground provides daily activities ranging from bingo to hay rides to volleyball games. Available sites include waterfront, wooded or field locations and accommodate both campers and tents. AAA approved.
- George Washington Memorial Camping Area, 2185 Putnam Pike (Route 44), ☏ +1 401 568-2085. The campground is open from the second Sa in April till Memorial Day in Oct. The campground is along Bowdish Lake and offers its campers a swimming area, miles of hiking trails through preserved forests, fishing areas and a boat ramp that is easily accessible. RI residents $14/night, non-residents $20/night.
- Glocester Motor Inn, 2392 Putnam Pike, ☏ +1 401 568-3322.
- Holiday Acres Family Campground, 591 Snake Hill Road (take Route 44 E from the center of Chepachet and take a right onto Saw Mill Road; at the stop sign take a right onto Snake Hill Road and the campground will be on your right), ☏ +1 401 934-0780. Holiday Acres is an RV/Camper campground and does not provide tented sites. It offers wooded and waterfront sites, bathrooms, showers, a laundry room, a game room and boat rentals. $44/day and seasonal rates are available, AAA approved and discounts apply.
- Oak Leaf Family Campground, 43 Oak Leaf Way (follow Route 44W from the center of Chepachet and take a left onto Reynolds Road (Route 94); turn left onto Old Snake Hill Road and Oak Leaf Way will be on your right), ☏ +1 401 568-4446. The campground offers RV and tented sites, a horseshoe pit, a playground, showers, a camp store, recreation hall, an outdoor swimming pool and is pet friendly.
- White Rock Motel, 750 Putnam Pike, ☏ +1 401 568-4219. The motel offers rooms with queen or double sized beds, A/C and cable TV and is located just minutes from the center of Chepachet.