Preston (Connecticut)
Preston is a town in Connecticut. It is a small, mostly rural town with multiple historic districts. It is between Montville and Ledyard, giving easy access to both Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods.
Understand
editHistory
editPreston is a small town in southeastern Connecticut that originated in the 17th century. Following King Philip's War, the area was granted to colonists by Owaneco, son of the Mohegan sachem Uncas. For much of its history Preston was a farming town, but the decline of farming and the presence of two major tourist centers has caused a slow transition into a town focused on historical tourism.
Because Preston is home to over a dozen old cemetaries, many old buildings and churches, and the ruins of the Norwich State Hospital, it is sometimes alleged to be a haunted place.
Local information
edit- Preston Town Council website
Get in
edit
By car
editRoute 164 allows entrace to Preston from Griswold.
Route 165 allows entrace to Preston from Norwich and Griswold.
Route 2A allows entrace to Preston from Montville after crossing the Mohegan–Pequot Bridge.
Get around
editA car is necessary in Preston. The nearby casinos are walkable and have shuttles to use, but Preston is a rural area with minimal public transportation options. Casino traffic makes walking inadvisable on the main roads. Off the main roads there is much less traffic, making it a nice place to take scenic walks. However, there will likely not be many tourist attractions within walking distance regardless.
See
edit- 1 Amos Lake, 36 Lake View Dr. 115-acre natural lake. Stocked with trophy bass and trout. Local wildlife can be seen here, including bald eagles.
- 2 Hallville Mill Historic District. National Register of Historic Places designated place, known for its old mill.
- 3 Long Society Meetinghouse, 45 Long Society Road. A national historic place and one of the few surviving meetinghouses in Connecticut. It is on the National Register of Historic Places.
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- 4 Norwich State Hospital. Do not enter; view from a distance while driving in from Norwich. Old hospital complex listed on National Register of Historic Places, famous for its Gothic and Colonial revival architecture. Allegedly haunted. Local police are stationed nearby to catch anyone sneaking in. The plan is to demolish all but the old administrative building.
- 5 Poquetanuck. National Register of Historic Places designated place known for its 18th and 19th century buildings.
- 6 Preston City. National Register of Historic Places designated place known for architecture.
- 7 Preston City Bible Church, 293 Route 164, ☏ +1 860 889 6529. Historic church in the Preston City Historical District, part of its National Register of Historic Places designation.
- Spotty the Rock Dog. Painted rock on the side of the road. A popular piece of local culture.
- Wicked Tulips, 382 Route 164. Flower farm, only operational in the Spring. Requires a ticket.
Do
edit- Preston Community Park, 10 Lincoln Park Road Ext. Public park. Has a playground, baseball fields, a gazebo, and a short hiking trail. Often hosts local events, such as farmers markets.
- Tri Town Trail, 10 Lincoln Park Rd Ext.
Buy
edit- Lu-Mac's Plaza, 352 Route 2. Holds a package store (local term for a liquor store), a place to buy lottery tickets, and a post office.
- Preston Trading Post, 651 Route 165, ☏ +1 860 886 1484, tech@prestontradingpost.com. A local store focused on wood stoves, grills, and traditional furniture.
- LoPresti Farm, 5 Hollowell Rd, ☏ +1 860 887 5292, paul@loprestifarm.com. A farm that sells local produce.
- Sweetgrass Creamery, 51 Mattern Road, ☏ +1 860 887 8098. Local farm that creates its own dairy products, including milk, yogurt, ice cream, and cheese. Also sells locally produced goods from other farms, such as beef and honey.
Eat
edit- Jimmies (Jimmies Ice Cream Shoppe), ☏ +1 860 237 2777. Open Fridays and some holidays. Ice cream parlor and restaraunt. They operate at the Preston Ridge Vineyard while their new building is under construction.
- Village Pizza, 353 Route 165, ☏ +1 860 887 1930. Local pizza restaraunt with a full bar. Holds weekly events like karaoke and trivia.
Drink
edit- Preston Ridge Vineyard, 100 Miller Rd, ☏ +1 860 383 4278. Vineyard that has a tasting room and store. Also hosts weddings, food trucks, and live music.
Sleep
edit- Amos Lake Campground, 53 Hollowell Road Preston, ☏ +1 860 889 6205, Amoslakecamp@comcast.net. A campground on Amos Lake. Requires private membership.
- 1 Captain Grant's Inn, 109 Route 2A, Poquetanuck Village, ☏ +1 860 303 8748, stay@captaingrants.com. A historic house dating back to 1754. It is situated in the historic district of Poquetanuck. It has a reputation for being haunted and multiple ghost hunting shows have filmed there. Adding to the haunted legend is an on-site cemetery.
- Hilton Garden Inn, 5 Watson Road, ☏ +1 860 885 1000. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. A budget Hilton hotel located near Foxwoods.
- 2 Strawberry Park, 42 Pierce Road, ☏ +1 860 886 1955. A 160-acre campground with RV sites and cabins
Connect
edit- Preston Public Library, 389 Route 2, ☏ +1 860 886 1010, 389prestonreads@gmail.com. A small, comfortable library that has information on local sites.
Cope
edit- Islamic Center of Preston, 128 CT-2. Only mosque in town. One of few mosques in the region.
- 1 Preston City Congregational Church. Historic Congregationalist church.
- 2 St. Catherine of Siena. Only Catholic church in town.
- 3 St. James Episcopal Church. Only Episcopal church in town. Part of Poquetanuck historical district.
Go next
edit- Neighboring Ledyard hosts Foxwoods, a prominent casino
- Neighboring Montville hosts Mohegan Sun, another casino
- Mystic is nearby and has many historical attraction
- Neighboring Norwich is a larger city with more nightlife options