The Mansion at Bald Hill sits on 45 acres site 20 ft from linemaster switch corporation... The…read morefactory next door makes switches for sewing machines and has dumped thinners chemicals paints and metals into the soil creating a 45 acre EPA Superfund hazardous clean up site... The well and Wells are budding the property have been affected by the toxicity of the dumpings.. today they have not been removed and remained on a site which is now used to host weddings and functions... I am shocked that this is not disclosed to every person that uses this facility... This is why they give you bottled water when you're there.. because they're on well is tainted.. if you don't believe me check out the federal website for EPA hazardous website in Woodstock Connecticut and see for yourself.. https://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/SiteProfiles/index.cfm?fuseaction=second.redevelop&id=0100041#:~:text=The%2045%2Dacre%20Linemaster%20Switch,use%20chemicals%2C%20paint%20and%20thinners.

There is no doubt The Mansion at Bald Hill is a stunning venue to host an outdoor wedding. The…read moregrounds are maintained beautifully, and the gardens are green and lush. We loved the dramatic ceremony aisle, and the cocktail hour patio space was perfect. The ballroom can truly be transformed into something magical and memorable. Though the venue itself was overall perfect, we did not have a good experience with their so called "day of coordinator" (DOC). There was an extreme lack of communication and professionalism experienced during the rehearsal and wedding day with the DOC. As a Type A bride, I planned every last detail to a T and even provided a fool proof binder of my expectations for decor setup and wedding day flow. On the night of our rehearsal...the day before the wedding, we were informed that the DOC and her staff would not be assisting in the setting up of any of our wedding décor. The only portion of the setup they handle are the tables w/ linens (if you choose to use theirs) and the ceremony chairs. This was not discussed or disclosed to us when booking the venue and had it been, we would have hired an actual coordinator. Due to this, one of my bridesmaids and the significant others of the bridal party had to set up everything the morning of the wedding. Due to the lack of eye for detail and overall care from the mansion's DOC, she did not read the binder we provided her with which in turn also caused our ceremony to be mismanaged. She told the groom and bridal party to start walking before the officiant even began reading the opening remarks resulting in our officiant having to skip over the whole beginning of our ceremony script. We would have been better off without her "help" and "services" altogether as several of our other vendors also commented to us about her rudeness towards them. We also want to share our experience regarding their "open bar" pricing. Due to specific wording in the contract, we were charged an additional (quite significant) amount of money for alcohol consumed. You are not paying for an open bar here but rather by consumption so please be sure you understand your contract fully to avoid this unnecessary additional stress. Overall, we feel the venue itself made our wedding perfect, but we are giving only three stars due to the DOC's behavior, lack of care for the bride and groom and subpar services provided. If you fall in love with the grounds like we did and choose to book your wedding here, the major takeaway we have from our experience would be to hire your own coordinator. You will need someone who always has the bride and groom's needs at the forefront of their mind and someone who truly knows and cares about executing your vision. Your wedding day should be stress-free and that will not happen here without an outside coordinator.

Overall nice place! Unfortunately, the woman working at the front was a smoker and it lingered in…read morepublic spaces as well as our private room. We smelled it immediately upon walking in to the otherwise charming inn. We had an issue with our television and when she came to our room to assist, although we were very grateful, the cigarette smell was overpowering. We had to leave the windows open on a cold afternoon to clear it. That said, the beds were comfortable and the room was clean. We weren't able to enjoy the breakfast because we had to be somewhere earlier than the start time for breakfast would allow. We would likely come again if in the area.

We recently spent two nights at the Inn and loved every moment. Our room was beautiful with a four…read moreposter bed that hugged us as we slept. The fireplace was cozy, especially since it was fall and the evenings a bit chilly. The bathroom was comfortable and the water pressure in the shower excellent. Our room overlooked the gardens and it was quiet and peaceful. The perfect two night stay. Breakfast each morning was more of a continental style breakfast which was plenty but Nok will happily cook eggs and bacon for those wanting a heartier breakfast. The restaurant was not open for guests, just special parties. We highly recommend the Inn and would love to go back.

For all brides looking to get married somewhere unique and special in CT look no further than…read moreTyrone Farm. It's privately owed and has been in the MacLaren family for generations. It also has the personal touch so many outdoor venues are lacking in this popular stretch of wedding country. Ian is the sort of person you feel like you could be friends with and is so eager to make your day personal and special, from getting the right balance and setting for the event to recommending a wealth of local vendors to work with for your wedding day (caterers, hair and make up, transportation, etc). They only do one wedding at the farm a day and in quieter months sometimes only a weekend a weekend. An added bonus is that there is a guest cottage onsite (additional cost) which can sleep up to 10+ people so it's the ideal destination spot, especially if you're looking to host the bridal party or an extended family. The best part about Tyrone Farm is that everything is taken care - you don't need to worry about renting chairs, or tents, everything from a furniture and fixture perspective is included in the price (there is an additional fee if you want to host your ceremony here which I'd highly advise). Tyrone Farm is highly eco-friendly from the solar panel field to the water system in the cottage. Even if you're not an green geek it's nice to know your special day isn't causing unnecessary harm to the environment. Our wedding is on August 6 - I'll post an updated review then but in the meantime if you're recently engaged, looking for a venue in CT and want something unique, outdoors and truly special check out Tyrone Farm.

Stunning views! I attended a wedding here recently and absolutely loved the rustic venue and…read morefabulous scenery. From the very "New England country" reception barn to the cottage, 170 bucolic acres and wonderful staff, it was an excellent place to witness the nuptials of two close friends. I'd happily attend another event here!

The food was great. Portions generous. Recommend!perfect for a couple to have a dinner date. The…read morewait staff attentive to serving the meal and requests.

Anya is one of those restaurants that absolutely looks like a five‑star experience the moment you…read morewalk in. The space is gorgeous, the vibe is elevated without being stuffy, and on most nights the service really shines. It's the kind of place you want to love. But our Easter brunch left me feeling more "hmm" than "wow." We opted for the 7‑course holiday tasting, which sounded festive and ambitious, but the execution didn't quite match the promise. Courses arrived beautifully plated, but several felt more conceptual than flavorful, and the pacing never fully found its rhythm. For the price point and the occasion, I was hoping for a bit more sparkle -- something that made the meal feel truly celebratory, as well as plentiful. The kids' options were another miss. While I appreciate that Anya aims for an elevated dining experience, the selections didn't feel particularly kid‑friendly. When you're trying to keep little ones happy through a long, multi‑course brunch, having approachable, familiar choices goes a long way. Here, the offerings felt more like scaled‑down adult dishes than something designed with kids in mind. That said, the staff was warm, the atmosphere was lovely, and there were moments where the meal hinted at what Anya does best. There's clearly talent in the kitchen and pride in the presentation -- it just didn't fully land this time. Overall, a beautiful spot with potential for a standout holiday experience, but our Easter brunch fell somewhere in the middle. Cheers

My whole family were invited to a wedding at Lord Thompson Manor on New Year's Eve. What a blast!…read moreUpon arrival Lord Thompson Manor is a beautiful mansion with awesome grounds nicely decorated for the holidays inside and out. The wedding ceremony was here and after we toasted the bride and groom. The staff made sure all the guests had champagne for the toasting. For cocktail hour many hors d'oeuvres were passed around plus several tables of food you would expect at a high end catering venue. We enjoyed everything from steak to vegetables to many to name. The service was excellent. There were many staff walking around to either pass out hors d'oeuvres or clean up after us. I've never seen so many staff at a wedding venue doing this. This was over the top. For diner there were several rooms with 3 or 4 table each. We even had personalized menus with our names on them at our table. Never seen this. What a nice touch. For dinner we started with a nice salad with lettuce, nuts, and cheese. The only choice for the main course was Filet Mignon. I enjoyed it but not everyone likes meat. There were no other option. That was strange, not sure why they did that. Before dessert we were back on the dance floor. DJ was great. The were 2 bars and the bartenders were on top of their game all night. For me since it was New Year's Eve I drank Champagne all night. Luckily we had a shuttle to us back to the hotel we were staying at. No driving for me. Dessert of course was wedding cake and a bunch of other fine delicious items, ice cream, brie with pecans in a sweet sauce, and others. At this point I stopped looking because I was stuffed. We toasted at midnight with more champagne. Then came the after party. I can't say enough for Lord Thompson Manor, the decor was beautiful, staff were amazing, efficient, polite and there were many staff personnel to assist. We all had a great time.

Amazing venue. The staff is the best. The food is fantastic. I could not recommend more. If you are…read morein Ted's hands you are in good hands.

Cute little winery we visited with some friends on the way back from the Woodstock fair. Seating…read morewas limited but the grounds were perfect to walk. Great tasting wine and slushies Don't be fooled by what appears to be a hawk and bird fighting. It's a tactic to keep predators off the grapes

Service was quick, staff was friendly, great conversation and recommendations, and the live music…read morewas great. Went to celebrate a friends birthday and we had a wonderful time! my friend even tried some of the food and enjoyed the apps. And the wine was great!!! 10/10 spot

We hosted a party here on Oct 13, 2019. We booked our engagement party on short notice (about 5…read moreweeks before) and Kaitlyn was so easy to work with from the start. We fell in love with her, the house, everything including the murder-by-mail story behind the house from the 1800s. About 2 weeks before the party we called Kaitlyn and told her it was going to turn into our surprise wedding! She continued to be so helpful and excited, giving recommendations for all kinds of vendors we'd need. The day of the party she was professional and hands-on, making sure everything got done on a quick timeline. She calmed nerves and had great suggestions on where things should go to make sure everything flowed just right. Our rental price included some tables and linens she had available, and some glassware too. It was so perfect from the start and we couldn't be happier!!

Came for an Open Doors RI tour. Online tickets were sold out but they were able to accommodate a…read morebunch of us at the door. Beautiful historic building who's tour guides added in a true life murder mystery of the lady of the houses death. This really added to the event as it was so my scene and absolutely fun. They also had a whiskey tasting since she was poisoned with whiskey which is ironically amazing. I would def host an event here because unlike the Newport mansions I could touch things and see things in the midst of being historically preserved since they're still restoring the house. Open Doors RI has found a new regular customer :)

The service is wonderful. If you need suggestions the bartenders will give them. The property is…read moreabsolutely beautiful with a lot to see. Rolling hills, hiking trails and a small viewing pond. Their beer is delicious but my only gripe is it's not ICE cold. On a 90 degree day, I want my beer cold and refreshing.

Bloomsday cheese, crackers and Woodstock daze drinks. With fantastic views and water fountain!read more

"For of all sad words of tongue or pen, The saddest are…read morethese: "It might have been!" (Maud Miller by John Greenleaf Whittier) While not necessarily sad, this is the only marker I have seen that commemorates something that "might have been". It summarizes the early settlement and history of Woodstock, including the questionable statement that Thomas Hooker's party "might" have passed through the area in 1636 on their way to settling Hartford. The marker talks about peaceful encounters with the local Indians, and how the Indians left when King Philip's War erupted, paving the way for 13 settlers to establish the town that became known as Woodstock. The marker is chock full of information including the names of all 13 of the first settlers. The marker is located on the Norwich Worcester Turnpike (Rt. 169), just across the street from Roseland Cottage. It's a two-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission, with the familiar white lettering on a blue background. The marker dates to 1980 and is in very good condition. The full inscription reads: Near this place, in 1636, Thomas Hooker and his party may have passed by way of the Connecticut Path, going to settle what is now Hartford. In 1674 John Eliot, Apostel to the Indians, Pastor of the First Church in Roxbury, Massachusetts Bay Colony, and Major Daniel Gookin visited a peaceful encampment of Wabbaquassets living in the vicinity of present-day Woodstock to preach from nearby Eliot Rock, and sought to establish their church among the natives of these lands. King Philip's War broke out in 1675, during which the Wabbaquassets deserted the area. The site was chosen as a place of settlement, and here on April 5, 1686, from Roxbury came Peter Aspinwall John Gore Thomas Bacon Benjamin Griggs Henry Bowen George Griggs Matthew Davis John Marcy John Frizzel Ebenezer Morris Nathaniel Gray Benjamin Sabin Jonathan Smithers known as the Thirteen Goers to found the Town of New Roxbury, the first European settlement in the area that became Windham County. (Continued from other side) Given the name "Woodstock" by Judge Samuel Sewall in 1690 "...because of its nearness to Oxford, for the sake of Queen Elizabeth..." the Town remained a part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony until 1749, when it seceded in favor of becoming a part of the Connecticut Colony. From these hills went Captain, later General, Samuel McClellan following the alarums sounded from Lexington and Concord in 1775, together with 184 men, who responded in a greater number than from any other town in the Colony. Born here were Jedediah Morse, the "father of American geography," and Henry C. Bowen, founder of the INDEPENDENT, a pre-Civil War anti-slavery newspaper; builder of Roseland Cottage; benefactor of Woodstock Academy, founded in 1801; and donor of Roseland Park. The many small rural industries of 19th century Woodstock are now represented by the making of electrical components and plastics in a community mainly agricultural and residential. Erected by the Town of Woodstock the Woodstock Historical Society and the Connecticut Historical Commission 1980