Rutland: Recreation

Sightseeing

Newly opened in 2004 and designed with site-sensitive structures by world renowned architect Peter Bohlin, the Vermont Institute of Natural Science's Nature Center in nearby Quechee won a 2005 Yankee Magazine Editor's Choice award in its annual Travel Guide to New England. Located next to one of New England's natural wonders, the Quechee Gorge, the Nature Center includes a state-of-the art Raptor Exhibit, displaying one of North America's finest collections of birds of prey, where visitors can come face to face with Snowy Owls, Peregrine Falcons, Red-tailed Hawks, Bald Eagles, and other birds of prey.

Rutland's restored Downtown Historic District contains many architecturally interesting buildings, some constructed of or embellished with local marble. Examples of these are the Opera House, the Gryphon Building, and Merchants Row. The Rutland Courthouse Historic District includes 85 residential, public, and religious buildings. Significant among these are the Italianate Revival-style County Courthouse, the U.S. Post Office, and the Queen Anne-style residences on South Main Street. Main Street Park, once the site of the courthouse jail, now teems with activity during the summer months. The Rutland Area Cultural Alliance offers guided tours of the historic downtown daily from July through mid-October.

The Vermont Marble Exhibit in Proctor attracts more than 100,000 visitors annually, who enjoy a view of the country's largest marble production center; also featured are a geological display, a sculptor-in-residence, a movie, and a gift shop. Near Proctor, Wilson Castle, a 32-room nineteenth century stone chateau on a 115-acre estate, is furnished with elaborate Oriental and European artifacts, stained glass, and wood paneling.

Rutland bills itself as "Heart of the Maple World," and many sugar houses in the area are open to visitors. The New England Maple Museum in nearby Pittsford houses one of the largest collections of antique maple sugaring artifacts in the world. Hathaway Farm in Rutland is locally famous for its massive and extremely challenging Corn Maze.

Arts and Culture

Rutland's Crossroads Arts Council presents performances including classical music, opera, dance, jazz, theater, and family events at a variety of locales throughout the area.

The Rutland Historical Society Museum, housed in the Old Nickwacket Fire House, interprets the history of the area through its collection of tools, clothing, artifacts, and photographs. The Chaffee Center for the Visual Arts, formerly a private home and now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, displays traditional and contemporary paintings, sculptures, crafts, and photographs, and hosts two art festivals annually. Moon Brook Arts Union Gallery in the Opera House showcases the works of area artists. Contemporary art can also be found at the Night Owl and Farrow galleries. The Norman Rockwell Museum displays more than 2,500 pictures as well as Rockwell memorabilia, covering more than 60 years of the artist's career.

Arts and Culture Information: Crossroads Arts Council, 5 Court Street, Rutland, VT 05701; telephone (802)775-5413

Festivals and Holidays

The Killington Music Festival holds a variety of different musical events during the ski resort's off-season. There is a Fireworks Extravaganza each July 4th on the Vermont State Fairgrounds. Thousands of visitors are attracted to Rutland in early September for the Vermont State Fair, featuring a rodeo, races and other contests, and a midway. The second week in October is peak foliage season in the area and many communities hold festivals and country fairs. For 15 years the city has celebrated a New Year's Eve First Night Rutland party with music, arts, magic, family fun, and fireworks at midnight.

Sports for the Participant

Rutland is perhaps best known to visitors for its proximity to outstanding ski resorts. Pico Peak, one of the country's few major ski areas dating back to World War II, is 9 miles east of the city; the Killington ski area is located 15 miles east and is arguably the northeast's best ski area, with 212 trails, 6 high-speed quad lifts, a new heated 8-seat lift, and the brand new K1 Gondola. Okemo Mountain in Ludlow has 112 trails. More than 56,000 acres of national forest and many state parks in the area offer year-round recreational opportunities of all kinds, and an 18-hole golf course is available at the Rutland Country Club. Rutland is situated just 10 miles from the Green Mountains National Forest. Long Trail, the south-north hiking route from Massachusetts to Canada which is part of the Appalachian Trail System, passes near there.

Shopping and Dining

The Downtown Rutland Partnership, a public private partnership for the revitalization of downtown Rutland, has created a master plan for the commercial heart of the region. Efforts completed include a complete renovation of the downtown plaza, new streetscaping, restoration of the Paramount Theater, increased office and commercial space and a renewed emphasis on the 19th century character of the main streets. Clusters of specialty shops are located throughout downtown Rutland. North and South Main streets feature many interesting and unusual stores, such as Creative Hands, offering the work of Vermont craftspeople, and Charles E. Tuttle Company of Rutland and Tokyo's Antiquarian Books, stocking one of the largest collections of used and rare books in New England as well as books on Oriental art. Rutland's two market towns, Oakham and Uppingham, are the main shopping centers. Nearby Stamford is also very popular and warrants a visit. Other major shopping areas include the Diamond Run Mall, a 450,000-square-foot facility whose anchor stores include K-Mart, Sears and JC Penney. Downtown's Rutland Shopping Plaza has a Price Chopper Superstore, Movieplex 9, Wal-Mart, and other shops.

The Rutland region offers a wide variety of shopping experiences. Of unique interest are the Haunted Mansion Book-shop in Cuttingsville, located across from an unusual cemetery and now filled with antiquarian books; a genuine general store, herb farm and retail shop; and several arts, crafts, and antique shops.

Rutland has attracted distinguished chefs who prepare sophisticated fare with French, Austrian, and Belgian accents. For those seeking something less formal, several area restaurants serve traditional New England fare in informal settings. The Rutland region also supports many country inns whose restaurants are open to the public. Of note is the Fair Haven Inn in nearby Fair Haven.

Visitor Information: Rutland Region Chamber of Commerce, 256 N. Main St., Rutland, VT 05701; telephone (802)773-2747; toll-free (800)756-8880; fax (802)773-2772; email info@rutlandvermont.com