Quechee Lakes Complex is Listed Among Top Communities By Where To Retire Magazine

By: Guy C. Denechaud

November 2007

Just in time for the approaching wave of retirees from the Baby Boom generation, Quechee Lakes has been honored by Where To Retire magazine by being included in their listing of "America's 100 Best Master Planned Communities."

Quechee Lakes was among just two other New England communities named in the listing and was the only property in Vermont to be in the top 100. A diverse community that includes residents of all ages, Quechee Lakes nonetheless was singled out as a particularly attractive destination by the seniors' publication.

Where To Retire magazine lists properties alphabetically rather than ranking them numerically within the top 100, and the current list is the fifth that has been printed. According to the magazine, the newest list shows continuing trend toward active retirement that is being chosen by a growing number of seniors who enjoy walking, biking, golfing, hiking, skiing, cultural attractions, and exercise programs.

The Quechee Lakes community includes an array of townhomes, single-family homes, and private home sites across its varied 5,200-acre terrain. The original plan for the Quechee Lakes residential development was approved and developed around 1969. The plan called mostly for seasonal homes that we built for people who spent most of the year in other regions, many of them in cities such as Boston, Hartford, and New York City. Roads and other infrastructure such as sewage treatment facilities were built along with the houses to accommodate the needs of the new residential community that was being created.

The Quechee Lakes development has two championship golf courses, a top-notch modern clubhouse, an indoor and outdoor pool, a fitness center, and tennis courts. There are hiking trails, ski slopes and opportunities for other outdoor recreational activities in scenic surroundings nearby. The unique natural feature of Quechee Gorge is minutes away, as is shopping and dining in picturesque historical villages such as Woodstock in Vermont and Hanover in New Hampshire.

On another front, Quechee Lakes began offering a concierge service to travelers in time for the fall travel season of 2007. The new Quechee Lakes Concierge Center offers complimentary travel planning services, helping both residents and visitors connect with many of the sights and events the Upper Valley region has to offer. Oleg Vyadro, managing director of inSegment, Inc., the exclusive sales and marketing agency for Quechee Lakes Development Company, comments , "The concierge service grew out of the need among customers visiting Quechee Lakes for a guide to the area's wealth of recreation, dining and cultural activities. The goal of the service is to open visitors' eyes to New England's' brightest hidden jewel as well as to raise the profile of local artists, businesses and organizations."

Elizabeth Rogers, the founding concierge and program manager at Quechee Lakes, is part of a team that has compiled a good deal of information on local attractions and draws upon that knowledge to help individuals, couples and groups plan their stays. With up-to-date information on local events that happen throughout the year, as well as strong contacts in the area business community, the concierge service has developed a list of their "top 10" picks for visitors to work into their itinerary as they stay in the Upper Valley.

Among attractions within a short distance of Quechee Lakes are the Simon Pearce glass blowing and pottery workshop, retail store, and restaurant; the Quechee Gorge itself; and the Vermont Institute of Natural Science. The Montshire Museum of Science in Norwich and the Billing's Farm in Woodstock are also high on the list.

"The Upper Valley is an amazing place with so much for everyone to do. Our complimentary concierge program connects residents and guests of Quechee Lakes with these opportunities so they can experience the area's rich heritage and vitality." Rogers says.

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