Seaport Real Estate Group Blog

I am pleased to have the honor of introducing you to, Lincoln Lake Lodge located at 5 Levy Road in Colchester, CT. Located just .4 miles from exit 18 off Route 2. The Lodge is positioned in an R-60 rural residential District zone. In specific, the property is legally acknowledged as a nonconforming commercial multiuse facility that has been in continuous operation since the Davis Family took ownership in 1958.

Mr. and Mrs. Davis renamed the resort Lincoln Lake Lodge. A professional saxophone player in his youth, Mr. Davis developed The Lodge into a successful music venue where many stars performed.  The Lodge has hosted over 100 large events with 1000 or more attendees and more than 3000 smaller gatherings over the last 50 years. Attendance has range from a 10 person family picnic to nearly 5000 fans listening to headline performers such as “Kool in the Gang”, “Eddie Kendricks of The Temptations”, and “Curtis Mayfield” to name a notable few. It is said that even the legendary singer Frank Sinatra graced the stage one weekend in the late 1940’s, but we haven’t confirmed his appearance in writing. However the tradition continued in recent years with our stages being graced with Freddie McGregor in 2010, and a 2011 entertainment lineup including Coco Tea, Sanchez, Mikey Spice, Beres Hammond, Etana, Wayne Wonder and Anthony B.

The Lodge holds 120 acres, including a 12 acre pond, 6 acres of lawns & areas for a variety of functions, 20,000 ft.² of indoor space and nearly 250,000 square feet of off street parking. Approximately 100 of the 120 acres are tree covered hills, water, meadows and other pristine natural features. The vast wooded areas and slopes offer a scenic country appeal, yet conveniently act as a natural noise buffer maintaining privacy between the facilities and ever increasing development which surrounds them.

HISTORY:

The following brief history will tell you about the history and also give you insights on the Davis family’s involvement in the community. It is always been their goal to work together for the betterment of Colchester, its residents and the region in which they live.

In 1958, the property was purchased by Lincoln Davis, Sr. and Geraldine White Davis, who moved there with their 15 children. You might remember a few of them if you attended Bacon Academy between 1960 and 1986 - Clinton, Anitah, Lincoln, Earl, Mike, Mitch,Abe, Addie, Herb, Amy, Nick, Makeba, Althea, Ahmad, and April (and later, grandchildren Tonya, Dawn and Nicholas). Through their experiences and relationships, they remain linked to the social and historical fabric of this wonderful town.

Their mission has been to promote and sustain a rich quality of life within the framework of a supportive community.  To have a facility where healthy living and social tolerance become tradition, where valuing and respecting every person is a high priority, and working cooperatively for the betterment of the entire community is the ultimate goal.

For more than 50 years, this property under the ownership of the DAVIS Family and in the tradition of its previous owners has hosted a multitude of events for its members, as well as the general public. “The Lodge”, as we fondly call our facility, has a vibrant history of hosting significant civic and entertainment events dating back to the early 1900s. This grand legacy puts us in a rare class of Colchester businesses which have been in operation for more than a century.

Originally the Grand View Hotel, the facility became famous during the height of the “Resort Era” of the early 1900’s. It is a fact that there were so many resorts sprinkled throughout the towns surrounding Colchester, the region was dubbed “the Catskills of Connecticut”. Now and unfortunately, The Lodge is one of the last remaining resort facilities from that wonderful family oriented era.

Over the decades they have received overwhelming positive feedback from the Community and visitors about their facility and its inviting atmosphere. Many Colchester residents go out of their way to share their favorite story about the Lodge and their experiences with the family. For nearly two decades, the Davis Family have provided the lodge as the venue for the Colchester summer camp. I must mention the numerous Colchester, Connecticut and New England residents who were married at the Lodge over the past 100 years.

Until 2000, they operated a bed-and-breakfast that was supported by the historic guest cottages (70 guest rooms in five buildings), a kitchen, and family style dining which provided a tranquil home away from home experience for guests. The activities enjoyed here are dancing, listening to music, basketball, volleyball and just about any other outdoor recreation activities people can imagine. Picnics, club meetings, reunions, weddings, receptions and other social events like these have been the most commonly hosted gatherings at our facility. The property’s features include a small lake (originally created for a grist mill), a sandy beach, gentle streams, numerous picnic areas, walking trails, a basketball court, a Five Acre large activities Field, two outdoor stages, parking and much more.

VISION:

The grand vision for the lodge is to become the region’s epicenter of social and entertainment activity. Given its close proximity to Colchester’s town center, ease of access to major roads, adaptable topography, readily accessible water and sewer hookups, and its sheer size make the Lodge ideally suited for multi-functional development. It is worth mentioning that Colchester is also centrally located with just a two hour drive from the Major population centers of Boston, New York City, & Providence.

In December 2011, the Davis Family had plans to develop the Lodge in the following ways:

1. Partner with an Assisted Living Operator to established a facility to service 150 to 200 residents
2. Continue hosting Small and Large entertainment events
3. Develop the lake’s potential as a natural sustainable resource and place of recreation
4. Promote and Increase daily use of the water, trails and grounds by individuals and groups
5. Complete plans & begin soliciting investors to construct a 3000 to 4000 seat Convention Center  
6. Complete plans & begin soliciting investors to construct Hotel & Spa
7. Continue refinement of walking, jogging and hiking trails throughout property
8. Partner with regional businesses to run satellites of their shops or eateries on our property
9. Continue to develop the outdoor & indoor venues to host weddings & other social events
10. Promote the use of The Lodge with Civic , senior and youth groups for their activities

The town of Colchester and the region is lacking in modern, well-appointed facilities of the type mentioned above and this has been repeated by scores of residents and groups over the years.  Local governments no longer have the funds or mandate to build such facilities any longer and the responsibility must be shoulder by the private sector.  They have held numerous meetings with local officials letting them know that commercial development of this type is welcomed, encouraged and supported.

The Lodge is a property that is primed for development, while being located in a region that is clamoring for a multifaceted social and entertainment venue that brings people together by offering them the varied services they need and want. 

Click Here to view the Lincoln Lake Lodge Marketing Packet

Click Here to view the Website for this property.

Written by Herb Davis, President of Lincoln Lake Lodge, Inc. & Modified by Tim Bray

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