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Old Saybrook, Connecticut: The Colony at the River's Mouth

Old Saybrook, Connecticut

Pictures from Old Saybrook

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Saybrook Breakwater Light Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center Fort Saybrook Monument Park

Old Saybrook is one of Connecticut's oldest settlements: after the English secured the Warwick Patent, John Winthrop Jr. was commissioned governor and Fort Saybrook rose at the mouth of the Connecticut River in 1636, part of a colony founded in 1635. Saybrook operated independently until 1644, when it joined the Connecticut Colony; its name combines the titles of two English patent holders, Lord Saye and Sele and Lord Brooke. The town was also the original home of Yale College, established there as the Collegiate School in 1701 before the school moved to New Haven. The modern town of Old Saybrook incorporated in 1854 and today includes the borough of Fenwick, on Long Island Sound at the river's mouth. Notable residents have included author Ann Petry and submarine inventor David Bushnell; actress Katharine Hepburn lived in Fenwick and is honored at the town's Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, opened in 2009 in the former town hall.

  1. A performing-arts venue and free Hepburn museum in the former town hall.

  2. The Historical Society's house museum with heritage gardens.

  3. A 17-acre town park commemorating the 1635 Saybrook Colony.

  4. A lifeguarded town beach on Long Island Sound, seasonal.

  5. A well-regarded raw bar and seafood restaurant on Main Street.

  6. A two-story English-style pub, open daily.

  7. Waterfront dining at Saybrook Point Resort.

  8. A roaster-cafe next to the train station.

  9. A full-service waterfront resort with a spa and marina.

The colony at the river's mouth

Old Saybrook is one of Connecticut's oldest settlements: after the English secured the Warwick Patent, John Winthrop Jr. was commissioned governor and Fort Saybrook rose at the mouth of the Connecticut River in 1636, part of a colony founded in 1635. Saybrook operated independently until 1644, when it joined the Connecticut Colony; its name combines the titles of two English patent holders, Lord Saye and Sele and Lord Brooke. Old Saybrook was also the original home of Yale College, established there as the Collegiate School in 1701 before the school moved to New Haven in 1716. The modern town incorporated in 1854 and today includes the borough of Fenwick. Notable residents have included bestselling author Ann Petry, Revolutionary-era submarine inventor David Bushnell, and actress Katharine Hepburn, who lived in Fenwick and is honored at the town's Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, opened in 2009 in the former town hall.

Getting there

Drivers reach Old Saybrook via I-95, which runs across the town west to east, or via Route 9, whose southern terminus meets I-95 in town after running down the Connecticut River valley from Hartford. By rail, Old Saybrook station (455 Boston Post Road) is served by most Amtrak Northeast Regional trains and by all Shore Line East commuter trains between New Haven Union Station and New London — Acela does not stop here; transfer at New Haven.

The Kate, the fort, and the shore

The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center (The Kate), at 300 Main Street, hosts a full performance season and a free museum of Hepburn letters, photos, costumes, and memorabilia. The General William Hart House, run by the Old Saybrook Historical Society, offers a house museum, heritage gardens, and free summer garden concerts. Fort Saybrook Monument Park, a 17-acre town park at Saybrook Point, commemorates the 1635 Saybrook Colony with interpretive storyboards and river-mouth views, and Harvey's Beach offers a lifeguarded, white-sand town beach on Long Island Sound each summer. For dining, Liv's Oyster Bar and Penny Lane Pub anchor Main Street, and Fresh Salt serves waterfront tables at Saybrook Point Resort & Marina, the town's full-service hotel option with a spa and marina.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get to Old Saybrook?
Drivers use I-95, which crosses the town, or Route 9, whose southern terminus is here. Old Saybrook station (455 Boston Post Road) has most Amtrak Northeast Regional trains and all Shore Line East trains between New Haven and New London; Acela does not stop here.
What is the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center?
Known locally as The Kate, it's a performing-arts venue and free museum at 300 Main Street honoring Katharine Hepburn, who lived in Old Saybrook's Fenwick borough. Housed in the former town hall, it opened in 2009.
Can I take the train from Old Saybrook to New York?
Yes — most Amtrak Northeast Regional trains stop at Old Saybrook station on their way along the Northeast Corridor. Acela does not serve the station; for Acela, transfer at New Haven.
What is Harvey's Beach?
A town-run white-sand beach on Long Island Sound with lifeguards, a playground, and a bath house. Open seasonally Memorial Day through Labor Day, 8 a.m. to dusk; parking is $20 weekdays and $30 weekends and holidays.
Where can I stay in Old Saybrook?
Saybrook Point Resort & Marina, at 2 Bridge Street, is the town's verified full-service hotel, with a spa, marina, year-round pools, and lodging across a main hotel, guesthouses, villas, and a lighthouse suite.
What is Fort Saybrook Monument Park?
A 17-acre town park at Saybrook Point commemorating the 1635 Saybrook Colony, with interpretive storyboards, a boardwalk, birdwatching, and views over the mouth of the Connecticut River. Open daily dawn to dusk, free admission.

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