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Orange, Connecticut: PEZ Candy's North American Home

Orange, Connecticut

Pictures from Orange

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PEZ Visitor Center Orange Congregational Church Stone-Otis House

Orange was farmed as part of Milford — the area known as "Bryan's Farms" — before residents separated and incorporated their own town in 1822. The name honors King William III of England, who was Prince of Orange from birth. Orange was once much larger: West Haven separated from Orange and became its own city in 1921. During the Cold War, Orange hosted a Nike missile site defending Greater New Haven; the property is now home to the 103rd Air Control Squadron of the Connecticut Air National Guard, one of the oldest units of its kind. Rail once ran through town on the New Haven and Derby Railroad, whose passenger trains operated from 1871 until 1925. Today Orange is the North American home of PEZ Candy, whose plant and visitor center sit on Prindle Hill Road and are the town's best-known industry.

  1. The largest collection of PEZ memorabilia on public display in the world.

  2. Orange Historical Society's home in the 1878 Academy building.

  3. A 1740 residence, the oldest of the historical society's properties.

  4. An 1830s restored homestead in the Orange Center Historic District.

  5. Orange's signature agricultural fair, held each September.

  6. A five-generation family farm with a working farm store.

  7. Italian-American cooking on Boston Post Road since the 2000s.

  8. Nashville-style hot chicken, part of a growing Connecticut chain.

  9. A breakfast-and-diner institution known for oversized pancakes.

  10. The full-service hotel inside Orange town limits.

A colonial green and a candy landmark

The Orange Center Historic District preserves the town's colonial core, including the 1810 Congregational Church designed by noted Connecticut architect David Hoadley, plus the Stone-Otis House and the 1878 Academy building. The Orange Historical Society, founded in 1964, stewards three properties: the 1740 Bryan-Andrew House, the 1830s Stone-Otis House, and the 1878 Academy, which also houses the Mary Rebecca Woodruff Research Center. The PEZ Visitor Center at 35 Prindle Hill Road holds the largest collection of PEZ memorabilia on public display in the world, including the world's largest PEZ dispenser, with viewing windows onto the candy production floor.

Getting there

Orange is a drive-to town on the New Haven shoreline: come in on Interstate 95 or U.S. Route 1 (Boston Post Road) from the coast, or the Route 15 Wilbur Cross Parkway from inland. Orange has no passenger rail station of its own — a Metro-North "Orange" station has been proposed since 2017 but funding was halted that November, and it remains unbuilt. The nearest in-service Metro-North New Haven Line stops are Milford to the south and West Haven to the east, both requiring a car or rideshare to finish the trip into Orange.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get to Orange?
By car on I-95, U.S. Route 1 or the Wilbur Cross Parkway (Route 15). Orange has no train station; the nearest Metro-North New Haven Line stops are Milford and West Haven.
What can I see at the PEZ Visitor Center?
The largest collection of PEZ memorabilia on public display in the world, including the world's largest PEZ dispenser, at 35 Prindle Hill Road. Hours 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily; admission $5 adults, $4 children 3-12 and seniors 60+, free under 3.
Is Orange, Connecticut the same as Orange, New Jersey?
No — this is Orange, Connecticut, in New Haven County on the shoreline near Milford and West Haven, unrelated to the New Jersey or California towns of the same name.
Is there a hotel in Orange?
Yes — the Courtyard by Marriott at 136 Marsh Hill Road is the one full-service hotel inside Orange town limits. Travelers wanting more choice should look to neighboring Milford, West Haven and New Haven.

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