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Wolcott, Connecticut: Farmingbury's Hilltop Reservoirs

Wolcott, Connecticut

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Woodtick Recreation Area beach Peterson Park

Wolcott was settled by English colonists as early as the 1730s, in territory known as Farmingbury, a name drawn from its parent communities of Farmington and Waterbury. The town incorporated in 1796, separating from land that had belonged to Waterbury and Farmington; the eastern portion had by then come under Southington, itself split from Farmington in 1779, so sources differ on the parent towns. It takes its name from Oliver Wolcott, who cast the tie-breaking vote for its incorporation while serving as Connecticut's lieutenant governor. Sitting on high ground at the northern tip of New Haven County, Wolcott lacked the rivers needed to power early industry, so it remained rural into the 20th century, functioning mainly as a crossroads before becoming a suburban residential town. Clockmaker Seth Thomas was born in Wolcott in 1785, and progressive educator Amos Bronson Alcott, father of "Little Women" author Louisa May Alcott, was born here in 1799.

  1. 65+ acres of trails, courts and a skate park.

  2. A 1917 reservoir built to supply water for Waterbury brass mills.

  3. A 3.5-mile loop around Scovill Reservoir, mostly ADA-compliant.

  4. A carry-in-only reservoir on former Tunxis hunting ground.

  5. A 9-hole public course atop Southington Mountain.

  6. Family-owned since 2014, known for handcrafted soups.

  7. Hand-cut steaks and live music on Route 322.

  8. A combined ice cream shop and deli.

  9. Italian-American cooking at Farmingbury Hills Golf Course.

Reservoirs built for Waterbury's brass mills

Waterbury's brass industry reshaped Wolcott's landscape: the Woodtick (Scovill) Reservoir was built in 1917 by the Scovill Manufacturing Company to supply water for brass production, and Chestnut Hill Reservoir — once called Lyman's Pond, on land that was Tunxis hunting ground and swampland known as Ash Swamp — was built to regulate flow to the Waterbury mills. Peterson Park, over 65 acres, is the starting point of the 35-mile Mattatuck Trail, which runs north to meet the Appalachian Trail; the Mill Pond Way Walking Trail loops 3.5 miles around Scovill Reservoir past old stone walls and foundations from earlier settlement. Farmingbury Hills Golf Course, a 9-hole public course atop Southington Mountain, offers views over Apple Valley and the Meriden and Avon mountains.

Getting there

Wolcott is a car-first hill town with no rail station of its own: drive in on Route 69 (north-south) or Route 322 (east-west), both reached from Interstate 84 — Route 69 (signed for Wolcott/Prospect) at Exit 33B (formerly Exit 23, eastbound access only) and Route 322 (signed Marion/Milldale/Wolcott) at Exit 40B (formerly Exit 28). Connecticut renumbered I-84 exits to mileage-based numbers in mid-2026, so older directions and GPS entries may still cite the old numbers. Treat Waterbury, directly next door, as the nearest passenger-rail point, on Metro-North's Waterbury Branch — though Branch trains are replaced by buses from July 20, 2026 through May 31, 2027 for station reconstruction.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get to Wolcott?
By car on Route 69 or Route 322, reached from Interstate 84 — Route 69 at Exit 33B (formerly Exit 23) and Route 322 at Exit 40B (formerly Exit 28); Connecticut renumbered I-84 exits in mid-2026. Wolcott has no rail station; the nearest is Waterbury, directly next door, on Metro-North's Waterbury Branch — though Branch trains are replaced by buses from July 20, 2026 through May 31, 2027 for station reconstruction.
Why is Wolcott called that?
For Oliver Wolcott, who cast the tie-breaking vote for the town's incorporation in 1796 while serving as Connecticut's lieutenant governor. The area was earlier known as Farmingbury, for its parent towns of Farmington and Waterbury.
Can I swim at Wolcott's reservoirs?
The town-run Woodtick Recreation Center beach has been posted closed for swimming in recent seasons, with no reopening date confirmed. Chestnut Hill Reservoir and Woodtick (Scovill) Reservoir both allow carry-in boating — electric motors only at Woodtick, no motors of any kind at Chestnut Hill.
Is there a hotel in Wolcott?
No hotel, inn, motel or B&B could be verified as operating inside Wolcott. The nearest overnight option is the campground at Black Rock State Park in Watertown.

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