Sunapee has changed a lot in the last 250 years.
Bustling mills have come and gone. Railroads and grand hotels that once made the area a popular tourist destination have long since vanished.
Even the town’s name changed a handful of times before the state finally settled on “Sunapee” in 1850.
But there has been at least one constant.
Lake Sunapee, which translates to “Lake of the Wild Goose” in native Algonquian, and its surrounding features, continue to draw both vacationers and business to the quiet Sullivan County town. Whether it’s a lakeside restaurant, nearby shopping or one of the many outdoor activities one can enjoy, the town still benefits from the lake that shares its name.
“Lake Sunapee, the rivers and the mountain – the actual physical geography of the area – are vital to the community,” said Sunapee Town Manager Donna Nashawaty. “As long as those assets continue to be protected and preserved in the future, people will always choose to settle in Sunapee.”
One of three towns including Newbury and New London that surround the lake, Sunapee will celebrate its sestercentennial this summer, with a weekend of festivities slated for Aug. 17 to 19. Scheduled events include fireworks, an antique boat show, a time capsule dedication and an Aerosmith memorabilia exhibit and tribute concert (after all, front man Steven Tyler did meet guitarist Joe Perry at the Anchorage restaurant in the summer of 1966).
Like many who visit or choose to call Sunapee home today, the lake and its surrounding features were likely the primary reason its founders set up shop in the area in the mid 18th century, Nashawaty said. Mills, fueled by powerful creeks and streams, generated the power necessary to build a community, and by the middle part of the 19th century, railroads made it possible for those from as far as Boston to visit the picturesque region.
Early tourists stayed in grand hotels located in both Sunapee and Georges Mills harbors, and enjoyed steamboat rides and other activities out on the water.
And while those hotels and steamboats may be long gone, visitors can still get a taste of those times with a cruise aboard one of two replica steamboats located in Sunapee harbor.
The MV Mt. Sunapee II offers daily narrated tours of the state’s sixth largest lake where customers can learn about its three antique lighthouses and other tidbits, while the MV Kearsarge restaurant ship sails nightly and includes a full buffet dinner and breathtaking sunset views.
“Environmentally, the waters are among the cleanest and the forests and woods are pristine and provide for nature lovers, sports enthusiasts and wildlife,” said Sunapee Sestercentennial Committee member Steven Marshall. “The lake is very well cared for and we take great strides to make sure our town is clean, safe and welcoming.”
The following pages provide further information on Sunapee and neighboring towns, as well as a compilation of places and activities to be sure to check out.