Legends on the Farmington is a lodge that can be found on the edge of the Farmington River in the city of Barkhamsted, Connecticut. The lodge is open year-round and offers a total of six rooms, which occupy two of the three floors in the building. Due to the fact that Legends on the Farmington is within short walking distance from the Farmington River, fishing, especially fly fishing, are popular activities in which guests can take part. Additionally, patrons are able to hire one of several guides to go with them, whether that's to teach them the basics, or to show them local tips and tricks about the area.
The building that makes up Legends on the Farmington is three stories tall and comes equipped with several decks on the outside, with one of them being private to room six. Each room is equipped with a refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, cable, Wi-Fi, and a television. The rooms themselves vary a little, most notably, the size of space and beds. Most rooms have king-sized beds, while two of them, rooms one and three, have queen-sized beds. Each room has a private bathroom except for room one, which still has a bathroom of its own, but it is across the hall.
The owner reports that the most popular room among what is offered to guests tends to be room six. As mentioned previously, room six has a private deck, but it also has the largest space and is substantially more separate from the other rooms. For those who would like to plan a larger outing with friends or family, there is also the option of renting out the entire building to host events for holidays and special occasions.
Legends on the Farmington provides breakfast in the morning from 6:30 to 9:30 AM, made by the owners. In the past, they have served a number of dishes that include homemade granola, assorted loaves of bread, homemade sourdough bread, fresh fruit, yogurt, a variety of hot and cold cereals, and will often have a breakfast cake of the day, which changes each day of the week.
One of the most notable things about the property is its location and what can be found next to it. Farmington River is a popular fishing spot for locals and outsiders alike. The river runs behind the property in the backyard and is known for having a number of different kinds of trout varying in size. The river is also a good location for guests to kayak, tube, or simply float down the river if they would like. The property also has several micro-gardens where they grow their own vegetables and flowers.
Outside of Legends on the Farmington, guests can find an abundant amount of hiking trails and outdoor areas, both within the city limits as well as in the nearby towns. There are several restaurants that can be found in the vicinity that the owners recommend by name. The first recommendation they give is Monaco's Ristorante, which is an Italian-styled restaurant. Another place they mention is The Gray Area Tavern, which serves a number of American dishes. The last restaurant given is Tributary, which has dishes like chops and steaks. There are several locations that specialize in entertainment that the owners recommend as well.
The Infinity Hall is a venue that provides live music, and Collinsville Antiques Co is an antique store that sells a variety of trinkets and antiques. Another interesting place that guests can explore is Pleasant Valley Drive-in, which is only a short distance from the property, where guests can also go see movies at one of the few remaining drive-in theaters.
The owners of Legends on the Farmington, whose names are Sal and Erin, say they do their best to create an environment that is inviting to everyone looking for a place to stay in Barkhamsted or close by. The goal of the establishment is to be relaxing and cozy while also promoting sustainability and conservation of the nature that surrounds the place.
Sal explains that they receive a wide variety of guests during the year, but the typical demographic of visitors they see at Legends on the Farmington tend to be roughly between 50 to 70-year-old men looking for a spot to cast a line in the water. Many of the guests enjoy staying at the lodge due to its close approximation to the river and the prime location to fish.
There are a number of policies that Legends on the Farmington asks visitors to abide by. One important policy that they have is that all guests who are staying at Legends on the Farmington must abide by their "catch and release" policy. All fish caught on the premises must be released back into the river. To help maintain the cleanliness of the rooms, the owners ask that guests do not smoke in any of the rooms, though if guests would like to smoke, they are allowed to do it outside.
There is also a rule regarding quiet hours in order to help the owners and other guests have a more restful night. The quiet hours start at 9:00 in the evening and goes on until 9:00 in the morning. Pets are typically not allowed in the rooms, although Sal explains that they do have one room available that is pet-friendly and that guests should contact him by phone or email to ensure they reserve the right room.
One unique thing about Legends of the Farmington is that they have several different fishing instructors that guests can hire to take them fishing. They can spend the day with a professional and learn all of the important information about the area, find the best locations for certain types of fish, and take lessons about regular fishing or fly fishing.
Legends on the Farmington has been in business since it first opened its doors about eight years ago, in 2013. Sal and Erin are the original owners and were there when the property was being constructed. They purchased the land and erected the building as a place for themselves to stay, but Sal mentions that they had plans to turn it into a lodge for other people as well when they were just beginning to put their plans into action.
Sal explains that one reason they chose to build a lodge in this particular location was due to the good location for fishing. They enjoy spending time outside, doing various activities, fishing being one of the more popular choices, and they wanted to give people a place to sleep during the night and share their fishing locations with them during the day. In the past, he and several other patrons have caught a number of "trophy-sized" fish from casting a line just off of the property.
The owners enjoy being able to provide guests with a place to sleep and options for activities to do in the surrounding area. Sal says he really enjoys meeting people from places both near and far to Barkhamsted and giving them the chance to spend time in the outdoors. In his own words, "I enjoy seeing people enjoy themselves."
20 River Rd
Barkhamsted, Connecticut
United States
Bed and Breakfast
Sal & Erinn
