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Tour of Quechee Lakes, Vermont

Kicking off Home Again's Quechee, Vermont farmhouse project, Bob takes a panoramic tour of Quechee's winter landscape. While checking out the natural wonders, recreational amenities, and picturesque village vistas, Bob discusses the unique geological and economic history of the area.

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Tour of Quechee Lakes, Vermont Now Playing

Tour of Quechee Lakes, Vermont

Quechee Lakes Development Now Playing

Quechee Lakes Development

Blasting Bedrock to Create the Foundation Now Playing

Blasting Bedrock to Create the Foundation

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Framing the First Floor Deck

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Tour of Quechee Lakes, Vermont

computer-generated transcript - may not be 100% accurate

" The ice age ended -- ago you wouldn't exactly know it by -- immodest snow surrounding us here in quechee Vermont. But some of the interesting things that happened here to the natural terrain when that glacier came through. Are the aspects the physical aspects of this state like the great quechee gorge which is not far from here the ought to quechee river which runs through the heart of the quechee village area. Is today a fly fisherman's paradise but back in the nineteenth century it powered the mills which made lumber cider all sorts of products including woman's and plants in fact some of the -- that were made at that Dewey mill were used for the baseball uniforms for the Yankees and the red socks now. By the mid twentieth century the cost of labor in this area had become so expensive that many of the mills started to close down. By the late 1950s there was the last mill that was shut down today it's actually used as a glass blowing operation. After the closing of the mills the economy of this region and indeed most of the state of Vermont was in the dumps for about a decade. In the 1960s. Skiing took over and that of course is what has helped revive Vermont's economy. With the skiers came a new tourist industry. Quaint country inns and beds and breakfasts. Local crafts people and artists. Boutiques and antique shops and with the tourist industry came the next logical step for a state that's always been agricultural we orient. Natural and organic farming. Vermont was settled by farmers and has long been the seat of production for much of new England's famous maple syrup. Dairy products and most recently has capitalized on the growing market for natural and organically farmed products."

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Quechee Lakes Development

Bob looks at some examples of traditional Vermont style farmhouse architecture and then meets up with Michael Maynard, a member of the Quechee Lakes development team for a tour of the 5000-plus acres property. When the planned unit development project began in the 1960's Quechee Lakes was the first of its kind in the Northeast. Homeowners are predominantly empty-nesters who enjoy second homes in this pastoral community. The community boasts skiing, golf, polo, indoor and outdoor pools, and exquisite vistas.

Amenities to Living in Quechee Lakes

Ted Riley tells Bob about some the additional amenities that will come along with the house. Quechee Lakes Development provides a complete management service which can handle everything from housecleaning to security and an automatic membership in the Quechee Lakes Country Club which offers skiing, two 18-hole golf courses, tennis courts, and other indoor facilities.

Vermont-Style Interior Decorating

Bob tours the first floor of the farmhouse with interior designer Regina Lawrence who points out many of the "Vermont" touches that have been included in the home. The front hall floor is Vermont slate. There is a maple staircase and maple floors throughout the rest of the first floor. The living room palette is a blend of beige, green and persimmon. The wrought-iron lamp is from Hubbarton Forge in Castleton, Vermont. All of the furniture in the living and dining rooms are from Clearlake Furniture featuring a exquisite marquetry alternately insetting maple in cherry and vice versa. Decorative glassware is from Simon Pearce, headquartered right in Quechee.

Review of Replay TV Features and the Satellite Dish

Bob looks at the Panasonic replay TV with the show stopper feature. This technology allows viewers to freeze live TV action so when they return, they can start it back up, and continue watching where the program left off. Venturing upstairs, Bob looks at the desktop computer which provides the home gateway to the internet. Like 70% of the country, Quechee does not offer direct access to the internet through cable or DSL, so the Vermont farmhouse is benefiting from Hughes Network Systems Direcway. The satellite dish in the back yard enables the home to enjoy two-way satellite communications at all time.