The North Quabbin Region may not be well known as a tourist spot, but it is filled with traditional New England beauty. A perfect mixture of countryside serenity and small-town bustle, there’s a rich variety of sights and experiences for the visitor.
When the Quabbin Reservoir was created in the 1930s to provide clean water for Metropolitan Boston, the four Swift River Valley towns of Dana, Enfield, Greenwich and Prescott were taken by the state and flooded. What has been called an "accidental wilderness" was created as a watershed – 119,000 acres in all.
Serious students of architecture as well as the casual observer will enjoy pristine village commons and the intriguing 19th-century brick architecture of riverside mills. Lovely houses in Colonial, Federal, and Victorian styles are found everywhere. The sparkling Millers River, still harnessed for power, is the region's major natural resource. Perhaps the best way to see the region is to hike, cycle, canoe, or camp in the many beautiful wilderness areas open to the public.
The following web sites will help you make the most of your visit to the region: