North Fayston Road , Moretown, VT 05660(Washington County)

The property is located just off Route 100 in the northwest corner of Waitsfield, Vermont and the southeast corner of Fayston.

Known as the Mad River Valley, the area of Vermont is a wide, fertile green valley between the Northfield Range to the east and the Green Mountains to the west. The Valley, as it's known locally, is made up of the towns of Fayston, Waitsfield and Warren. Waitsfield is a quintessential Vermont town with a country store, library, covered bridge, quality K-6 school and a variety of dining, shopping and cultural opportunities. Fayston is a small bedroom community for Montpelier, Waterbury and Burlington. Route 100 bisects the towns, providing quick access north to Waterbury (20 minutes), Stowe (40 minutes), Burlington (50 minutes) and Montpelier (30 minutes). To the south, Route 100 winds through the scenic Granby Gulch and along the Green Mountains through the quaint towns of Rochester, Stockbridge and Pittsfield. I-89 can be accessed to the north in Waterbury or Middlesex (both 12 miles) Boston is a little over three hours southeast and Montreal is just three hours to the north.

Access

The property is accessed by a 175' right-of-way (Row) from North Fayston Road and across the portion of the property that the owners are retaining. The ROW ends at Shepard Brook and a well-built, steel-supported, wooden bridge that provides year-round access onto the property. From the bridge, a dirt drive stretches 450' to the barn and associated outbuildings.

North Fayston Road is a town-maintained, dirt road that turns off paved Route 100. From Route 100, it is just 450' to the Row. While the property is just across Shepard Brook from North Fayston Road and a short distance from Route 100, it is quite private, thanks to the trees along the brook which minimize any potential road noise.

Site Description

Shepard Brook Farm combines potential for agriculture, forest management, recreation and house site development in a scenic location close to amenities. Around 40 acres of the property is a large, level field that has served several purposes over time. Future possibilities include a pasture for horses or other livestock, field crops, fruit trees, a vineyard, hemp cultivation or a large space for a nice house or family vacation home.

The remaining 71 acres is forested with a mix of northern hardwoods and white pine. The forest was harvested in the past 10 years, and is regenerating nicely, providing an attractive place to walk and view wildlife. There are old roads traversing the forest that were used in past timber harvests. Currently overgrown with blackberries, these make a great start to a future trail network for walking, horseback riding, snowshoeing, skiing and snowmobiling. A section of the Vast snowmobile trail system parallels the northern boundary of the property.

While the property has many possibilities, most are compatible for simultaneous use. A future resident would be able to enjoy a largely private location, with easy and quick access to a recreationally-rich Vermont valley. In addition, there are outstanding views of the Northfield Range to the east, including Bald Mountain, Mount Waitsfield, Scragg Mountain and Burnt Mountain, and views to the south of Burnt Rock Mountain and Appalachian Gap.

Water Resources

The nearly 3,800' of easily-accessed frontage on Shepard Brook is an opportunity to fish for native brook trout, as well as providing an aesthetic amenity and a visual barrier between the property and the road. Shepard Brook is a large tributary of the Mad River, which runs along the other side of Route 100. In addition to the native brook trout, the Mad River is also stocked with larger, hatchery-raised brook and rainbow trout, both of which could easily migrate up Shepard Brook.

House/Buildings

While the property itself is an appealing mix of attributes, the barn is an additional element that offers numerous opportunities. At 16,000 square feet over two floors, there are as many uses as one can imagine. The barn was built for large-scale storage, not animals, and has cement floors. Walls are a mix of wood and cement blocks, with plenty of windows to let in light. It is heated and, although the two furnaces have not been used recently, it has all the necessary heating ducts, oil tanks and chimneys in place. There is electricity at the barn and at one of the outbuildings, as well as water and a septic system on site. There are four overhead garage doors, including a massive triple bay door.

Such a large structure has potential for a variety of uses, including stabling horses, farming or other agricultural purposes, or even operating a home business. Pending zoning permits, there appears to be a room that was used for refrigeration, so maybe a small artisan food business or brewery might be the right opportunity. The property offers unlimited possibilities for the buyer to develop and enjoy.