Catamount Outdoor Family Center facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Giles Chittenden Farmstead
|
|
 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Governor Chittenden Rd., NE of Williston village center, Williston, Vermont |
|---|---|
| Area | 426 acres (172 ha) |
| Built | 1796 |
| Architectural style | Federal, Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 93001160 |
| Added to NRHP | October 29, 1993 |
The Catamount Outdoor Family Center is a super fun place for families to enjoy nature in Williston, Vermont. This amazing property covers more than 400 acres. It has many trails for exciting outdoor activities. You can go hiking, mountain biking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing here!
This special place is also home to Williston's oldest house. It was built around 1796 by Vermont's first governor, Thomas Chittenden. He built it for his son, Giles. Today, this historic house is a cozy bed and breakfast. The land is still used for farming too, especially for raising sheep. Because of its history, this property was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. It is known there as the Giles Chittenden Farmstead.
Where is Catamount Outdoor Family Center?
The Catamount Outdoor Family Center is in a country area of northeastern Williston. You can find it on both sides of Governor Chittenden Road. This road is east of North Williston Road. The property has both open fields and wooded areas. The open fields are usually closer to the road. A small group of buildings is on the south side of the road. From these buildings, many trails spread out across the land.
What Can You Do There?
The center offers many ways to explore the outdoors. In warmer months, you can hike or go mountain biking on the trails. When winter arrives, the trails are perfect for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. It's a great spot for families to stay active and enjoy nature all year round.
A Look Back: The History of the Farmstead
A very important building on the property is the Giles Chittenden House. It is a two-story brick house built in the Federal style. This house was built around 1796 by Thomas Chittenden. He was the very first Governor of Vermont. He was also the first person to settle in Williston.
Governor Chittenden built a house for himself first, around 1787. That house is not standing anymore. Later, he built houses for each of his four sons. His son Giles was mostly a farmer. Giles faced some financial challenges during his life. These challenges meant that parts of his land had to be sold. When he passed away in 1819, his estate had some money problems.
Besides the house, the property also has a barn from the 1800s. This barn was probably built in the middle of that century by Charles Miller. These buildings show us what life was like long ago.
