Tag Archives: woodstock

Woodstock’s Sculpture Fest: Yard-art taken to a whole new level.

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If you’re planning a trip to our neck of Vermont’s woods this weekend, you’re in luck.  A truly unique opportunity to wander around a Vermont farm that is festooned with interesting and unusual outdoor sculpture is at hand–Woodstock’s Sculpture Fest 2012.  This year Sculpture Fest will be a two exhibition event.  On Saturday, July 28, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., the opening event, “Poetry on the Land” will be held at King Farm, with a special viewing of Bonnie Gale’s “Living Willow” installed on the adjoining Prosper Road site.  On Saturday, September 1, Sculputre Fest’s second stage, themed “Living Art,”  will be held at the Prosper Road venue.

The King Farm, site of Sculpture Fest’s July event, is an exceptional example of a 19th-century Vermont hill farm that still has most of its original buildings intact.  The property includes 154 acres of farm and forest land bordered by the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller Historic National Park, and located close to the October Country Inn.  The King Farm was a bequest to the Vermont Land Trust from Francisca King Thomas in 1986.  In order to ensure that this property is properly maintained in the spirit of preserving the land for ongoing public enjoyment, the farm is in the process of being incorporated into the M-B-R National Park.

Sculpture Fest 2012 will host the works of more than 20 local artists.  The works range from forged steel, sound installations, ceramic sculpture, welded sculpture, mixed media three dimensional work, mosaic, wood sculpture, transformed found objects, and more.  A workshop by John Bieling is planned.

King Farm is located at the end of King Farm Road.  From the October Country Inn, follow Route 4 east for about 5 miles.  As you enter West Woodstock, at the intersections with Prosper Road and Rose Hill Road, veer left onto Rose Hill Road, than left on King Farm Rd.

The Prosper Road venue is located at 509 Prosper Road.  Instead of taking Rose Hill Road, turn left on Prosper Road.  This venue is located on the left, about 1/2 mile up the road.   A footpath also connects King Farm to the Prosper Road venue.

 

A short drive, a short walk, and a 100 mile view

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A 100 mile view of the Green Mountains with Killington peak to the right behind the pine top.

The Lookout is well known by Woodstock locals, and provides a great and rewarding opportunity for a half-day’s outing.  Although the Appalachian trail provides the access to this stunning viewpoint, The Lookout itself is on private land outside of the Appalachian trail corridor.

The Cabin at The Lookout.

Once you get to The Lookout, upon breaking out of the woods at the end of a short spur off the Appalachian trail,  you’ll find a weathered old cabin perched in a small rocky clearing.  There’s a steep, wooden stairway that leads to an observation deck built on top of the cabin.  From this deck, you get nearly 360 degrees of 100 mile Green Mountain views.  Be sure and bring a lunch. This is  a great spot for it.

To get to The Lookout from the Woodstock area, first drive to the nearest trailhead which is off Greengate Road.

From the October Country Inn, go to the center of Woodstock.  Take Route 12 North about 3.5 miles to Wayside Rd.  Turn left and follow this dirt road.  You will come to a pond on your right.  Turn right at this intersection.  After 1.7 miles Wayside Road will bear to the left at the intersection with School House Hill Road and then turn into Greengate Road but you wouldn’t know it if you weren’t paying attention to the streetsigns.  Another mile on Greengate Road and the road makes a sharp bend to the right.

Edie and Patty walking through the woods on the Applachian Trail

On your left at this point, there’s an area that’s suitable for parking, and you’ll see a rutted, rocky, uphill trail leading into the woods beside a small brook.  Now almost unrecognizable as a road, this trail used to be Lookout Farm Rd.

This trail gets rather rough in spots due to severe erosion.  It will intersect with the Appalachian trail in about .4 of a mile.  Before that, you will come to an intersection with an old gate leaning off to one side.  Keep to your left.  The trail comes into the AT at an angle forming a “Y” intersection, and you’ll bear to the right, following the AT in a southerly direction.  Take a moment to mark this intersection in your mind so that you don’t miss it on your return.

Following the AT is pretty effortless.  White blazes adorn the trees bordering the trail, and the trail itself is well worn, relatively flat, and easy to follow.

Sign on the AT marking The Lookout spur trail.

After almost a mile, the AT starts to climb in a more serious way, and soon after that makes a sharp turn to the left.  The spur trail to The Lookout goes off to the right at this point.  There’s a sign on a tree that marks The Lookout spur trail.  A short .1 mile walk up the spur trail and you’re there.

Enjoy the view, and remember that this is private property that the owner’s have graciously allowed access to the public in order to enjoy this great spot.  Please respect it.