Candlewood Lake: The Facts

Candlewood Lake Length: 16 miles
Candlewood Lake Width: 500 feet - 3.2 miles
Maximum Depth: Between 80-90 feet
Average Depth: 40 feet
Shore Line Length: 85-109 miles depending on the measure/criteria
Shore Line as Radius controlled by CL&P: 60+ miles
Surface Area: 8.4 Square Miles
Acres: 5,400
Elevation: 400+ feet
Candlewood Lake Watershed Area: 25,000 miles

Daytime Speed Limit: 45 mph
Night-time Speed Limit: 25 mph
Speed Limit within 100ft of Shore, Boats, Docks, etc: 6 mph
Number of Docks: 2000+
Number of Area Registered Boats: 6000+

Approximate Price per-acre paid to farmers by CL&P under eminent domain in the mid-1920’s: $50/acre (33/acre to 88/acre depending on overall size)

Acres of forest cleared to create the lake: 4,500 acres
Men employed: approximately 1400

Date CL&P approved the project: July 15, 1926
Date that water was first pumped into the valley: February 25, 1928*
*On September 29, 1928 (7 months later) the lake was full/complete (@ 429ft)

Approximate value of a direct waterfront acre in 1928/1929: $1000, unheard of at the time.

Since the end of the 1920’s Candlewood Lake has been decidedly “on the map” for fresh water loving locals and New Yorkers alike. With the city of Danbury anchoring the lake to the south and the towns of Brookfield, New Fairfield, New Milford, and Sherman ringing the lake northward from there the lake offer distinctly different feels from the dozens of communities in these five towns.

Fishing, Boating, Diving, and Swimming take place throughout the summer as Candlewood Lake becomes the social epicenter of this area where Fairfield and Litchfield Counties meet.

At this confluence of primary and elective markets Candlewood Lake homes have seen their values soar and stay high as many area residents look to the lake for year round vacationing and many weekenders from the New York market elect to look to this area to escape the suburban sprawl of Westchester and central Fairfield counties.

What could be a better escape than this 5400 acre lake with mountains rising from its shores only an hour and a half from Manhattan!!