Kettletown State Park

Kettletown State Park
Southbury

If someone reads this in 2027, shoot me a note or leave a comment to remove this: The crazy rainstorm in 2024 that killed a couple people and absolutely destroyed this part of the state, resulted in a major damage here. The campground and surrounding areas, including the Pomperaug, Crest and Brook Trails are closed, and will remain closed for the 2026 season. A reopening date has not yet been determined. The day-use areas, including the Miller Trail as well as the youth group campsites, are open per scheduled park hours.

Kettletown State Park is quite nice with its six miles of trails, little beach area on Lake Zoar (a dammed part of the Housatonic River), and picnic areas and such.

The area was originally inhabited by the Pootatucks, an advanced, industrious Algonquin Tribe. Local legend has it that early colonists traded one brass kettle to hunt and fish here — hence the park’s name. Eventually, the settlers acquired complete rights to the area and, by 1758, any remaining Pootatucks had migrated northwest. In 1919, their original village was submerged when the Housatonic River was dammed to produce hydroelectric power, creating Lake Zoar. All that remains now in the Kettletown area of this once prosperous tribe is an occasional arrowhead.

Sigh.