New Haven District Campground, Plainville, CT

Introduction / Overview

The New Haven District Campground in Plainville, CT, often referred to simply as the Plainville Campground, offers a truly unique destination for local residents interested in history, architecture, and a sense of community. This is not a traditional campground with sites for tents or modern RVs; rather, it is a historic community of approximately 86 individually owned, charming summer cottages clustered around a central green, reflecting its origins as a 19th-century Methodist camp meeting site. Its official address places it centrally in the Plainville area.

Founded in 1865, the campground quickly evolved from a circle of temporary tents to a permanent village of whimsical, gingerbread-decorated cottages. The site is a rare, intact example of a spiritual and recreational phenomenon that swept the nation in the post-Civil War era. Today, it operates as a self-governing, non-profit seasonal residential association. The cottages are privately owned, but the land is leased from the Plainville Camp Grounds Association, with residency permitted only during the warmer months, typically from May 1st to October 31st.

The site’s historic significance is recognized nationally, as it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. Its inward-facing layout, centered on a main pavilion (the former preaching platform), preserves the rustic and restful ambiance of the original camp meeting design. For Connecticut locals, a visit—often possible during periodic open houses or by viewing the exterior architecture—provides a fascinating glimpse into a unique piece of New England’s social and religious history.

Location and Accessibility

The New Haven District Campground is situated in the northwestern area of Plainville, Connecticut, on about 17 acres of wooded land. Its specific address is 19 Circle Ave, Plainville, CT 06062, USA, placing the core of the community at the nexus of several small, radiating avenues off Gladding Avenue and near Camp Street.

For local residents, the location is conveniently close to major travel routes. It is just south of Connecticut Route 6 and highly accessible from Central Connecticut hubs like Bristol, Farmington, and New Britain, being approximately 30 minutes southwest of Hartford. Despite this proximity to surrounding towns and infrastructure, the community maintains a secluded, rustic feel due to its wooded setting and unique internal street structure.

While a century ago the site had its own railroad station to bring thousands of attendees, today accessibility is via modern road networks. Visitors exploring the area can easily navigate to the vicinity, although it is important to remember that the cottages are private residences. The campground’s layout—a circle of homes with narrow, radiating streets—is not typical of a modern public park, so visitors should respect the privacy of the residents who seasonally call this historic area home.

Services Offered

As a private, seasonal residential community rather than a public recreational camping facility, the “services offered” by the Plainville Camp Grounds Association primarily relate to maintaining the common grounds and infrastructure for its cottage owners.

LI: Seasonal Residency: The community provides a framework for seasonal living, with residency permitted for cottage owners typically from May 1st to October 31st each year.
LI: Community Utilities: Cottages and common buildings are supplied with water from Bristol, CT, and the sewer system is managed by Plainville, CT.
LI: Infrastructure Management: The Plainville Camp Grounds Association, a non-profit corporation, manages the common elements of the 17-acre property, including roads, utilities, and communal historic buildings like the Auditorium.
LI: Historic Preservation: The Association actively works to restore, preserve, and maintain the historic cottages and common buildings, which are part of a National Register Historic District.
LI: Communal Facilities: Historic buildings, such as the former Dining Hall (now used for the Ladies Guild meetings, breakfasts, and other functions) and the open-air Auditorium, are available for community use and events.
LI: Community Governance: The site is managed by a self-governing Board of Directors elected by the members of the Association, ensuring the community’s continued preservation and function.

Features / Highlights

The New Haven District Campground’s appeal is centered on its historical significance, unique architecture, and peaceful atmosphere.

LI: National Historic Landmark: The entire site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, preserving a rare, intact example of a 19th-century Methodist camp meeting ground.
LI: Unique Architecture: The grounds feature approximately 86 small, "Gingerbread"-style wood-frame cottages, many decorated with fanciful lathe-turned and jig-sawn woodwork in the Carpenter Gothic, Eastlake, and Stick architectural styles.
LI: Circular Layout: The community is arranged in the traditional camp meeting style, with larger, two-story cottages built by churches forming a central 'Circle' around the main pavilion, and smaller, individually-owned homes radiating out along six avenues.
LI: Seasonal Retreat: The cottages function as seasonal summer homes, offering residents a unique, rustic, and restful retreat from the modern world for six months of the year.
LI: Central Auditorium: The grounds feature a central, open-air pavilion (the former Auditorium, built around 1905), which served as the preaching platform and is the nucleus of the community’s design.
LI: Rich History: The community has a long history, dating back to 1865, and was a popular leisure destination, once hosting thousands of visitors during its peak popularity.

Contact Information

For information on the Plainville Camp Grounds Association, history, or open house events, the following contact information may be used. Please note that direct inquiries about cottage rental or overnight camping accommodations will likely be redirected, as this is a private, owner-occupied seasonal community.

Address: 19 Circle Ave, Plainville, CT 06062, USA

Phone: While the Association manages the grounds, a general public phone number for the Association is not widely published; interested parties are typically directed to the community’s website or for specific inquiries to the Plainville Camp Grounds Association, Inc. (In lieu of a public phone number, local users can seek information through the Plainville Historical Society or the Association's publicly available website.)

Conclusion: Why this place is suitable for locals

For residents of Connecticut, the New Haven District Campground offers a connection to the state's past that few other locations can match. It is suitable for locals not as a destination for traditional overnight camping, but as a site of immense historical and architectural interest. Its primary appeal is its existence as a remarkably preserved piece of 19th-century American religious and social history, right in Central Connecticut.

This unique locale provides an opportunity to experience a different kind of "camping," one characterized by permanent, charmingly rustic summer cottages rather than tents or RVs. It appeals to history enthusiasts, architects, and those looking for a seasonal, community-focused lifestyle within the state. The cottages, often referred to as "painted ladies" due to their bright colors and intricate woodwork, offer a unique aesthetic charm.

Locals should understand that this is a private, seasonal residential area. While you cannot simply drive up and set up a tent, its proximity makes it an easy day trip for a quiet, respectful drive-through to appreciate the architecture and the unique circular layout. The Plainville Camp Grounds Association occasionally organizes events or open houses that allow the public a closer look at this National Register Historic Site, making it a valuable, educational, and visually captivating point of interest for anyone in the Connecticut region.