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Waterbury, Connecticut: Little People Village

Crumbling tiny structures in the woods, local lore says built to appease the elves. A local historical society debunking reveals it was an uncompleted "toy village" project of gas station owner William J. Lannen. No wee folk involved.

Address:
Old Waterbury Rd, Waterbury, CT
Directions:
I-84 exit 17. If eastbound, turn north on Hwy 63. If westbound, turn south (The two exit ramps are almost a mile apart and Little People Village is between them). Once on Hwy 63, look for the restaurant Maggie McFly's (a convenient place to park). A few blocks north of Maggie's is Old Waterbury Rd on the right. At the end of Old Waterbury Road you will find an access road that leads into the woods. Follow it for a few minutes until it ends. The Village will be a few dozen yards into the woods. When you walk under the power lines and see the electrical tower, look left (The Village almost bordering the north side of I-84).
Hours:
Abandoned in woods. Local health policies may affect hours and access.
Admission:
Free
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Visitor Tips and News About Little People Village

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Little People Village

Crumbling tiny structures back in the woods, built to appease the elves, according to some. I hate to be the buzzkill, but....It's not creepy. Nobody died there. There wasn't a witch, a throne, or a murder.

It's the remains of an old roadside (trolley-side, actually) attraction called "The Fairy Village." It was operated from around 1900 til sometime in the early 1930s, on the trolley line to Lake Quassy. The "normal sized" house was actually a gift shop and the "throne" was part of an elaborate fountain/water distribution set up (to get water to the fairy houses) in the midst of some floral gardens.

It's in very ROUGH shape, as vandals have taken their toll (and, you would assume, taken home some souvenirs). There are four "little" houses still standing (or were in October) but the most obvious one is in a horrible state of disrepair (worse than it was 4 or 5 years back). The other 3 are, actually, hidden by monstrous underbrush...though you can find them if you know where to look.

If you're going to head up there, do not enter the junk yard and people's back yards. Right past Maggie McFly's, you'll see what looks like a parking lot with two houses adjacent to it. That's the entrance to an abandoned section of road that will lead you to where you're need to go. And tread lightly on the actual site. There's lots of crumbling mortar, old paving stones, and unstable footing under the dirt.

[CalinCT, 01/14/2011]
Little People Village

I went to this village for the first time in about 17 years. I brought along my son and 68-year old step-mom. Both were highly intrigued by the stories they have heard, and when I finally showed them the place, I'd be willing to bet they were highly disappointed.

Not much is left, but the throne is almost totally intact. I sat in it years ago -- but I passed this time!

[Bill Potter, 10/23/2008]

Little People dwelling.

Little People Village

The legend of Little People Village varies slightly. Some say that years ago a man started to hear the voices of fairies and at their urging built the little people a series of houses and a throne in the woods. Others claim that the builder of Little People Village made his creation to placate his wife's growing mental instability.

Regardless, in the woods of Waterbury lies a spooky and bizarre series of small houses, one larger home and a throne built with great care, but now run down from time, neglect and teenage vandalism.

[Philip Deslippe, 08/10/2006]

Nearby Offbeat Places

Button MuseumButton Museum, Waterbury, CT - 3 mi.
JFK: I'll Be Back in 1964JFK: I'll Be Back in 1964, Waterbury, CT - 3 mi.
Holy Land USAHoly Land USA, Waterbury, CT - 3 mi.
In the region:
Shark Mouth Seafood Store Entrance, Center Moriches, NY - 53 mi.

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