One Wrong Turn

This is a true story. Almost. A few details have been changed to make the story more interesting but the basic storyline is true. Some might say it is a story which might make one believe in fate. Others might just say that is is all just a coincidence. Fate ? Coincidence ? Kismet ?  Destiny ?  You be the judge.

Two years ago, a family from Massachusetts was skiing at Gunstock Mountain Resort. Now for those of you not familiar with the Lakes Region of NH, I am going to give you the link to Gunstock so you can check out all of the winter AND summer activities that occur at Gunstock: http://www.gunstock.com   In a quick overview, I can tell you that winter activities include downhill skiing, snowboarding, Nordic skiing, tubing and the BIG air bag.  I just read the purpose of the BIG airbag and can assure you I will not be trying it anytime soon.

This family loves to ski and makes numerous trips north of the border each winter to enjoy the numerous activities at Gunstock. On this particular Sunday they had made many successful runs down the mountain, enjoyed warming up in the Lodge, and had some spicy chili at the Powder Keg Restaurant. Of course, all good days must come to an end and with long faces and many disappointed sighs, they put away their gear and climbed into the car to head south of the border.

The family was quiet as they pulled out of the ski area parking lot. In an attempt to change the mood in the car, dad turned on the radio and started singing along to his favorite oldies station. The teens in the back moaned, and mom joined in, belting out the chorus line.

The two of them were soon caught up in the moment, and the dark mood in the car finally lifted. They had been driving about seven miles down the road when dad realized he had missed the turn to 93S and he had no idea where they were headed. He went about one more mile and pulled into a Cumberland Farms to get directions and fill the tank with gas. While standing at the gas pump, he looked across the street with curiosity. He read the sign, Weirs Beach Village.  He liked the look of the community before him. Cottage style homes arranged tastefully. Street lights cast a welcoming glow over the village.

He climbed back into the car, drove across the street, and took a tour of the homes at Weirs Beach Village, fell in love with the Center Harbor model home and the rest is history.  Now when this family finishes skiing at Gunstock, they just pile in the car, drive eight miles down the road, and they are 'home'.

And it is that simple. We are glad that this family took one wrong turn. We sold a home and they have been able to make many happy memories whether skiing at Gunstock or lounging around in front of their fireplace, walking down to the beach in the summertime or visiting many of the other Lake Region attractions.  All you have to do is make one wrong turn...in the right direction.

Never Trust a Skinny Cook !

                                            

I decided to take a break from writing about our highly affordable, well-constructed homes at Weirs Beach Village. It is clear that I am delivering that message to the people since in the past week we had one closing, wrote three purchase and sales agreements and took one non-binding reservation...and there are many people in the wings who are sitting there, waiting to sign. Of course, I do wonder what they are waiting for...interest rates are SO low. How low will they go ? I am not sure but I don't think I'd be waiting around. Weirs Beach Village is currently one quarter sold out ! Woot-woot !

On a recent stay at Weirs Beach Village I needed a cup of coffee...ASAP!
I actually also needed breakfast since we all know that breakfast is the meal of champions. On my way to Weirs Beach Village I have passed a small diner a zillion times and had never stopped...huge mistake on my part. The diner is Donna Jean's Diner, located at 1208 Weirs Boulevard and is only .68 of a mile from the homes at Weirs Beach Village. The diner is open Monday - Sunday for breakfast and lunch from 6am - 2pm.

We were able to be seated right away...timing is everything!  I didn't count the number of tables but I bet the diner can hold 80 - 100 people...please do not quote me on that. There are tables that look out over the channel and if one were fortunate to sit at one of those window seats, you would be able to watch the boats going by. I am hoping to sit at one of those tables on my next visit. The diner is quaint, comfortable and relaxed. I loved a couple of the signs that were hanging on the walls...'Never trust a skinny cook' and my favorite...'This is a drama-free zone!"

Our waitress, Tori, greeted us with a smile and a cup of coffee...brewed to perfection. The veggies in my vegetable scramble were cooked just right...not too mushy and not to crisp. My husband chose the ham and cheese omelet and he truly enjoyed each bite. We are both picky about our hash browns. Would Donna Jean's hash browns pass the test ? I am happy to report that they were cooked to perfection.

I love the fact that I can just wake up at Weirs Beach Village and walk right out my door to Donna Jean's. Nothing like a delicious filling breakfast to start my day !

Donna Jean's Diner is on Facebook @ http://www.facebook.com/pages/Weirs-Beach-Village/131451863002?ref=hl#!/pages/Donna-Jeans-Diner/111551848866742

Stop in and tell them that Weirs Beach Village sent you !

Welcome to our Virtual Open House !

Our Realtors are hosting an Open House on Sunday, January 15th and Monday, January 16th from 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM ! It is the perfect weekend to drive up to Weirs Beach Village and take a tour of these highly affordable four season homes which start at just $149,900.00!

For those of you who can't attend in person I've put together a little Virtual Open House. How easy is that? Just go pour yourself another cup of coffee, get comfortable in your favorite chair, and set off on your virtual tour.

Here is some additional information about the area and Weirs Beach Village. Hopefully you will find it helpful as you make a decision to buy a home in our community of high quality, highly affordable homes.


" Imagine a location that makes you smile each morning! Now imagine living in a charming new home in the heart of the Weirs Beach area, just 10 minutes from the famed Gunstock Ski area and all the year-round pleasures of New Hampshire’s incomparable Lakes Region with snowmobiling, hiking, swimming, boating, skiing, food and fun at your doorstep. Imagine further being only a short walk to the Mount Washington dock and the celebrated beach on Lake Winnipesaukee.

Pinch yourself and stop imagining, because with the affordable new Weirs Beach Village offering homes starting at just $149,900, this lifestyle is a reachable reality.

Weirs Beach Village is a wonderful and unique new community of detached destination homes that offer carefree year-round living. Explore what life’s pleasures offer and get ready to embrace a new home that will be the centerpiece of happy memories for generations to come.

“We absolutely love our new home,” remarked new homeowners Bonnie and Mark.

“As a family with two young children, Weirs Beach Village has been a wonderful　getaway from city life. The neighborhood is serene,　beautiful and we are　surrounded　by great neighbors. It is a great gift we have been fortunate enough to give to our children. We know the memories we have made and will continue to make will last a lifetime.”

Numerous floor plans as well as popular options make it possible to personalize and put the finishing touches on a dream home. What makes these new homes so special is that they are an astounding value, attractive, well planned and in one of New England’s most desirable locations. It is rare to find affordable new construction so perfectly situated near the beach, mountains, snowmobile trails and year-round attractions of the Lakes Region.

Weirs Beach Village is a community for all reasons and a location for all seasons. Designed for carefree year-round living, these new homes are stylish, efficient and well constructed. Homes boast 9-foot ceilings, abundant windows allowing for natural light and a four-season room that embraces the natural beauty of the setting. Most of the layouts offer single floor living, spacious entertaining spaces, an optional loft area and garage. The interior of the individual homes is open concept with spacious kitchens perfect for entertaining family and friends. With a brand new home, buyers may choose the finishing touches, appliances, cabinetry and flooring to ensure the space fits their needs and lifestyle. Homes have the added benefit of city water and sewer ensuring less worry for homeowners that want to spend part of the year in a warmer climate.

The enchanting neighborhood and the beautiful natural surroundings welcome visitors. The landscaping enhances the natural beauty and invites you make Weirs Beach Village your home.

There is no need to mow as the Homeowners’ Association cares for the mowing of the common space and all yards. For those that like to garden, each home has a yard for flowerbeds to give the property an individual personality. The community is canine friendly so Fido is welcome.

The new energy efficient homes at Weirs Beach Village are all about lifestyle. The community will include an onsite pool and clubhouse for residents and guests.

Anyone who has ever vacationed near Weirs Beach knows that the Lake Winnipesauke area has been a year-round mecca for sports enthusiasts for over a century. A prized four-season destination, this highly desirable region offers some of the most popular winter sports options in New England with extensive snowmobiling trails out your front door, ice fishing, along with great downhill and cross country skiing at nearby Gunstock.

For those who want to relax, the area offers a wide range of outstanding restaurants, spas and entertainment, most within easy walking or driving distance. The ever-popular outlet shopping centers of Tilton are just a short drive from this new community.

The unique new Weirs Beach Village community offers the charm of living in classic New England style homes in an area well known for its scenic beauty, year-round outdoor fun and cultural attractions at a price that is truly affordable. Designed for owners of all ages, these delightful new homes would work well for empty nesters that may plan to downsized to a condominium in Florida, but also want an affordable home in New England to stay close to family and where they can enjoy the timeless joy of the Weirs Beach region without the hassles of maintenance.

For the younger first-time buyer that desires a carefree home with easy access to the natural recreational pleasures of the Lakes Region, this is a wonderful opportunity to become a homeowner. Record low interest rates make this an excellent time to buy.

This new community is being marketed by The New Homes Division of Prudential Verani Realty and prices start at an amazing $149,900!

Just 90 minutes from Boston and less than an hour from the Merrimack Valley, Weirs Beach Village is an opportunity that is not to be missed.

Please come and enjoy the pleasures of the season in the Lakes Region, and see the delightful new homes first-hand. It is the perfect opportunity to become reacquainted with The Lakes Region and to visit the splendid shopping district and nearby outlets for shopping or enjoy skiing at nearby Gunstock.

For those that cannot attend today, the model is open every Friday thru Sunday from noon to 3 p.m. For details, directions or a private showing, please contact Weirs Beach Sales Manager Bonnie Gravel at Prudential Verani Realty, direct at 603-566-9599, or via e-mail at
bonnie.gravel@verani.com or contact the New Homes Sales and Marketing Manager at Prudential Verani Realty, Gail Nickerson at 603-845-2129 or gail.nickerson@verani.com, or visit weirsbeachvillage.com. " ~ Written by  Linda Greenstein

A Lifestyle for All Seasons...

It was a long winter. Snow, ice, cold. Snow, ice, freezing. More Snow, more ice and really cold temperatures.  Many human beings go into hibernation mode during the winter months. They run from their car to their work place, they call out for pizza delivery, they huddle together to keep warm. The Weirs Beach Village team does not hibernate. We built homes in the middle of the winter. Our workers wore storm gear as they protected themselves against the elements. We bought them hot cocoa to warm their insides. We plowed. We sanded. We shoveled. Our Realtors wore their long underwear as they gave tours of our Model homes to the brave souls who ventured out. Our homeowners at WBV played in the snow...skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling. They also spent time shopping at the area outlet malls, visiting Lake Opechee Inn and Spa for a hot stone massage and at the end of the day they curled up in front of their gas fireplaces, warm and toasty, reading a good book or chatting about the next snowstorm.

And while we all dealt with the winter weather in our own ways, secretly we were all waiting. Waiting for the day when Ice-Out would be called on Lake Winnipesaukee ~ and the M/S Mount Washington could make its way around the Lake, stopping at all of its various docks. The Lake will come alive with boats. Fisherman will try to catch the one that got away...again.  Motorcycles will get polished and revved up. Meadowbrook will announce their summer concert line-ups. The games at Funspot are polished and ready for our quarters. The beaches are waiting for people to mark their territory with beach towels and blankets. Who will be the first brave soul to jump into the waters of Lake Winnipesaukee this year ?

And what happens at Weirs Beach Village when the seasons change and the warm breezes of Spring arrive ? We had a massive Spring cleaning day at the site. We filled dumpsters, we hired a street sweeper to clean Memory Lane and Tranquilty Turn. We crushed boulders and prepared the road for Phase II which we hope to complete this Fall. We are working on our Community Center plans so we can begin construction soon. The Weirs Beach Village Homeowner's Association will have a place for meetings, dances and Bingo games. We hired a landscaping crew to weed, plant and mulch the gardens.



Signs of Spring !









Spring Clean Up !





The Wolfeboro ! Love the daisies !

And of course, we continue to build homes. We currently have five homes under construction...a Gilford, two Center Harbors, a Meredith and our newest model ~ the Tuftonboro. The Tuftonboro features a large first floor master bedroom and a full bath. The second floor has a spacious bedroom and a bonus room with a full bathroom. Sounds like the perfect party house to me ! It is our goal to finsh Phase I by the time the leaves turn color. It is also our goal to build you an affordable, high quality home in our community. We pride ourselves on the fact that we are not just building a housing development. We are building a community based on trust and respect. It is the foundation of our business and the key to our success. We hope to see you up at Weirs Beach Village this Spring...and you'll quickly understand why no matter the season, no matter the weather, you'll truly feel at home at Weirs Beach Village !



Wishing your much tranquilty and many happy memories !



Some serious machines...we mean business !



One of our new Models !



Homes for all ages !

Fred Flintstone would have loved these rocks !

Lots of hustle and bustle at WBV !

King of the Mountain !

And then there were Eleven !

It is hard to believe that two months have passed since our last blog post. How could that be? What is going on here?  What is happening at Weirs Beach Village? 

As was written in an earlier post, we are going through the process of changing from a condominium association to a Homeowners' Association. We are still waiting for the NH Attorney General's office to give us final approval. Can you hear our toes tapping and the impatience with which I type ?  At this point we are allowed to take non-binding agreements on the homes. We currently have eleven non-binding purchase and sales agreements. We should be hearing any day now from the Attorney General and when that happens, closings will occur and people will be moving into their new homes, excited to begin this new chapter of their lives.

Six homes are completed and construction has begun on four more homes. The heavy equipment has been digging foundations and moving dirt around ~ even during this heat wave. Phase I will be half complete once these homes are finished. The excitement among our Realtors, our Project Manager, customers and all of us behind the scenes is mounting. We have a vision and to see it becoming reality is cause for celebration.

We are working on designing our permanent signage, taking care of a multitude of details, and completing reams of paperwork. So much goes on behind the scenes when building a project of this size. We pay attention to the small stuff because as we all know ~ the small stuff is the important stuff. So just because you don't SEE things happening at the project, be assured that we are working hard on our project on a daily basis, 24-7, with many sleepless nights, and countless long days. We are dedicated to our customers and to our vision. And we welcome you to call our Realtors today at 603-434-2377 to make an appointment and come see for yourself what is happening at Weirs Beach Village.

Walk This Way

I had the good fortune to be up at Weirs Beach Village on a recent February afternoon. The air was brisk, reminding me that I was alive. It was the perfect day to take a two mile walk through Weirs Beach and I decided to share my pictures from that afternoon with you. So much to see and do ~ all within walking distance from the homes at Weirs Beach Village. Step outside onto the deck at the 'Center Harbor' model.
We are going to take a right onto Endicott Street. There are sidewalks throughout our walk so no worries about being hit by passing vehicles.

Are you a music lover and enjoy an outdoor concert? Then the Meadowbrook Musical Arts Center is the place for you - and it is only 4 miles away ! Go to their site at www.meadowbrook.net and check out the 2010 calendar. Reba will be there on August 21 and you just might see me there !

Who doesn't enjoy going to see a play? 'The Laramie Project' is currently playing. There are shows year round at the Playhouse so when you are living at Weirs Beach Village and wondering what to do in the winter, you will have many choices.

As we continue our walk down Endicott Street we pass 'The Lobster Pound' ~ nice to know there are several restaurants within walking distance from your front door. Brunch at 'The Lobster Pound' starts at 10:00 AM ~ leave some pancakes for me !

Need to get your boat serviced ? You can walk right down to Thurston's Marina and have all of your boating questions answered.

If it was in the middle of summer we would have reached our destination possibly - the beach ! It is just down the hill from your home in Weirs Beach so you don't have to worry about finding a parking spot - just grab a towel, walk down and jump in !

Here is a view of the beach from a distance. Love that gazebo ! Bring a picnic lunch and make a day off it !

Another restaurant within walking distance. Just think, you can even have dessert since you will be walking off those extra calories when you head home !

This is the historic landmark sign letting you know where you are ~ when I see this sign lit up at night I feel like I have gone back in time ~ to a place where life was simpler and less complex. That's what Weirs Beach Village is all about.

Just one of the majestic views which I saw during my walk. Truly breathtaking.

Now we are walking down Scenic Ave. ~ in the summer you can't find a parking space on this street so it is a good thing that you can walk right on down here from your home at Weirs Beach Village. The winter time is quieter and allows one to reflect as they wander through the streets of Weirs Beach.

Tired of walking ? Jump aboard for a scenic ride around the lake.

Trains aren't your thing ? How about a dinner cruise on the Mt. Washington ? How lucky you are to have choices !

The emphasis here is on FUN ! Arcades, food... just chillin' on the boardwalk. Oh, the memories your family will create and keep...forever.

I am the queen of the bumper cars. I can't wait until they open for business in May ! I'm the one in the red car ~ watch out !

I really wish this stand was open for business as I walked by...peppermint stick ice cream in a sugar cone, please.

The Tower Hill Tavern is hopping in the summer ~ usually it is standing room only. Notice the small print - fried dough. Life is good.

And now the part of the walk which will allow us to break into a sweat - up Tower Hill. Ready ? I will race you to the top!

At the top of Tower Hill, take a left, cross the street and we are back at Weirs Beach Village.

Hope you enjoyed our virtual walk together. There is so much to do at Weirs Beach and if you live here, it is all within walking distance. It doesn't get much better than that. See you at the bumper cars !

In the beginning...

It is the last day of summer and I am sitting up at 'The Cottages' soaking up every last ray of summer sun. It has been a hectic summer up here at the Weirs and it is important for us to sit back and reflect on all that has been accomplished. As I look around at our newly paved roads, the new road signs and lamp posts, and the newly planted blueberry bushes and mums, I allow my mind to wander back in time...way back in time and try to imagine what this land used to look like in the beginning.


The Native American name Winnipesaukee means either "smile of the Great Spirit" or "beautiful water in a high place." At the outlet of the Winnipesaukee River, the Winnipesaukee Indians, a subtribe of the Pennacook, lived and fished at a village called Acquadocton. Today, the site is called The Weirs, named for the weirs that colonists discovered when first exploring the region. Fishing weirs were stone structures designed by Native Americans to help them catch fish. So it should not have been a huge surprise to any of us last summer when unusual pieces of 'stone' were discovered on site. Archaeologists were called in to perform a thorough search of the area. We all became familiar with the term 'Munsungun Chert' which was a stone used by Paleo-Indians to create hand struck tools. Munsungun Chert would indeed be a rare find since the Paleo -Indians used the tools they created to hunt Mastodons! Just imagine! We all held our breath while the unidentified stone was sent off to labs to be formally identified. The historian in all of us was in awe of the idea that Paleo-Indians and Mastodons once walked this ground. The business side of us wondered anxiously what a finding of Munsungun Chert would do to our project. The results came back ~ and the stone was identified as red jasper which was used more commonly by Native Americans to create tools by hand. The project moved forward but I believe that we all look at the site through new lens as we think of the people who inhabited these lands hundreds of years before us.


Here is the red jasper which was found on the site:

Eventually the land was transformed into the Weirs Beach Tent and Trailer Park. There were 180 sites on which people could pitch a tent or bring in their campers for the season. Being within walking distance to the Weirs Beach Boulevard, the Beach, the arcades and many other area attractions made this a prime camping location for many families through the years. Many wonderful memories were created and we have had more than a few visitors to 'The Cottages at Weirs Beach Village' who had spent many summer vacations on this site and just wanted to stop in to share a memory or two with us.

And on October 16, 2007 this land changed hands once again. For the past two years, work has been diligent and constant to create a community in which people can live comfortably year round in a vacation setting. This is not just another development. This is a community built with pride and respect for the land and the history surrounding it. We encourage you to stop in and take a tour of 'The Cottages at Weirs Beach Village.' And while you are there, take a minute to reflect on the footsteps of all who preceded you.