Donnellan's Riveredge like home

Hi!

My mother and I were going through some old pictures and we came across some of them from our family vacations at Donnellan's of Riveredge.  We started going there in 1981 which put me at 6 years old. I'm now 30 and have very fond memories of the place.  We stopped going there after my father passed away in December of 1983.

The last I heard of the resort it was sold and made into a health spa resort.  Would you happen to know if this is true or has it been sold since and made into something else?  My mom, brother and I have gone to Cave Hill up the road but it was never the same as Donnellan's.  Donnellan's had that feeling of home.  I'd really appreciate a response to this whether or not you know the answer.  I thank you.

Sincerely,

--Carolyn Sweeney (Married with a 2 year old looking to make new family memories)

Family bonding at Riveredge

Oh, how I do remember this lovely little home away from home. My family & I came from Milford, CT, just an hour or so from where we lived. Most people thought we were nuts to take a vacation so nearby. Little did they know how delightful it was to arrive not exhausted or fighting with the kids &/or spouse after miles & miles on the road, to be greeted by the friendly faces of Art & Olga Donnellan.

I first found the resort in an ad in the NY Times (when it was obviously much cheaper to advertise) and thought why not? We'd been to Mystic. How about a leisurely jaunt up I-95, skip over to Rte 9 & wend our way up to Moodus??

I sent a check to the resort well in advance of our arrival & on a lovely Saturday afternoon slowly drove our car (a 1969 Oldsmobile) along the gravely dirt road to the resort. We parked near the "office" (just a small room off the kitchen area, where we learned later that Olga would work her culinary magic) and proceeded to check in.

Olga looked & looked and could not find any evidence of our prepayment. But being the jolly, wonderful woman that she was, she said, "Don't worry. We have a nice little cabin available for you and your daughters!"

A young fellow named Mike led us to our accommodations and we were thrilled. A room for my husband & me, and another for our two girls, plus a sparkling clean bathroom, all just feet away from the Salmon River!

The next week consisted of three meals a day, pool games, river boat rides, tennis, archery, evening bonfires (with Art telling stories & serving up way too salty ears of corn), no TV, no radio. Our family actually bonded rather well.

Our first morning's breakfast was one of pancakes, French toast, bacon, sausage & toast, plus eggs over easy for my husband. He said that the eggs were too hard to cut. I looked at him with eyes somewhat squinty and said "What do you mean, you can't cut your eggs??? " I took a knife & tried sawing at the yolks myself. Nothing. We then saw several young folks in the kitchen laughing -- my husband had been given rubber eggs!! We knew then that Donnellans was our kind of place.

We went back for another year, this time booking a cabin right on the river. Our youngest daughter often went off by herself to a little area loaded with wildflowers and called it the "Lands of Love."

We truly miss the camaraderie, kindness and just good old fashioned family togetherness that we found at Donnellans.

--Holly Shore

First crush at Riveredge

When I was 10, which was 22 years ago, my family and I would go for a week or 2 to a resort called Riveredge which was in Moodus.

I have some cute memories and photos from there. I remember I had my first crush there, would join in all the games, like the sac races, the pie eating contests, etc. I also enjoyed the paddleboats and learning how to use a scaddadle (water skiis covered with canvas).

I remember going to the rec hall to play ping pong or watch a movie. I remember having corn roasts and hot dog roasts at night near the river and taking tours on the pontoon boats. I even think I remember one of the social directors there whose name was Arty.

Can you tell me if the resort still exists or is still open? I would love to take my children back there.

Thanks,
--Jeanette Ziangos

Riveredge echos of childhood

I was quite surprised to turn up your excellent web site! It brought back many memories of growing up there: buying eggs from your family's farm (I assume the coops/art center were located on the farm on the hilly road to Banner Lodge), the lazy summers at Riveredge (we had a reunion at Frank Davis - 200 people came), and the old downtown with the wooden sidewalks. My uncle Art still has old clippings of the great flood in the 20s which took out the power plant on the Salmon River and crested at a good 20' above normal.

Riveredge is now a private residence, after a brief attempt as a time-share, but I can still see ghostly echos of my childhood every time I drive by the place.

==Diana Donnellan in California (must be an affinity for earthquake country)

Many Riveredge memories

I stumbled across your site while googling for 'moodus riveredge', and was quite surprised to turn up your excellent web site! It brought back many memories of growing up there: buying eggs from your family's farm (I assume the coops/art center were located on the farm on the hilly road to Banner Lodge), the lazy summers at Riveredge (we had a reunion at Frank Davis - 200 people came), and the old downtown with the wooden sidewalks. My uncle Art still has old clipping of the great flood in the 20s which took out the power plant on the Salmon River and crested at a good 20' above normal.

My family still remains on Clark Gates Road by the old apple orchards, but I left for better schools in the late 60s. Riveredge is now a private residence, after a brief attempt as a time-share, but I can still see ghostly echos of my childhood every time I drive by the place.

Thanks - Diana Donnellan in California (must be an affinity for earthquake country)

Fish story at Riveredge resort

I stayed at the Riveredge resort about 30 years ago and my whole family loved it. We had pie eating contests, corn roasts, water skiing, boating and fishing --In fact there was a great big fish that used to swim up and down the river that liked to stick its head out of the water and scare everyone out of the river when ever it came. I rowed my canoe out to it and banged it on it's head with my oar. I was hailed as a "hero", but the darn fish almost swamped me and my boat.

I miss the rec. room and the pool and the dinner bell at the main house on the hill. I have two kids of my own now and I would love to have taken them there, but according to this list it is gone :(

Well, we will try the Sunrise Resort this year, and I will always have fond memories of Riveredge.

--Joe