Babb's Beach

Babb's Beach spans approximately seven acres along Lake Congamond's Middle Pond, featuring 375 feet of sandy shoreline protected by gentle bluffs and offering swimming facilities, picnic areas, and recreational amenities managed by Suffield Parks & Recreation Department.

Originally constructed in 1898 as an amusement park by Nelson Babb Sr., the site operated as a popular lakeside resort featuring a dance hall that hosted famous Big Band performers like Tommy Dorsey and Harry James until Hurricane Diane damaged the waterfront facilities in 1955.

The former dance hall served as a central gathering place for community entertainment during the 1930s, accommodating up to 3,000 visitors on weekends and fostering social connections through dancing, roller skating, and musical performances that defined regional recreational culture.

The facility operates daily from 10 AM to 7 PM during summer season with free admission for Suffield residents who obtain park stickers from the Town Clerk's office, while prohibiting pets, alcohol, smoking, and grilling on the premises.

The site features a historic roller skating rink built around 1930 in a converted horse barn that continued operating until 1997, making it one of the few surviving examples of early 20th-century lakeside entertainment infrastructure in Connecticut.

Location: Suffield

GPS coordinates: 42.03000,-72.75111

Latest update: July 24, 2025 11:53