Meredith Town Guide: Village Life on Lake Winnipesaukee

Meredith is the Lakes Region town that many people picture when they think of a summer on Lake Winnipesaukee: a village at the head of a bay, a waterfall running through the middle of downtown, and two lakes within walking distance of each other. But it is also a year-round community with a professional theatre, a winery, a brewery and a local history museum. This guide covers the things to do in Meredith NH, in any season.

Meredith at a glance

Meredith is a town in Belknap County. The 2020 census counted 6,662 residents, with 2,527 of them in Meredith Village, the commercial center. The village sits at the junction of US Route 3 and NH Route 25, at the head of Meredith Bay on Lake Winnipesaukee.

Water dominates the map. About a quarter of the town's area is water. The village lies between Meredith Bay and Lake Waukewan, a second village called Meredith Center sits near Lake Wickwas, part of the town's southeastern boundary with Laconia runs along Lake Winnisquam, and the northern half of town is a peninsula, Meredith Neck, that separates Meredith Bay from the main body of Winnipesaukee. The highest point is the summit of Leavitt Mountain, at 1,414 feet, in the southwestern part of town.

A short history

Meredith was first known as Palmer's Town, after Samuel Palmer, a teacher of surveying and navigation who laid out much of the land around Lake Winnipesaukee. In 1748 it was one of the first towns chartered by the Masonian Proprietors. Many grantees came from Salem, Massachusetts, so it was renamed New Salem. It was settled in 1766 and regranted in 1768 by Governor John Wentworth, who named it for Sir William Meredith, a member of Parliament who opposed taxing the colonies. Early farmers grew corn, wheat, rye and potatoes, but the town became known for its apple orchards.

The most visible piece of history is the waterfall downtown. From 1816 to 1818, John Bond Swasey built a 600-foot, rock-lined canal that redirected the flow from Lake Waukewan and created a 30-foot drop at a single sluiceway, at what is now Mill Falls Marketplace. That waterfall powered sawmills, gristmills, cotton mills and, in 1895, the Meredith Electric Light Company. In 1974 the Swasey family donated land for Swasey Park on Lake Waukewan, near the start of the canal.

The railroad arrived in March 1849, and Meredith became a summer resort. Visitors also arrived by steamboat from Alton Bay. The town remains a popular destination, and the town is home to the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad.

Learn the local story

The Meredith Historical Society runs the Main Street Museum in the village and hosts a speaker series. It is the best place to put the canal, the mills and the steamboat era in context. Check the society's website for the museum's current schedule and upcoming talks before you visit.

Walk the village and the falls

Start downtown at Mill Falls Marketplace, a collection of open-air shops, restaurants and services set beside the waterfall that Swasey's canal created. From there it is a short walk to the waterfront on Meredith Bay, and a short walk in the other direction to Lake Waukewan and Swasey Park. Few towns let you see two lakes and the engineering that connects them in a single stroll. Before the canal, Measly Pond Brook, also called Corliss Brook, drained Lake Waukewan into Winnipesaukee, and its water rights powered a gristmill and sawmill in the village from 1795. By 1859 the village also had a shingle mill, a blacksmith shop, a harness-maker and a tannery. Our Lakes Region shopping guide covers the shops inside the marketplace in detail.

See a show

The Winnipesaukee Playhouse on Footlight Circle is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that presents year-round professional theatre, community theatre and education programs. For a small town, having a professional stage that runs all year is unusual, and it gives Meredith a cultural life well beyond the summer season. Check the playhouse's website for the current season and education offerings.

Taste local wine and beer

Hermit Woods Winery & Eatery in Meredith makes wines from local fruits other than grapes, along with meads and ciders. The winery was founded by three friends, and in 2022 it changed its name from Winery & Deli to Winery & Eatery, reflecting a farm-to-table menu. Its Loft, built in 2020, is a listening room for live music. If you have never tried wine made from New England fruit, this is the place to start, and the Eatery means you can make a meal of the visit rather than a quick tasting.

Twin Barns Brewing Co. on Daniel Webster Highway opened in July 2019 in a barn that dates to the 1850s, and it has since added a second taproom in North Woodstock. It is an easy stop on Route 3 on the way into or out of the village, and the old barn setting suits a New Hampshire brewery well.

Slow down: floating and massage

If your idea of a lake vacation includes real rest, the Meredith Whole Living Center offers float therapy, massage, infrared sauna and skin care. A float session or a massage after a day of hiking or paddling is a good way to reset. Book ahead, especially on summer weekends.

Get outside

• Swasey Park and Lake Waukewan: A quiet lakeside park near the start of the historic canal.
• The bay: The Meredith Bay waterfront is steps from downtown.
• Stonedam Island Natural Area: A protected island in town, part of what makes Meredith more than a resort village.
• Leavitt Mountain and Meredith Center: The quieter southwestern side of town sits near several protected state forests and wildlife areas.
• Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad: Based in Meredith, and a different way to see the lake country.

Meredith through the seasons

• Summer: Peak season, with the waterfront, boating, the playhouse and busy patios.
• Fall: Foliage around the lakes and quieter streets. A good time for winery visits and walks.
• Winter: The playhouse runs year-round, and a float session or a winery evening makes a cozy weekend.
• Spring: The falls run strong, and the village is quiet before summer.

A simple Meredith weekend

Saturday:

1. Coffee and a walk from Mill Falls Marketplace to the bay.

2. Visit the Main Street Museum to learn the canal story.

3. Lunch and a tasting at Hermit Woods.

4. An evening show at the Winnipesaukee Playhouse.

Sunday:

1. A morning walk at Swasey Park on Lake Waukewan.

2. A float or massage at the Meredith Whole Living Center.

3. A stop at Twin Barns on the way home.

Getting there

Meredith is at the junction of US Route 3 and NH Route 25. Routes 104 and 106 also cross the town. Center Harbor is just to the north, and Laconia is to the south.

Frequently asked questions

What is Meredith, NH known for?

Its village on Meredith Bay of Lake Winnipesaukee, the waterfall at Mill Falls Marketplace, the Winnipesaukee Playhouse and its lakeside setting between several lakes.

Where does the waterfall in Meredith come from?

John Bond Swasey built a canal from Lake Waukewan between 1816 and 1818, creating a 30-foot drop at what is now Mill Falls Marketplace.

Is Meredith worth visiting outside summer?

Yes. The playhouse runs year-round, and the winery, brewery and wellness center make for a good off-season weekend.

Who was Meredith named after?

Sir William Meredith, a member of Parliament who opposed taxing the American colonies.

Sources

• Meredith, New Hampshire, Wikipedia (2020 census, history, Swasey canal, geography, routes): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meredith,_New_Hampshire
• Meredith Historical Society: https://meredithhistoricalsocietynh.org/
• Mill Falls at the Lake, Marketplace: https://www.millfalls.com/marketplace/
• Winnipesaukee Playhouse: https://www.winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org/
• Hermit Woods Winery & Eatery, home and About: https://www.hermitwoods.com/ and https://www.hermitwoods.com/about
• Twin Barns Brewing Co.: https://www.twinbarnsbrewing.com/
• Meredith Whole Living Center: https://meredithwholeliving.com/