15 Best Things to Do in Dudley (MA)

Located about 30 minutes south of Worcester, Dudley is a quiet town on the border with Connecticut.

In the early 19th century, the site was at the heart of the American Industrial Revolution as a center for the textile industry.

It is interesting to think that the textile industry existed in Dudley well into the 21st century, and there is a stunning mill complex dating from the mid-19th century that is now protected as a National Historic District.

Dudley is a small city with a population of less than 12,000, but it occupies a large portion of central Massachusetts.

Much of this land, from granite-covered hills to wetlands teeming with birdlife, is protected by local conservation trusts, giving you endless options for walking and nature study.

1. Black Tavern

On Dudley Town Common, Dudley's main point of historical interest is a Federal-style hotel, built in the late 19th century.

At the time, the Black Tavern was a stop, about halfway along the stagecoach route between Boston and Hartford, Connecticut.

This building is five bays wide, two and a half storeys high, and has belonged to the same family for almost all of its existence, ensuring an amazing state of preservation.

All have been preserved by the Black Tavern Historical Society, which turned over the building in 1980.

Delving into a wide range of history-based topics, visit the association's website to find out opening hours and upcoming events. There is also an annual craft fair in October on the hotel, grounds and commons.

2. Pierpont Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary.

Dotted with ponds, woodland and wetlands, the northern reaches of Dudley can feel very remote. This spectacle can be enjoyed in protected areas and protected properties such as Mass Audubon's Pierpont Meadow.

This is 211 former farmland, completely cleared for agriculture, although you would hardly recognize it today. The biggest reminder of the good old days are the venerable stone walls hiding on the edge of meadows and in pine groves.

The meadows are magical on summer days when the fireflies are out, and that's when you can see the beavers doing their thing in the small pond along Marsh Road.

3. Quinebaug River Valley Rail Trail

The South Bridge Spur of the Providence and Worcester Railroad was built through Dudley in the 1850s, providing a passenger connection with Boston until 1921, and freight service continued into the 1990s.

Since the mid-2000s, there has been a long-term plan to transform the spur into an 11-mile multi-use rail trail running through Southbridge, Dudley and Webster.

When we compiled this list, there were two complete sections, the longest of which runs 4.1 miles in Dudley and Southbridge. The route begins near the MA/CT line and is a scenic route, winding through a wooded river valley, via Route 131 to Soutbridge on the edge of downtown.

4. Tufts Branch Valley Wildlife Sanctuary

Located west of the Nicholls College campus, Tufts Branch is a city-owned conservation area that was acquired by Dudley in 2008 to protect it from development.

With two miles of trails, you can explore more than 80 acres of forests, wetlands, and grasslands along the picturesque banks of Tufts Branch.

There are sections of the boardwalk above the Damper Ground, and you can find a kiosk with maps and brochures from the Dudley Conservation Land Trust at the main trailhead. A nice time to be here is in the spring when the apple trees are in bloom.

5. Dudley Public Library (Pearle L. Crawford Memorial Library)

In 2010, the city's public library moved into a permanently designed building on the site of the former City Hall at 40 Schofield Street.

The Dudley Public Library has a long history, having been founded in 1896 and moving to One Street Village in 1901, where it has remained for more than a century.

The current building was the result of more than a decade of planning, collaboration, and fundraising, and is a source of pride for the community.

It's a great local resource, with services, groups, and programs for all ages and interests.

There are well-designed rooms for children and teens to play, read and study, and large comfortable chairs where you can lose track of time with a book. The library also hosts art exhibitions from time to time in the Fells Community Room.

6. Walnut Lane Farm

Now in its fourth and fifth generations, the Kopke family has operated the 230-acre cattle ranch in Dudley since 1910.

Walnut Lane Farm has a booth at many area farmers markets, but you can also go directly to the source where the farm store is located.

The specialty here is grass-fed beef, which is raised on a 100% grass-fed diet and sold by the piece. You can also find milk-fed veal, pasture-raised pork, pasture-raised chicken, raw milk bottled fresh every day, locally made pantry goods, and goat milk soap.

7. Stevens Linen Works Historic District

Dating back to before the Civil War, this massive mill complex in Dudley was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2010.

At 8-10 Mill Street, Stevens Linen Works has produced linen and linen fabrics since the mid-19th century.

The first mill was established on the site in 1812, and the surviving main (third) granite building was constructed in the early 1860s.

At the time, linen was expected to overtake cotton as the fabric of choice in the United States, but then cotton production increased after the war.

Although the linen industry is now extinct, Stevens Mill had the longest lifespan of any linen mill in the country, operating until 2003.

Known for its elegant Italianate towers, the complex is in exceptional condition, with buildings built in the 1910s and 1920s.

8. Dudley Hill Golf Club

Famed golf architect Devereux Emmett (1861-1934) designed this 9-hole course in the rolling Dudley countryside.

An interesting detail about Emmett is that he was such a talented amateur golfer that in 1916 the United States Golf Association introduced a rule prohibiting architects from competing in tournaments.

Opened in 1926, Dudley Hill Golf Club was praised for its reasonable green fees, with prices for 18 holes ranging from $53 on weekdays to $60 on weekends when we wrote this article.

The level of maintenance is also top notch, with tee boxes, greens and fairways generally being in top condition all season long.

The big challenge comes from the rough, which is long and can be very rough, so precision is essential here.

9. Webster Memorial Beach

The best freshwater public beach for miles awaits you in neighboring Webster. It is located on a lake with the mysterious name Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg, which received this new title in the early 1920s.

Webster Memorial Beach, patrolled by numerous lifeguards during the summer season, is located in a crescent of sand at the base of a small peninsula jutting into the lake.

You can lie on the sand, swim in the clear waters, and take a look around the park with its wonderful forests and beautiful sea views.

10. Samuel Slater Experience

You can learn more about Dudley's story in the 19th century by visiting this new experimental museum located just minutes away in Webster.

The Samuel Slater Experience tells you all about the English-born manufacturing pioneer, Samuel Slater (1768-1835). He was responsible for appropriating British textile manufacturing technology to spark the American Industrial Revolution at the end of the 19th century.

The museum has a series of multi-sensory rooms, where you will learn about the workings of a textile mill, the lifestyle of a factory worker, and what it was like to cross the Atlantic in the 18th century.

The museum also documents other periods of the Webster area's past, such as Prohibition, downtown life in the 1910s, streetcars, newspapers, and the beginning of cinema.

11. Ardlock Acres

In Dudley, you're never far from a place to spend an hour or two in nature on the road. A less frequented site on the MA/CT border is Ardlock Acres, which consists of more than 90 acres donated to the city in 1991.

The trail in this protected area takes you through lush deciduous forests on the banks of two ponds flowing from the same stream.

The loop is just under two miles long and includes a beautiful patch of marshy land near the water. In terms of wildlife, you'll see blue herons, cormorants, banded kingfishers and a wide range of amphibians.

12. Hiland Park/Slater Woods

One of the Dudley Conservation Land Trust's recent acquisitions is a pair of adjacent forest areas that have grown to more than 140 acres.

The main trail here takes you through the rugged landscape over hills and under canopies of pines, safras, maples, chestnuts and oaks.

In the upper reaches of the refuge you'll find impressive rock formations, while the path is carpeted with tiny hollow ferns.

The destination of this round-trip route is the magnificent Peter Lake, teeming with fish, amphibians, reptiles and bird life. You should allow about three hours for the round trip.

13. Shepherd Hill Festival of Crafts

A large annual event was held in Dudley at Shepherd Hill Regional High School on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Over two floors you'll find more than 200 quality craft vendors from all over New England.

To check out what's in store, you'll find handmade holiday gifts, home decor, fashion items, art, garden ornaments, jewelry, candles, small furniture pieces, artisanal cosmetics, and there's ceramics, glassware, pet gifts and more.

A variety of foods are prepared each year, along with performances by members of the high school's music programs.

14. The Dudley Grange Annual Strawberry Festival

Dudley Grange is a non-profit fraternal organization founded in the city in 1888.

The Grange raises money through annual events, such as the Apple Festival in the fall, and these strawberries herald the arrival of summer each June.

Located on the lawn at 139 Center Road, this event has been a fixture on the calendar for over 60 years.

The agenda includes live music, craft vendors, plenty of activities for kids, and the Grange's famous strawberry shortcake made with fresh strawberries. The festival begins at 4 p.m. and continues until the berries run out.

15. Indian Ranch

People have flocked to the shores of Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg in search of entertainment for the better part of 150 years.

The lake has been an important destination for live music since the 1940s, thanks to the Indian Ranch located to the east.

The venue made its name as a country venue, hosting Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson and Charlie Daniels.

Some more recent acts include "Weird Al" Yankovic, The Outlaws, The Mavericks, Ziggy Marley, Ann Wilson and Three Dog Night.

The site has a restaurant and campground, as well as the Indian Princess, a paddle-wheel riverboat, which departs on excursions throughout the summer.