A small gem of a community with a population under 5,000 people, charming Carlisle offers a rural residential setting Henry David Thoreau once called "city of the woods".
To preserve the character of Carlisle, new residential construction requires a minimum of 2 acres. Conservation land makes up one-fourth of the total town's land of 15.5 square miles. Carlisle is home to Great Brook Farm State Park and part of the Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, along the Concord River. Follow the winding roads of Carlisle and you will find farms situated on winding roads as well as a working cranberry bog. For all the amenities, you expect from a world-class city, Boston is only 19 miles away.
Settled by English Colonists in 1651 and incorporated in 1805, today Carlisle is a sought after community with excellent schools and recreation opportunities. Ferns Country Store is located in the center of town. Here you will find quality deli meats and cheeses, wine, beer, and bakery. Within the store is a cafe with indoor and outdoor seating. This is a great place for residents to gather for morning coffee or lunch. Carlisle also has a dentist, library, bookstore, and two ice cream shops. The former Blue Jay Recording Studio, built partly underground, is located in Carlisle. Before modern technology replaced the traditional recording studio, many famous artists recorded at the Blue Jay, including Aerosmith, the Platters, Billy Joel, k.d. Lang, Rihanna, and the Boston Pops- to name just a few.
Bring the family and enjoy a day out at Great Brook Farm State Park. The working dairy farm, home of the first robotic milking system in Massachusetts, serves ice cream made from their own dairy products. Native Americans once used the location of Great Brook Farm State Park as a sacred site and by the early seventeenth century, English settlers worked a mill there. Today, residents and visitors enjoy farm tours, petting zoos, hiking trails, and horseback riding. Cross-country skiing is popular during the winter months with Great Brook Farm State Park being one of the premier ski touring centers in New England.
Interesting Fact
A little music trivia for all music aficionados: Did you know that Carlisle was once home to Blue Jay Recording Studio? No, you say? Well, you aren't alone since most of the town's residents weren't aware of this little gems existence. Located on the east side of town, near an auto body shop, sits the nondescript looking building that offered no hint to what or who was inside of its walls. Since its opening in 1979, some of music's legends such as the Platter's, Roy Orbison, Billy Joel, Carly Simon, the Boston Pops, and Lady Gaga graced the recording studio with their presence. Although the studio is no longer there, Blue Jay Recording Studio will forever be thought of as one of the best recording venues in New England.
Carlisle Schools
