29°F
Clear
Humidity: 58%
Wind: W at 4 mph
Visitor Information
Shelburne Falls for the First-Time Visitor
Shelburne Falls is the business district shared by the towns of Buckland and Shelburne. Once a prime Salmon fishing spot for native Americans, the village gradually emerged more than a century ago as a manufacturing community centered around industry on the Deerfield River. The village experienced a revitalization in the 1980s and 1990s, and unlike many similar communities, evolved and continues to be a vital downtown with a growing reputation as an arts community.
The village resisted the "urban renewal" trend of the 1950s and 1960s, which has left our generation with an historic, turn-of-the-century setting for a unique mix of locally owned businesses.
It's a village where you can buy either a head of iceberg lettuce or a hand-blown glass vase!
Shelburne Falls is home to the world-famous Bridge of Flowers, which attracts more than 35,000 visitors a year, as well as the Glacial Potholes, a curiously beautiful rock formation. The Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum celebrates the village's transportation heritage.
Most everything in the village is within walking distance, so if you're planning to spend some time in the village -- and we hope you do! -- we encourage you to park in one of the free public parking lots off Bridge Street. (Follow the Parking signs, or see the location on the village map.)
The World-famous Bridge of Flowers
The World Famous Bridge of Flowers. In 2009, 34,346 visitors from around the globe walked over the Bridge of Flowers and signed the guestbooks - a 62.8% increase over the previous year! All 50 states were represented in the 2009 season while the number of foreign countries/islands was 91. The three busiest months of the year were July, August and October. Add to our total for this year by visting the Bridge of Flowers. For more information, visit the Bridge of Flowers website.
See the Glacial Potholes in the center of Shelburne Falls
The "Glacial Potholes" began to form after the last glacier age when the Deerfield River first started to flow over these rocks, about 14,000 years ago. The formation of these river-eroded features thanks to the great glacial lake, Lake Hitchcock, that filled the Connecticut Valley and also extended into the lower Deerfield Valley. While Shelburne Falls was not under Lake Hitchcock, it was under the sediments of the Deerfield River that built a delta into the lake. Lake Hitchcock drained by 14,000 years ago. The Deerfield River was then able to cut downward into its delta sediments. During this erosive process, which continues today, the river found itself on top of the gneiss bedrock and could start eroding holes in the hard gneiss.
The Village of Shelburne Falls Information Center
The Village Information Center is located at 75 Bridge Street is open from May 1 - October 31st, Monday - Saturday 10 AM - 4 PM and Sundays 12 PM - 3PM. Find information about local attractions, events, restaurants, and lodging. Handicapped accessible restrooms and internet access is available.
Ride Trolley No. 10 at the Trolley Museum
The Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum is dedicated to preserving and operating Shelburne Falls & Colrain Street Railway trolley car No. 10. This car was built by Wason Manufacturing Co. in Springfield MA in 1896. It was delivered new to Shelburne Falls and has never left the valley. For thirty years it served its namesake towns. For twenty years it crossed the Deerfield River on what is now the famous Bridge of Flowers. Saved by a local farmer, it spent sixty-five years as a chicken coop, tool shed and play house. Now, through the efforts of the Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum, you can ride it in the same freight yard where it used to load and unload passengers, apples, mail, milk and other freight, one hundred years ago. For more info, visit the website.
Area Newspapers
Shelburne Falls and West County Independent - Biweekly news and information about the area. See Business listing or visit their Website: http://www.sfindependent.net/
Greenfield Recorder - Daily news of the county and surounding towns. Thursday Arts section. See Business Listing or visit their Website: http://www.recorder.com/
Health Services
Medical Emergencies: call 9-1-1 anywhere in Franklin County.
Hospital
Franklin Medical Center
773-0211
164 High Street
Greenfield, MA
For a listing of health and wellness services,
Public Phones
Pay phones are located outside:
- Buckland Town Office
- Foxtowne Coffee Shoppe
- Buckland Neighbors
- Davenport's Mobil Station
ATMs/Banks
- 24-hour ATM and bank offices at Greenfield Savings Bank at Corner of Bridge and Main Streets
- 24-hour ATM and bank offices at Bank of Western Massachusetts at Corner of Bridge and Mechanic Streets
- ATM at Neighbor's Gas Station during open hours on State Street in Buckland
- 24-hour ATM only provided by Greenfield Cooperative Bank on Route 2 in Shelburne next to Goodnow's Chip and Putt and Shelburne Falls Coffee Roasters (Near the intersection of Route 2 and the Colrain/Shelburne Road).
Bank of Western Massachusetts
90 Bridge Street
625-6001
24 hour ATM (SUM, Plus, Cirrus)
Greenfield Savings Bank
corner of Bridge and Main Streets
625-9827
24 hour ATM (SUM, Plus, NYCE)
Buckland Neighbors
195 State Street
625-9577
ATM available during business hours (Plus, Cirrus, Novus)
Greenfield Coop ATM
Intersection of Route 2 and Colrain Rd. in Shelburne
