State Representative's Pat Widlitz (D-Guilford, Branford) and Lonnie Reed (D-Branford) along with State Senator Ed Meyer (D-Guilford) for the Thimble Islands Association, which passed both the House and the Senate., in order to help restore the ferry service The legislation, as per Connecticut code section 7-325, will allow the Thimble Islands to become their own taxing district. His sense of humor was a good addition. For years, ferry service was an entrepreneurial venture. If he calculated the hours,  he said, the business was a loss for him. The Thimble Islands are a chain of 365 islands in Stony Creek Harbor off the southeast coast of Branford in Long Island Sound. Belong anywhere with Airbnb. Would recommend for out of town guests. We offer regularly scheduled trips between April and October, privately reserved trips for island events or off-schedule requests, and delivery services. Located off the coast of Branford, Connecticut, eight islets in the Thimble Islands archipelago that hit the market in July 2016 for $78 million were recently reduced to $50 million. Very close to shore in the protected. Sea Mist Thimble Islands Cruise NEW: November 2019 Cruise / Seal Watch 10 persons minimum 34 persons maximum We are offering two days of a Boat cruise / … Guide was humorous and very informative but noticeably omitted specific mention of names of the current (probably very wealthy) inhabitants of most of the beautiful homes on the tiny islands. The ferry service may be contacted by phone (203.889.8365) or via the Thimble Islands Ferry website. While much has changed­ and the sheep have been replaced by summer dwellers, there is still a need for ferry service, yet according to Anthony "Unk" DaRos, there is not enough traffic to keep the ferry business lucrative. The Volsunga does not have a bar on board but alcohol is permitted. Then turn left onto Leetes Island Road and continue 1.6 miles. Welcome to Thimble Islands Ferry Service Reliable, professional transportation to and from the Thimble Islands. According to DaRos,, this is the biggest reason the ferry business has struggled to stay afloat. Would be wonderful if she could vary the presentation somewhat more to avoid sounding like a 'canned' recording with tones more like you'd hear on a kid's show. Our ride was slightly cloudy with a bit of a chill breeze: September afternoon. So when was the ferry business ever booming? And obviously, close sailing right next to the multiple islands is much more interesting than a cruise far offshore with only long view of a featureless land mass on a horizon. We took family visiting from out of town and that was the highlight for them. DaRos tells, back in the 1950s when he was schlepping coal and ice out to the Islander­s–before electricity was available to the summer homes–ferry riders shared trips with sightseeing tourists. While some families have lived there for decades, historical text reveals that Branford residents have been going out to the islands for more than 200 years. With many of Branford's neighborhoods already acting as their own taxing districts– the aforementioned Stony Creek, Short Beach, Pawson Park and East Indian Neck–it seems odd that the Thimble Islands is just now coming to this resolution. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel (CBBT) is a 17.6-mile (28.3 km) bridge–tunnel crossing at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, the Hampton Roads harbor, and nearby mouths of the James and Elizabeth rivers in the U.S. state of Virginia. The businesses, he lamented, is less profitable than ever and continues to be so as it presently runs. "It's their solution to keep the ferry working." Captain Bob Milne and the crew at Thimble Islands Cruise welcome you aboard for a 45 minute narrated tour (or private charter) while he maneuvers you through the enchanted Thimble Islands. Captain Mike was knowledgeable and entertaining. BRANFORD — Thimble Islands residents, having bit the bullet and voted to form their own special tax district to support the Thimble Islands ferry service, are questioning what some call a “sweetheart deal” that grants three tour boat operators space on the Town Dock, free street parking for customers and exclusive rights to carry sightseers for an annual payment of just $500. Like the Stony Creek Association, one of the oldest associations in Connecticut, the Thimble Island Association can now collect taxes based on a  mill rate and the town grand list. Prior to telephones, islanders hung a red flag on He's happy, he said, that the Thimble Islands Association has come up with a solution to support the ferry service. ", The "problem" for some Islanders is figuring out a dependable way in and out. DaRos said he intends to hold the meeting in Stony Creek on July 2 (check back for details). Fun, relaxing, informative 45-minute narrated cruise. Take a trip with Thimble Islands Ferry Service and stare at the gorgeous Connecticut coastline. Since the ferry has been in service (Captain Dwight Carter and Captain Dick Howd), passengers have enjoyed swift trips to and from the town dock in Stony Creek for a reasonable price (current price is $5 one way). It's a lovely area. Take a 45 minute cruise around the mauve-colored Thimble Islands (named for the prolific Thimble Berry, not their size.) The Thimble Islands are one of our favorite destinations on Long Island Sound and one of the prime locations where Captain Kidd’s treasure is supposed to be buried, although it doesn’t seem likely anyone could bury much of This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. When you arrive, take … The Thimble Islands Ferry Company provides daily ferry service for visitors to the island during the season and times the island is open. Definitely worth a visit on a nice day! The tour was informative and a great value for the price. The owner from Guilford, said Milne, operated the boat for a short time and then took off with the vessel. Bring your own snacks (none were available on the boat) and - as their web site urges - DEFINITELY use a bathroom before you walk to the dock and get on the boat. "The ferry," said Milne, "is the shepherd of the islands. He even recalls the 6:45 a.m. ferry as the "Daddy Boat"–the early trip that transported men from their summer homes to the mainland so they could take the train to New Haven or New York for work. After seeing the need for service, Milne said he bought boat a six-passenger aluminum launch (boat). Thimble Islands property owners, in a historic move to shore up ferry service that has connected the rocky, windswept islands to the Stony Creek mainland for well over a … Find unique places to stay with local hosts in 191 countries. The Thimble Islands are a chain of 365 islands in Stony Creek Harbor off the southeast coast of Branford, Connecticut in Long Island Sound. According Archibald Hanna's A Glimpse of the Thimble Islands published on the town website, the islands were used as pasture for livestock back in the 1700s. The money raised from taxes would be used to support a ferry service. The host is responsible for providing food and drink for their invitees. Even though windy our day, no major waves. Thimble Islands Ferry Service Dock/Boat Phone: 203-483-6659 Office: 203-889-8365 Home Schedule & Fares Logistics Local Services/Rentals About Us Photo … During an average summer, aboard his 25 … Picturesque and charming, Pot Island is noted in history for pirate & indian lore. From Memorial Day weekend through the end of July of 2010, there was no ferry operating to the Thimbles (read the New Haven Register story about it here). Bring a light jacket if you have a doubt about the weather. Foliage cruises, seal watch cruises, party or dinner cruises. It's estimated that about 100 families inhabit about 30 of the Thimble Islands during the summer months. He said he grew tired of the boat's upkeep and the cost of the businesses. No longer is there room for the tourists and locals to mix. Thimble Island House is located on Pot Island, one of the major Thimble Islands, close to the Stony Creek, CT shore. Captain Kidd sailed here in 1665…you can still feel his presence today. Check here for this year's schedule. Hotels near (ISP) Long Island MacArthur Airport, Blessed Michael McGivney Pilgrimage Center, Thimble Islands Brewing Company: Tickets & Tours‎, Old Quarry Olive Oil Company: Tickets & Tours‎, Brandford Antiques & Home Design: Tickets & Tours‎, Regal Cinemas Branford 12: Tickets & Tours‎. It has not yet been determined who will run the ferry service, though Milne said he has no intention to continue to do so in future years. In recent years, shared Captain Bob Milne who now mans the Thimble Island Ferry and who is also the famed captain of the tour boat, the Volsunga IV, he makes about 32 cents an hour running the ferry service from spring to fall. The Thimble Islands Cruise on the Sea Mist in Stony Creek, Branford was fantastic! There is a list of suggested caterers provided below. Daily 45-minute narrated sightseeing cruise of the Thimble Islands aboard the Sea Mist. From the late 1980s until the early 2000s, Bob Milne operated the Thimble Island Ferry in addition to running his sightseeing ferry. Fun, relaxing, informative 45-minute narrated cruise. In the warm season, a small ferry, Thimble Island Ferry Service, transports people and goods between the islands and the Stony Creek harbor on the hour from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. By Boat Latitude 41 15' 52" N Longitude 72 45' 11" W Distances on Land New Haven, CT - 11.6 Miles @22 Minutes via I-95N to Exit 56 Hartford, CT - 48.9 Miles @ 57 Minutes via I-91S to I … Very Reasonably priced, too! During an average summer, aboard his 25-passenger ferry vessel, Milne said he would make about 1,800 trips to the islands and back. Feel the sea breezes, hear the shore birds and soak in the sights aboard our comfy 48 passenger boat Volsunga IV. He ran the ferry through 2009 and then sold it to a man in Guilford, reported Milne. He sold the boat to sightseeing competition Captain Mike Infantino who runs the Sea Mist Thimble Islands Cruise. The highest they can tax is four mills, though DaRos thinks they will be taxing one tenth of a mill. Thimble Island boat tours run from May through October. The boat is very comfortable and Captain Mike gave a great narrated tour that was informative, educational, and also respectful to the people who own those beautiful homes on the Thimble Islands! This collection of over a hundred islands of various dimensions (only twenty five being inhabited islands) – some no bigger than a breadbox, others large enough for 32 houses – is home to star-studded history galore. There are no facilities right at the dock and none on the boat. Took a very enjoyable sightseeing cruise of the Thimble Islands aboard the Sea Mist. I'm grateful to various local residents (mostly relatives) for urging us to check it out. Created in the 1980s, the town ordinance, said DaRos, limited the number of sightseeing boats that could run to the Thimbles from its robust number to three. The Sea Mist can carry 49 passengers for a Thimble Island sightseeing cruise and 34 for a private charter. Dec 17, 2020 - Rent from people in Thimble Islands, CT from $20/night. In order for the legislation to be valid, 15 island residents have to sign a petition and the First Selectman has to hold a meeting where the island residents vote to become a taxing district. Songs of The Season - A Virtual Concert, Branford Weather Forecast For The Week Ahead, COVID-19 Victim Chronicles Final Days; News Anchor Tests Positive, 7 Stories From America’s Coronavirus Graveyard: Deaths Pass 300K, Obituary: Christine M. Caraglio, 36, of Branford. Overall, I'd strongly recommend this tour for a unique and pleasant experience. 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