The good news during the coronavirus crisis— and it’s a stretch, to be sure — is that Westporters have discovered Sherwood Island State Park.
The closure of Compo Beach in the early days of the pandemic forced a number of serenity-seeking residents to the 235-acre gem. It’s easy to miss, and most folks here have. But if you head just a few yards beyond the I-95 Exit 18 on-ramps, you’ll find many wonders: a broad beach, woods, marshes, walking and biking paths, wildlife, a Nature Center, Connecticut’s 9/11 memorial, and much more..
Including a semi-overgrown, tree-lined spot leading to … last week’s Photo Challenge.
Located on the north end of the park, near Compo Cove and Old Mill, it was once the entrance to the Sherwood family farm and “mansion.” There’s not much to see there now, other than nature at its finest. (Click here for the photo; click here for a fascinating history of the park, and the land around it.)
But Susan Thomsen, Andrew Colabella, Nancy Axthelm, Rich Stein, Jalna Jaeger, Susan Schmidt, Moira Eick and Stacie Curran all knew exactly what Mary Sikorski’s image showed.
You can see it too. It’s there for us all at Sherwood Island — and it’s free. All you need is a Connecticut license plate. What are you waiting for?!
And don’t wait to answer this week’s Photo Challenge. If you know where in Westport you’d see this, click “Comments” below.

(Photo/Dan Woog)
Westport Country Playhouse
I agree wcp…
Agree with Wendy. WCP.
Gault barn on South Compo.
Gault barn on South Compo.
Westport playhouse — the old tannery factory way back when……
It looks like you didn’t have to travel too far to take this photo (which I like very much by the way).
It looks a little beat-up to be the Playhouse, but that was my first thought, too.
Westport Country Playhouse.
Literally my first reaction to this photo is Westport Playhouse
And that light even though not on, reminds me of the ‘ghost light’ in theatre.
I just saw Mo Rocca’s interview with Broadway’s entertainers.
https://youtu.be/DBBMgbN71j0
However.,my mind drifts to other possible red barn structures….
Concession gazebo at Westport Country Playhouse. Sadly, it won’t be in use this year as the 2020 season is postponed until 2021. Programs happening this year online. Visit: westportplayhouse.org
playhouse.
Westport play house?
Westport Country Playhouse
Westport Playhouse
It is the Westport Country Playhouse — specifically (as Patricia Blaufuss notes), the concession stand in the courtyard. Nothing says “summer theater” like that spot!
Playhouse
I’d be a bad previous employee of the Playhouse if I didn’t know this picture of the gazebo/bar outside the bar in the garden!
Westport playhouse
Fairfield Hunt Club
Oh well
The concession window in the outside garden at the original/old Playhouse
Correct, as noted above.