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This post goes under the heading of "why was this our first visit" when it is 6 miles from home.
We live in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, where the men are hardy, the women are capable and the maple trees are plentiful. In the town of Thornton sits a fairly rustic structure with a sign announcing it's function.
Benton's Sugar Shack, it is more than a shack but not by much. The weathered barn board and muddy parking area reminds travelers of any New England barn they have driven by hundreds of times. But inside the operation boils down barrels of maple syrup everyday, and will burn 30 cords of wood to achieve the golden brown nectar in a season. Also inside is the best breakfast around, nothing fancy- served on paper plates with plastic forks and knives but delicious as any place I have eaten in the world.
Tour the Maple Sugar production, while you wait to be seated, it is fascinating to see and smell (bring the kids).
...Get there early, or bring your clubs. The Sugar shack has a driving range across the street for golfers to groove their swing before or after breakfast.
Tapping: in the early spring when the days are warm and nights are cold sugar maple trees are tapped. The Sap runs into buckets and is transported by hand or pipeline to a collection system.
Mike Benton gives the tour while you're waiting for breakfast. Here he's feeding wood into the evaporator system that boils down 40 gallons of sap to make just one gallon of maple syrup.
They sell the finished product at the sugar shack, and it is also carried at Clark's trading post a near by attraction that has trained bear shows during the summer months.
This is a Authentic place to take the family, and was fun for my wife and I as well. We live so close to some really terrific "only in New Hampshire" attractions and enjoy discovering new places close to home everyday.
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Chef Tony Pierce a well know culinary artist has left the comfort of the very successful Sunset Room at Owls Nest golf course, to begin a new chapter. This will be a dream come true for Tony, his ownership and his following will make this a wonderful venture and I'm betting a huge success.
The quaint building is bigger than it looks, and Tony's features a fine dinning Italian menu , and a south west style Lounge menu. Add some outdoor seating for a special occasion , a BBQ - Smoker with Room for events over looking the Jack O'Lantern Golf course. I think this place will be a Home Run (or in this case an hole in one)!!
The Quiet Thornton NH location off Rte 3, is enhanced by easy access (just a mile from exit 30 off I93) and directly abuts a picturesque setting on a golf course, with views of the Pemi river, and the Franconia Notch Mountain range.
Tony has always been one of my favorite chefs in the area, Rick , Denise, Fred, Jeanie, Amy and others are all a lot of fun and will make sure your dinning experience is terrific.
Only open a week and already rave reviews, the former Franny's restaurant got a huge face lift
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Thornton NH. , Was named for Dr. Matthew Thornton, who was an Army Surgeon, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, a justice of the Superior Court, speaker of the house of Representatives, member of the state senate,delegate to the Continental Congress, and President of the state following the Revolutionary War.
The Town of Thornton is approximatly 50 square miles in size, lies in the County of Grafton and the 2000 & 2006 Census indicates a population is approximatly 2,100 residents.

Owls nest golf course / the Mad River / Maple Sugar Shack / Tripoli Camp sites / Town seal
Like most of Central and Northern New Hampshire towns there are many things to do in Thornton, Two Golf Courses have at least some of the facilities in Thornton, The Mad River, and the Pemigewasset rivers flow though town for fishing and boating enthusiasts. The Sugar Shack and maple sugar products can be found in town (along with the White Mountain Boogie & Blues concert). Tripoli Road is only open in the summer and is a haven for National Forest Campers and hikers. The Mountains and the Waters of the region had their hand in our real estate office name, that is why Alpine Lakes Real Estate co. does it's business in the White Mountain of New Hampshire. For Web links and real estate information visit our home page go to : www.alpinelakes.com or email me for more information steve@alpinelakes.com
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