Near the midway point of Cape Cod lies the town of Dennis, Massachusetts. Divided into five villages, the quiet residential villages of Dennis and East Dennis run along Route 6A and Cape Cod Bay; West Dennis and Dennis Port lie to the south along Nantucket Sound. The town’s commercial hub of South Dennis is central to each of these villages.
Villages of Dennis
Primarily residential in nature, East Dennis has been protected from overdevelopment. Crowes Pasture, featuring 1½ miles of dirt roads through open uplands and evergreen groves which parallel the bay, can be reached either on foot or by four-wheel drive vehicle. Its scenic hiking trails along Quivet Creek are bordered by low vegetation and wonderful Cape Cod Bay vistas.
West Dennis is where the quieter portion of the southern Cape begins. Commercial activities dissipate, neighborhoods and period houses reappear. A predominant white steeple sits above large older homes and summer cottages and the roads slowly wend their way towards West Dennis Beach, a popular spot for kiteboarding and windsurfing.
History of Dennis
Dennis was home to many sea captains and manufactured some of the 19th century’s finest packet boats, clippers, and schooners. The Shiverick Shipyard was known throughout the country and built at least eight clipper ships, all of which were recognized in the Golden Age of Sail. The Dennis Historical Society celebrates this history in its museums, including the Josiah Dennis Manse Museum, the Saltbox home of first minister and man for whom the town was named.
Things To Do in Dennis
When in Dennis, make time to visit the iconic Scargo Tower, a 30-foot high cobblestone structure that was rebuilt in 1901. The tower itself sits atop the highest hill on the Mid-Cape with views as far as Provincetown and Plymouth on clear days. Nearby is a pottery studio of the same name started by Harry Holl, a founder of the Cape Cod Museum of Art.
What started in the 1920s as a way for actors to escape the unyielding heat of New York City summers, the Cape Playhouse has turned into a New England tradition, and is often referred to as the “Birthplace of the Stars.” Legends such as Bette Davis, Julie Andrews, Humphrey Bogart and Gregory Peck have graced the stage. Also at the playhouse campus, known as the Cape Cod Center for the Arts, sit the Cape Cod Museum of Art and the art deco-style Cape Cinema.
There is easy access onto the Cape Cod Rail Trail right from Route 134 in South Dennis, and the town’s dog park offers a freshwater swimming area for your four-legged pals. There are two municipal golf courses in town.
Learn More About Dennis with Demakis Family Real Estate!
If you’re looking to become one of the town’s newest homeowners, contact Demakis Family Real Estate’s nearby Mattapoisett office for more information. You can also create an account to save your searches and receive updates when homes you may be interested in hit the market!
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