Welcome to... Whiting Farms Commons Come join the newest active adult community of 25 elegant homes located in the seaside village of Niantic, Connecticut Home About Niantic Our Community Home Sites Floor Plans Contact Us About Niantic, Connecticut Niantic is convenient to beaches, marinas, golf courses, shopping, casinos and major transportation. Niantic is a village of East Lyme, Connecticut. The town of East Lyme was incorporated in 1839. It is bordered on the east, by the scenic Niantic River while on the south lies Long Island Sound which provides an 11-mile shoreline. English settlers from Saybrook and New London claimed farms in what are now the villages of Flanders and Niantic. Perhaps the best known story of East Lyme is that of the Bridebrook Marriage Ceremony. In 1646, a young couple on their wedding day were disappointed to find a blizzard prevented the local magistrate from attending. A stone tells the story and marks the spot where the couple standing in the Connecticut colony shouted their vows across the brook during the blizzard to Gov. John Winthrop, standing in the Massachusetts colony, who obligingly shouted the words of the ceremony back over raging wind and the roaring brook to marry them. The Thomas Lee House is one of the oldest wood frame houses in Connecticut. “Flanders” was named for the burgeoning textile industry of the 1700s, similar to the cottage textile industry in Belgium. Niantic Village evolved from a sleepy fishing village into a tourist destination in the 1800s. The railroad introduced travelers to the beauty of East Lyme’s beaches and by the 1880s several shore resorts had developed. Niantic Village continues that tradition with seasonal visitors doubling the population during the summer months. Today East Lyme is a delightful blend of residential homes with abundant tourist and recreational opportunities. From the scenic roads and old country farms of Flanders, to the quaint seaside shopping and lodging available in Niantic Village, East Lyme offers a wide range of activities for all ages. The Smith Harris House on Society Road, built around 1845, is now one of Connecticut’s most personable museums. Explore the Children’s Museum of Southeastern Connecticut, the beach at Rocky Neck State Park, hike the Nehantic Forest or dine at one of the local restaurants for fresh seafood delicacies.