The Shepaug Valley Railroad stopped operating in the 1940s, but there’s been a new arrival at the historic Roxbury train station.
The owners of Mine Hill Distillery, who bought four buildings on land there in 2015 to start their distillery business, have opened a tavern/gathering place with a bar and rotating food trucks at their restored train station.
General manager and part owner Ron Neugold hopes it becomes a place for fun, conversation and “healthy debate.”
“I want people to feel when they arrive that they’re like family and friends but we haven’t seen them in awhile,” Neugold said.
Referring to the name, The Crooked Rail, Neugold said, “There’s no such thing as straight in the railroad business or in life.”
For now The Crooked Rail will be open Saturdays and Sundays from 12:30 to 7:30 p.m.
“Our hope is weekends are busy and we expand our hours,” Neugold said.
He said their property sits on the turn of the Shepaug River, hence the playful name of the new hangout.
The Roxbury train station, a historic landmark built in 1872, was once a vital part of the Shepaug Valley Railroad. The railway connected Litchfield County to New York City and New Haven, serving both passenger travel and the transportation of goods such as granite, steel from Mine Hill, lumber, grains from local Roxbury farms, and cigars manufactured locally in what is now the main distillery building for Mine Hill.
The owners of Mine Hill Distillery, who bought four buildings on Roxbury land in 2015 to start their distillery business have opened a tavern/ gathering place with a bar and rotating food trucks at the restored Shepaug Valley Railroad train station. (Contributed) The owners of Mine Hill Distillery, who bought four buildings on Roxbury land in 2015 to start their distillery business have opened a tavern/ gathering place with a bar and rotating food trucks at the restored Shepaug Valley Railroad train station. (Contributed) The owners of Mine Hill Distillery, who bought four buildings on Roxbury land in 2015 to start their distillery business have opened a tavern/ gathering place with a bar and rotating food trucks at the restored Shepaug Valley Railroad train station. (Contributed) The owners of Mine Hill Distillery, who bought four buildings on Roxbury land in 2015 to start their distillery business have opened a tavern/ gathering place with a bar and rotating food trucks at the restored Shepaug Valley Railroad train station. (Contributed) The owners of Mine Hill Distillery, who bought four buildings on Roxbury land in 2015 to start their distillery business have opened a tavern/ gathering place with a bar and rotating food trucks at the restored Shepaug Valley Railroad train station. (Contributed) The owners of Mine Hill Distillery, who bought four buildings on Roxbury land in 2015 to start their distillery business have opened a tavern/ gathering place with a bar and rotating food trucks at the restored Shepaug Valley Railroad train station. (Contributed) Show Caption1 of 7The owners of Mine Hill Distillery, who bought four buildings on Roxbury land in 2015 to start their distillery business have opened a tavern/ gathering place with a bar and rotating food trucks at the restored Shepaug Valley Railroad train station. (Contributed)Expand
The Crooked Rail seats 65-70 inside and 15-20 on the scenic outside with scenic, relaxing views.
He said the “vibe is comfortable, casual, country.”
The original beams of the train station are in place.
They also found an old train schedule indicating, “You could catch a train from New York and be here in three hours,” Neugold said.
“One of the really cool things,” he said, is they preserved an old freight scale. The limit for baggage was 150 pounds, per passenger, he said.
“You definitely know you’re in an old repurposed building,” Neugold said. “Our property has a colorful history.”
He said they now have a liquor license beyond the limited one they have had for their tasting room in another building on the complex.
The Crooked Rail, outfitted with large oak tables and leather seating will serve Mine Hill Distillery bourbon and rye, craft cocktails of all kinds, and craft beer and wine from Connecticut.
Rotating pizza and other food trucks will visit.
The restoration in the buildings onsite, the distillery, tasting room, and train station, include leaving a lot original touches such as wood floors scarred and discolored by tobacco leaves when it was a place to wrap cigars years ago.
“It’s a reminder of the history of the building and the role that tobacco played in the states history,” Neugold said.
Since its restoration the train station has been used for weddings, anniversary parties and other events.
The property received an Historic Preservation Award for Connecticut and the Roxbury Station Historic District is also now on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Crooked Rail is decorated with rotating art exhibits by local artists.