So, maybe I'm just nosey but...
 

So, maybe I'm just nosey but... We have lots of well-known summer (and full-time) residents and retirees around the big lake. I can think of MittRomney (former Gov of MA), who summers in Wolfeboro (?), and Gerry Cheevers (Ret. Boston Bruin) who lives out in Gilmanton, Pat Burns (former NHL coach), etc.

There were only a few I could name, when my out-of-town guests asked. I know there are more - I just drew a blank! :confused:

Who else can we think of that lives amongst us?

They live among us
 

I believe Drew Barrymore has a place on the lake

So, maybe I'm just nosey but...
 

There are many notables living in the Lakes Region, some full-time, others part-time. These people represent a wide range of society, business, sports, entertainment, education, politics, and service industries, and many of them are quite anonymous to most of us, but well-known within their own sphere.

One of the Lakes Region's qualities that attracts these people to this area is the ability for them to remain essentially anonymous. Now, I know this isn't the answer you were looking for, but, and this thread has come up before, it is the answer I like to give in an effort to preserve this quality of anonymity.

Personally, I know several captains of industry, and notables from other sectors of society, but I would never divulge their locations and compromise their reason for being here.

Plus, if the truth were known about the notables, then how could rumors and stories of sightings be spread around ? You know, "When in doubt, make it up".

Very well said, camp guy. It's none of my business who lives where. I respect people's privacy.

Peter

I'm here!
I'm well known among the people that know me. :laugh::laugh::laugh:

On a more serious note:

We have the former race track guy, who isn't exactly discreet and I know of two local high-tech multi-millionaires who are.

We also have the Microsoft multi-millionaire that rented his place to the French President.

best every four years when all the politicians show up to see us.

Almost sounds like a "journalist," fishing around for a story. It's happened before.

long history
 

I think the Barrymore family has been around the lake for generations. Recently I saw an antique poster advertising a stage play at the Weirs and one of her relatives was listed as the starring role. In a recent appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Drew said when she was a child her family used to take her to "this beautiful lake in New Hampshire." Jay reminded her that he grew up in North Andover MA and asked her to say which lake (it was Winnipesaukee.) And of course, Jay knew all about it.

Soo Funny....
 

how in conversations around the world that when ( WINNIPESAUKEE ) is mentioned... What... Where... And When.... Thank God that at the very least, we all know,.... Whats Up.... :)

LOL... wow, I didn't realize how serious everybody was going to take this!

No journalism going on, I just have company in from out of town for a few weeks, and last weekend, we took to ride around the Lake. Having lived in California, Hawaii, and Florida, they've seen the money spent on luxury homes. But New England is a whole new world for them (they love it here, of course), and they were curious who lives here, or vacations up here, as opposed to the white sandy beaches they're accustomed to seeing beside these mansions. --- So THAT's how it came up in conversation.

Hey, telling them that Aerosmith band members lived in Sunapee, and the guy that drew the Archie comic lived around here was cool! But, you know what, if you don't want to respond - don't!

Just wait a few weeks
 

Everyone is a bit cranky around here until the sun starts shining again.

They Protect Their Privacy
 

The "people of interest" do deserve their privacy but a few years ago I discovered that there is an attorney in the Wolfeboro area that works with these people and through trusts, corporations etc. makes it very difficult to really know who owns what. The atty's name appears on a lot of deeds but not that of the actual owner.

Some do hide but I know of one very well known New Englander who does not hide their identity when here. They were recently seen in southern NH buying one of their favorite things to collect and had it transported it back to LA.;) The event was actually video taped and could show up somewhere on TV but I do not know that for a fact it will.

You post was fine and I too was a little surprised at some people's responses. I too wonder who "lives among us". A few years back when he was with the Patriots I saw Charlie Weis several times one summer at Heath's Market in C. Harbor. The first time he was standing behind me in line and my husband (who was waiting for me at the front of the registers ) said..."Do you know who was standing behind you in line?" LOL!!! I then went on to see him a few more times that summer at Heaths. Now I must end my post because this week's issue of National Enquirer just came!! :laugh:

perfect!
 

I think you hit the nail on the head! I'm LOL right now.:laugh:

Wrong Town!!!
 

Jay grew up in ANDOVER - not North Andover. Sorry, but as an Andover native we are very proud of our success stories like Mr. Leno. :D

As for "famous" sightings and residents on the Big Lake - Barry and Elliot from Jordans Furniture have places on Moultonboro Neck. See them once in at Jo-Jo's getting their morning coffee!

I drive past Jay Leno's former childhood home every day on my way to/from work. Unfortunately it was torn down a few years ago. Guess what is there now? No, not a McMansion...but a driveway to a McMansion!
The McMansion was already there, set farther back on a different property. They already had frontage and a driveway on another street. From what I can tell, they bought the former Leno property, leveled it and put in a long driveway to the back of the house. I have always wondered if that is the driveway for the live-in maid or nanny or something. Strange....to me anyway.

I have such mixed emotions about this topic.

First and foremost, as any of the "little people" I am always curious as what notables may be among us. To Angela4design's point, I do enjoy taking first time visitors around the Lake and telling them that "so and so" lives there (it's human nature) and over there is ???. Simple examples of this (that are common knowledge to all) is the Marriot complex, Romney's, and Bahre's, the Mcrosoft exec where the French Prez vacationed (tough to hide that one with all the MP last year) among others that I have been able to decifer through the years.

I often wonder .......If these folks truely wanted to remain annonymous why do they try and outbuild the next with a larger McMansion. If they truely wish to remain incognito, and some respectfully do, (as just sold points out) their name is nowhere to be found in the property records and their desire for privacy should be respected.

I do not advocate (especially on an internet forum) giving out addresses ..... but on the other hand, for the most part -given their lifestlyes (huge houses, etc) I could make an argument for "no harm or no foul" in naming names, and let it go at that ............... again, I think it's part of our human nature to want to know.

I'm done --- as I said, I can truely see both sides --

Celebrity spottings around the Lake, 2003
 

This list includes sightings, frequent visitors and those that live here. It's from the forum archives (2003).
Click HERE to see the post



Got this from a Google search:

1. Paul Newman
2. Marlee Matlin
3. Tim Daly
4. Jeffrey Jones
5. Kirsty Alley
6. Debra Paget
7. Prince Albert
8. Don Amendiola
9. Lorne Greene
10. Farah Fawcett
11. Dustin Hoffman
12. Walter Brennan
13. Estelle Parsons
14. Barry Goldwater
15. Elizabeth Dole
16. Bob Dole
17. Joan Collins
18. Grace Kelly 19. Jack Lemmon
20. Sophia Loren
21. John Lithgow
22. Jane Fonda
23. Dudley Moore
24. Stephen Segal
25. Richard Dreyfuss
26. Holly Hunter
27. Danny Aiello
28. Tom Selleck
29. Michelle Pfeiffer
30. Henry Fonda
31. Parker Stevenson
32. Susan Ishee
33. Drew Barrymore
34. George Bush
35. Ronald Reagan
36. Kirk Douglas

Also, a Google Search uncovered some Drew Barrymore Wolfeboro vacation pictures:

http://aux.isifa.com/preview/splash_...wBarrymore.htm (end of original post) Note: Barrymore link no longer works

You can read the whole thread from the forum archive HERE


a pleasant respite from another forum topic. :argue:

Add to that numerous Hockey players former and current. I had also heard a rumor that Ben Affleck has visited the area. My guess is that there are numerous celebs who visit and keep a low profile while in the area.

I guess they would, given the number of people on the list who are 6 feet under...:laugh:

Thanks Phantom, you seem to have my point, completely!

I'm not trying to get the paparazzo invading the lake here! LOL And, I AGREE that addresses cross the line!!! There's just something cool about telling people that Adam Sandler had flashbacks of playing at Winnipesaukee in the movie "Click", for example. It's interesting!!

That's simply amazing, check out the 37th person. :eek:


1. Paul Newman
2. Marlee Matlin
3. Tim Daly
4. Jeffrey Jones
5. Kirsty Alley
6. Debra Paget
7. Prince Albert
8. Don Amendiola
9. Lorne Greene
10. Farah Fawcett
11. Dustin Hoffman
12. Walter Brennan
13. Estelle Parsons
14. Barry Goldwater
15. Elizabeth Dole
16. Bob Dole
17. Joan Collins
18. Grace Kelly 19. Jack Lemmon
20. Sophia Loren
21. John Lithgow
22. Jane Fonda
23. Dudley Moore
24. Stephen Segal
25. Richard Dreyfuss
26. Holly Hunter
27. Danny Aiello
28. Tom Selleck
29. Michelle Pfeiffer
30. Henry Fonda
31. Parker Stevenson
32. Susan Ishee
33. Drew Barrymore
34. George Bush
35. Ronald Reagan
36. Kirk Douglas
37. DPG

Arrgh you stole my thunder:laugh:
Quick call the cops I was Fleeced lol:emb:

Add Kate Hepburn to the list....
 

She spent time here during the filming of that movie about a lake in Maine, name Golden Pond, which was actuallly filmed mostly on that other lake in Center Harbor, named Squam, and partly filmed right here on Winnipesaukee - out in the broads!

What I would find interesting is to know the occupations of the 100 biggest tax bills around the lake. Even without names.

For example #37 Center Harbor, 3.7 million, invented the INTERNET and global warming.

Lorne Greene and Walter Brennan stopped their SeaDoo at my dock last summer looking for directions.

Celebrity in area....
 

I remember working at Smokehouse bike week and serving Ian Zering (90210) and his crew a few cocktails...he was laid back in his leather not a big deal though.

Were they looking for their little pieces of heaven? I think Walter has been searching since 1974 and Lorne since 1987.

I was there. I do remember that, he had his posse. Nobody seemed to care though as Bike Week attendees mostly had no idea who he was and those who did really didn't care who he was. He was just there to hang out like the rest of us.

Ian is usually there with the owner/face of Paul Mitchell( forgot his name) and Robbie Knievel.These guys stopped in to my building while riding up to MC week along with the ultimate icon of bikes,Peter Fonda.Needless to say I was bumbling my words trying to talk cool with these guys.

Asking the wrong person
 

They should have gone over to Moultonboro to ask Claude Rains...he found his little piece of heaven in '67.

They were looking for "Sleepers Island"

Did Lorne say?
 

I am fleeing from the McMansion tyranny, in the last Seadoo, Galactica, leading a rag-tag fugitive fleet on a lonely quest for a shining spot known as The Weirs :)

sightings
 

Wasn't Elvis sighted on moose island last summer?:laugh:

Yes he was....with Britney Spears:emb:

Come on, Elvis still has a career, Britney not so much :laugh::laugh:

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the New England native celebs whose presence at Winnipesaukee at one time or another would be a given.

hazlenut mentioned Ben Affleck, who is originally from Boston along with his pal Matt Damon. Wonder if either of those two has ever taken one of their celeb girlfriends to the lake while showing them around New England and saying "this is where I used to hang out when I was younger."

On Martha's Vineyard we have James Taylor and Carly Simon (residents) who have probably ventured this way at least a few times in their lives. Up in Bangor we have Stephen King, who has probably vacationed here at least once in his life, and who probably passes through this area every so often.

There's a lot of celebs who are New England natives, and there aren't a lot of New England natives who haven't been to Lake Winnipesaukee at least once.

Wildwoodfam, sorry to confuse Andover and North Andover.

Phantom, great observations. When I was in high school we had a lot of kids whose parents I thought were rich because they lived in huge houses and dropped their kids off in luxury cars and showed up for school events looking very well-dressed. Later in high school when the 1990s recession hit, many of us "non-rich" kids got to see that it was all an act. As it turns out, they didn't own any of what they had--the bank did. Ever since that experience I have never looked at McMansions as "real" wealth, just spending power. As a writer/photographer I've also met a few people with real money/status, and have found that most of them share one thing in common: They take very unassuming, undercover roles. They DON'T want others to know what they have. They stay under the radar, in every way possible. Growing up, we were friends with a multi-millionaire in a simple ranch house without even a lawn, just a bed of pine needles and a couple of old cars rotting in the yard. He used to sit out on his front step in his underwear and a T-shirt, reading the paper and smoking a cigar. I don't think I ever saw him clean-shaven.

Moral of the story is, "Objects in Mirror Are Not What They Appear To Be." Makes me wonder how many of the lake's current McMansions will remain occupied as this current economic downturn continues to run its course.

Oh definitely Stephen King has been round these parts. I recall reading one of his books that mentioned Route 25 through Center Harbor and Meredith.

CanisLupusArctos -- I agree with some of what you state. I too have had the opportunity (and in some cases privilge) to meet and become friends with some true "multi-millionaires" (by wealth) and they typically are the humblest of folks.

However, the point of the thread ...... started by angela4design ..... was simply who is amongst us ...... celeb or notable figures. A simple and straight forward question by a forum member!! My reference to the McMansions was to the obvious austentatious lifestyles of some (perhaps cleb / perhaps not) amongst us -- whether that money was earned, inhereted or borrowed is irrelevant.

Oops. What I had meant to illustrate was that the famous might not be living in mansions around here, and many of them probably like to stay undercover in the way they live when they come here, even if they live lavishly at their permanent residences. But I got off-topic while attempting to express that.

The King Lives.....but not at the lake
 

I remember years ago hearing that someone had seen Elvis here at the lake on a summer weekend and I thought for years that this was just one of those folk legend sorta stories passed down through the ages......

But then this very afternoon as I was passing by Lowes in Gilford I glanced over at the Exxon across the street and ....trust me....there he was ...the KING....filling his pickup with gas.........not exactly at the lake....but pretty darn close to it....does that qualify as a celebrity at Lake Winnipesaukee.....??(I woulda' thought he would have someone pump for him.... Go figure..!!);)

There's a new to Microsft exec on the lake, been here for many years and 3 years ago joined Microsoft in a high level position. I also heard Oprah has a place (could be one of those rumors). Ben Affleck has been here, I saw a pic taken on my street.

pretty cool thread
 

I will say, that I'm not that into celebrities. I've had an opportunity to hang with a number of them over the years and in my opinion, most are insecure, high maintnance idiots (Drew Berrymore comes to mind as a specific example). So I would just assume hang with my genuine friends and family. My opinion aside, Americans are infatuated with celebrity staus (even faux celebs, such as reality stars) So I also get a lot of questions on who goes to Winnie for summer vacations and I have a place in Vegas, so there is always the question of who did you run into out there, upon my arrival back to NH. It is a nice conversation starter with those who you know would be interested and it also seems to make people smile to know they are vacationing where the celebs hang.
To add to the list, I had drinks with Adam Sandler (NH Native) and Kevin James (King of Queens, Chuck and Larry) while at the Mandalay Bay last winter and they have both been to the lake over the past few summers. Sandler bought his sister a place on Governers and he visits quite frequently. You also might see him at the DeAngelo's or Papa Gino's. He loves them and you can't go to either outside of NE. Ran into him at Mass Gen (he was visiting burn victims from NH, he's a really good guy) and he said he is looking forward to coming up again this summer.