Dorset Marble Quarry: A Unique Vermont Swimming Hole
The Dorset Marble Quarry—which holds the distinction of being the oldest marble quarry in America—was established in Vermont in 1785 to provide the burgeoning United States of America with stone for libraries, mansions, and other stately buildings. Marble from the quarry even found its way across the border to Montreal, Canada. The quarry thrived until the onset of World War I—when the demand for marble plummeted. In the early 1920s, the abandoned quarry began to fill with water from nearby springs and melted snow from the surrounding mountains.
Over time, the Dorset Marble Quarry naturally filled with nearly 60 feet of chilly yet pristine water which appeared peridot green from a distance. Residents of Dorset, Vermont began to flock to the quarry to swim on sizzling hot days, The Dorset Marble Quarry steadily became one of Vermont’s most celebrated swimming holes—even if swimmers had to contend with overgrown vegetation, a total lack of amenities. and no lifeguards to assist in the event of an accident or injury. For many swimmers, the quarry’s rustic, relatively hidden location in rural Dorset was part of the appeal.
In 1997, Dick and Kristin McDonough decided to buy the Dorset Marble Quarry so that they could lovingly restore it and create a safe, joyful space where Vermont residents and others could swim and enjoy the treasured warmer months. The McDonough’s created a parking lot, planted some grass so that sunbathers could lounge next to the water, and cleared paths so that visitors could easily access the quarry.
Under the McDonough’s care, the Dorset Marble Quarry has become a wildly popular swimming hole. Visitors marvel at the quarry’s manicured stone blocks which serve as natural petrified diving boards. Slabs of marble which were slated to become tombstones, columns, or statues before the quarry was abandoned are stacked in piles like large decks of stone cards. There are even a few hidden inscriptions etched in several of the marble slabs. Eagle-eyed visitors delight in finding names and symbols carved into several blocks of marble that date back decades or longer.
If you’re not a fan of crowds, the best time to visit the Dorset Marble Quarry is as soon as they open the gates—which is generally around 9 in the morning. A swim in 50 degree Fahrenheit water prior to noon might be a bit of a shock to your system, but having a verdant expanse of Vermont forest punctuated by towering cliffs of marble mostly to yourself is certainly worthwhile. If you are a fan of crowds, you will love the vivacious midday energy at the height of summer.
The Dorset Marble Quarry is generally open from Memorial Day until Columbus Day. If you find yourself overheating on a summer road trip, a dip in Vermont’s most beloved swimming hole is the perfect way to cool off. It’s not every day that you are able to take a swim in a natural marble swimming pool made out of the same marble that was used to construct the New York Public Library.
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- Norcross-West (Dorset) Marble Quarry, 1848 Vermont Route 30, Dorset, Vermont, USA
- Coordinates
- 43.23626, -73.08301
- Access
- The quarry is privately operated. Every visitor, including children, must register online and sign the operator’s waiver before arrival; staff scan the QR code and issue an entry wristband. No lifeguard is on duty and swimming is at your own risk; diving is prohibited. Follow the operator’s Kelly Road parking instructions and do not park on VT Route 30.
- Admission
- The owner requires registration and a signed waiver but does not publish an admission price. A recent regional swimming-hole guide reports free quarry entry and $15 per car for parking at Dorset Marble Park on Kelly Road. That parking price is third-party information; confirm it before going.
- Time needed
- The operator publishes no standard visit duration. A visit is self-paced; the site permits swimming and picnicking during its seasonal hours, but cold water and no lifeguard are material safety considerations. No duration is prescribed.
- Best season
- For swimming, summer is the practical season: Discover Dorset notes the valley's warm summer days, while the operator's access season runs from Memorial Day through Columbus Day. The quarry water remains cold even in summer (the local guide estimates around 50°F); no warmer-water promise is implied.
- Opening hours
- The operator says the quarry is generally open 09:00 until dusk from Memorial Day through Columbus Day. The 2026 season date has passed; the operator’s site does not confirm any extension, so check its calendar or contact the owner before travelling.
- Location checked
- 2026-10-08
- Facts checked
- 2026-10-27
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The owner is one of the nastiest, most miserable people I have had the misfortune of interacting with in the past several months, without question. Extremely nasty man who will snap on you in a moment if you don’t magically know every single rule and facet of the quarry before you even try to enter the parking lot for your first time, and you’d better be telepathic, because there are no signs stating to slow down or stop and pay, and he will be EXTREMELY nasty if you make the same mistake I did and drive halfway past him before getting screamed at.
This place operates under a Recreational Use Statute – this means it is free to the public, by law the owner cannot charge anyone to enter the quarry. Thata why they try to get you with parking. Don’t support parasitic behavior such as this, and don’t give this miserable man a dollar. Park respectfully in town without blocking traffic or crowding put neighborhoods and hike in free of charge, as God and your Government intended.