Highly visible site with varied topography

By Joseph Kelly

The 125-acre property off Route 44 in Colebrook that is home to the Goodfellas Driving Range is on the market.

The land, which runs along Route 44 and Rock Hall Road, is owned by the Battistoni family.
The listing by the Cohen Agency of Torrington describes the property as “intriguing” with potential for commercial and/or residential development. “You can see a business there or dividing it for residential or keeping it intact for a private compound,” said the realtor, Marshall Cohen.

The asking price is $1.35 million—just under $11,000 an acre. The land is now classified as forest and taxed at about $2,400 per year.

Any future development will need to work around the varied topography. Mill Brook bisects the site just north of the driving range, making large portions of it officially designated wetlands. Both a well and septic would need to be added.

Across Route 44, the Northwestern Connecticut Sportsmen’s Association operates a very active shooting range and hunting preserve.

The property was once proposed as the site for three wind turbines, but BNE Energy, Inc. of West Hartford abandoned those plans and instead focused on erecting turbines at nearby Flagg Hill Road.
About five acres are leased to the driving range, which for years was called the Rock Pile and is now known as Goodfellas. Michael Travaglini, who operates Goodfellas, said he plans to keep the driving range operational pending the outcome of any sale.