The Ralston bowling alley, located in Ward 2, is a great place just to hang out and get together. It’s fun for all ages as it’s a great spot for kids’ birthday parties, business holiday parties, and all kinds of other things in between. It has created a sense of community through its bowling leagues, themed events, and family nights. There’s also an arcade for all ages and a varied menu for people to order from, as well as occasional live music nights. Whether you’re looking for some friendly competition or just a relaxed evening out, the Ralston Bowling Alley has something for everyone.
Discover the charm of Ralston, Vermont, with a guided tour that takes you through every must-see hotspot around this unique island town. From its picturesque waterfront to the hidden trails and historic buildings, this tour is your gateway to everything Ralston has to offer.
But it’s more than just sightseeing—this tour weaves together the rich folklore and mysterious legends that have shaped Ralston’s identity for generations. As you explore, you’ll hear captivating tales of the town’s past, whispered secrets of its founding families, and the kind of local lore you won’t find in any brochure.
Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a returning traveler, this immersive storytelling experience offers a fresh, personal perspective on the island town’s history, people, and spirit.
The community health center is an important part in maintaining the health of the community in Ward 1. It offers services to low-income individuals who may be in need of health care and mental health services. Working with individuals who may not have access to insurance at an affordable or low cost. The community health center works closely with other social service organizations to support those who may need extra support. The center makes sure to provide this information readily through pamphlets or direct recommendations for services. Although the health center provides extra services, it also serves Ralston as a whole, as individuals can come from other wards to receive healthcare. The health center works closely with the others in Wards 2 and 3. This proves to be beneficial for individuals who may move to a new ward but want to maintain health care services in the area.
Taking a small jaunt east from Ralston’s historical district, you may find yourself standing in front of the Ralston inn, established in 1999. For many years, Ralston was often overlooked by Vermont tourism, as many people travelling to the state had never heard of the island, and would rather stay in the cities of Burlington or Williston just on shore. Vermont locals occasionally journeyed to the island for day trips, but still often had to contend with the obstacle of driving a long way across the channel or catching the ferry at the right times. Starting in the 90s however, in an effort to bring more jobs to the island, the city council began an effort to advertise its tourist spots, leading to the Inn’s establishment a few years later. Nowadays, people originally looking for a day trip can simply stay for the weekend, and out of state tourists can situate themselves in the unique Ralston experience. The inn itself is a small, family-run place separate from big hotels like marriott or hyatt, run by the Shrader family. It’s a building designed with the warm, historical sensibilities of the Victorian style, but with modern amenities for contemporary comfort. “I think the biggest obstacle to making our inn was discussing with the council on how to minimize strain on the island’s resources and environment.” says Grant Shrader, current owner of the Ralston Inn. To minimize the impact, the parties agreed upon restrictions for water and electricity, as well as rationing in times of emergency. “Solar panels were a newer thing back then, but my wife convinced me that they would be a good investment in the long run,” Grant said as he pointed to the panels on the roof. “As always, she was right.” The place has been granted an overall rating of 4.5 stars by its patrons, with an emphasis on staff hospitality and food quality. Excursions to the docks and colonial homesteads are also launched daily from the parking lot, and guests at the Inn are granted discounts if they wish to partake. So if you’re ever in the need for a quaint getaway, head on over to the Ralston Inn!
There’s an old legend about the forestry of Ralston, and why the locals are so protective of the remaining forestry today. Back when settlers first started colonizing the land, they chopped down trees left and right to make room for the growing colony. However, as they chopped down more and more trees, strange accidents began occurring. Suddenly the loggers found numerous accidents and deaths caused by fallen trees, some of which were natural without even an axe nick on them! Not only that, but many of the buildings where the trees once stood found themselves overtaken by vines, wild grass, and other flora rapidly growing on them. Eventually because of all the accidents, the community of Ralston decided to stop cutting any deeper into the forests, finding that once they stopped, the accidents and flora growth dropped off soon after. Since then, the remaining forestry stayed untouched and preserved, with fear of greater consequences should the deforestation ever resume.
The new Ralston Ferry Service transports citizens and tourists alike to various destinations around the Lake Champlain area. The Ralston Ferry service has routes to Essex and Plattsburgh, New York. The Ferry Port in Ralston also allows easy transportation to Burlington after the Burlington Port stopped service. Building this ferry port in Ralston gives not only easier tourist access to the town for citizens of New York, but also allows New York and Vermont citizens another point of exchange.
Many acknowledged the economic benefit of not only having the Ferry’s income directly, but also the extra income that would come in for Ralston’s local businesses, as many arriving off the ferry may stop in a Ralston local restaurant for dinner or shop at one of Ralston’s stores before continuing on their way through to the Burlington mainland. However, not all are excited about the new Ferry port constructed in the town. Residents of the more rural west in Ralston worry about their road infrastructure and vehicle noise pollution due to the heavy traffic coming from the port.
Overall, the new Ralston Ferry Service seems to be an economic prosper for the community to those who welcome New York tourists, while others believe it causes unnecessary noise and damage to a community that was already thriving on its own.
What do you believe? Is Ralston’s Ferry Service a benefit or a deficit to the community?
Ralston, Vermont is proud to welcome home The Weathervane for the last performance of their Chaos Dreaming 2025 tour. The Weathervane was founded under the name “VoltStorm” by our very own Ben Strom and Alex “Sparky” Blitz. This performance is organized with the help of the City Council and local firefighters, Raymond and Wyatt Blitz, the family of the band’s frontrunner.
The town is beyond grateful that The Weathervane has chosen to bring their first tour full circle back into their hometown, and we are pleased to invite their bandmates, Edie and Mars Belafonte, formerly of Twinlepathy, into our quiet Vermont town. This concert is a lovely opportunity to raise money for the town and the future of these young artists, as well as draw more visitors and tourism opportunities to our economy.
Break a leg, Alex and Ben! Ralston sends their love.
More cabins along the eastern shoreline in order to be able to handle more tourists and increase tourism revenue. This investment has truly paid off for the government and is a profitable real estate venture.
The Ralston Bocce Ball court has been a great success in the Ward 3 community. As spring has just begun, people are looking for accessible outdoor activities, and thankfully the bocce ball courts were completed recently. The Ralston community has experienced some difficulties dealing with unruly citizens, but it seems that bocce ball has been the cure to the pent up energy. We have witnessed dozens of games being played, and almost all citizens who have played has expressed that they would most definitely be playing again. From toddlers to the elderly, the game is for everyone, and it is easy to learn, hard to master. Bocce ball leagues and tournaments are already in the works, and discussions of building more courts nearby have started. The bocce ball court is serving the community by bringing its members together for a fun recreational game, and building the court was relatively inexpensive (as far as recreational activities go). Ralston looks forward to its future, and bocce ball will most certainly be a part of it.
The Ralston town jail has become a necessary part of the island. The Jail is located on the east side, far from the populated area. The jail in recent years has held tourists who stepped out of line. Many of these tourists got too drunk on the local alcohol. The jail consists of 30 rooms that can hold 2 people each, bringing the count to a maximum population of 60 if need be, though it has never hit that number. The current warden of the jail believes that inmates should not be punished too hard. Because of this belief, the jail has more in common with the jails in Sweden than with the rest of the United States of America. The jail has a 9-star rating with many inmates wishing they could return compared to the Burlington jail. Currently, with the local murder on the streets, this is the place that he or she will end up spending the rest of their life.
Personally, I cannot think of a better place to live out your life sentence.
Ralston, Vermont's "Green Island" City 