| Settlement Type: | Unincorporated area |
| Pushpin Map: | Connecticut#USA |
| Pushpin Label: | Hayestown |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Connecticut##Location in the United States |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | U.S. state |
| Subdivision Name1: | Connecticut |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Fairfield |
| Subdivision Type4: | Region |
| Subdivision Name4: | Western CT |
| Subdivision Type5: | City |
| Subdivision Name5: | Danbury |
| Coordinates: | 41.4201°N -73.4537°W |
| Elevation M: | 140 |
Hayestown is an unincorporated area[1] in Danbury, Connecticut. It is located in the eastern section of the city, along the southern shoreline of Candlewood Lake, west of Great Plain, northwest of Germantown, and east of Clapboard Ridge.
Hayestown (sometimes historically spelled Hay's Town)[2] was considered part of the Great Plain District prior to being recognized as a separate settlement. Similar to Great Plain and other neighboring communities, parts of Hayestown were lost to flooding due to the 1928 construction of Candlewood Lake.[3] However, as a result, the area would become known as a travel destination of sorts, with lodging options for visitors, including Wildman's Landing Lodge, Candlewood Motel, and its own Holiday Inn.[4] [5]
Wildman's Landing was a bathing beach and recreational area at the southern tip of Candlewood Lake's Lower Pine Cove, off Hayestown Road. It was named for William Wildman's farm, of which were flooded to make way for the Lake.[6] The remaining land would then be owned by Carl Albert, who was instrumental in the development of the former lake resort.[7] However, in the early 1960s Albert began exploring real estate opportunities and sought to sell off portions of the property. Among the interested buyers was Anchor Marina Inc., which carried out plans to build out a 150-boat marina here.[8] In 1963 Albert submitted a zoning petition to establish a trailer park in what was left of Wildman's Landing, which threatened existing plans to expand Danbury Town Park westward. Albert had previously offered to sell the land to the town however, his offer was considered too high and was rejected.[9]
This contested section of Wildman's Landing eventually became two upscale condominium communities now known as Poet's Landing and Crystal Bay.
Danbury's Slovak Gymnastic Union Sokol (Lodge #30), a social fitness club dedicated to the once prevalent Slovak population in the area, was originally located at the Lakeview picnic grounds in Hayestown.[10] The lodge included a duckpin bowling alley called Sokol Lanes, which is still in operation today as Danbury Duckpin Bowling Lanes.[11] In 1980 the City of Danbury purchased the 32acres property from the club for recreational use and it is now known as Hatters Park.[12] Lodge 30 relocated to a different Candlewood Lake property in Brookfield, Connecticut where it remains active today.[13]
In addition to Candlewood Lake, there are several ponds in the area: Doyles Pond, Kellners Pond, and Smiths Pond. The Padanaram Brook also runs along the northwestern section of Hayestown, thus leading this portion to often be referred to as Padanaram.[14]
There are two public schools in the Hayestown area, Henry Abbott Technical High School, constructed in 1953[15] and Hayestown Elementary School, completed in 1956.[16]