The Golden Era of the Moore Dam Regatta: When Littleton Made Waves

If you grew up in the North Country during the 1980s, you remember the specific electricity that filled the air every summer. It wasn’t just the heat; it was the roar of engines and the sight of thousands of people descending upon the Moore Dam Reservoir.

The Moore Dam Regatta was more than just a boat race—it was a cultural phenomenon that put Littleton, New Hampshire, on the map in a way few events ever had before.

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The Visionaries Behind the Splash

The Regatta didn’t just happen by accident; it was the brainchild of a group of local movers and shakers who wanted to prove that Littleton was a destination, not just a pass-through town.

The event was spearheaded by the Littleton Area Chamber of Commerce and a dedicated committee of local business owners leading the charge. Their goal was simple but ambitious: utilize the massive, often-underused 3,500-acre Moore Reservoir to create a world-class powerboat racing event.

A Decade of High-Octane Glory

The Regatta hit its stride in the early to mid-1980s. For about a decade, the event grew from a local gathering into a sanctioned Northeast powerhouse.

It featured everything from:

• Stock Outboard Racing: Small, nimble boats that skipped across the choppy reservoir water.
• Hydros and Runabouts: High-performance machines that reached eye-watering speeds.
• Family Festivals: Beyond the water, the shores were packed with food vendors, live music, and the famous “Regatta Dances.”

While the logistics and rising costs eventually saw the event wind down by the early 90s, those years in the 80s remain the “Golden Era” for many locals.

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What It Did for Littleton and the North Country

The impact of the Moore Dam Regatta reached far beyond the water’s edge. It served three major purposes for our region:

1. An Economic Engine During Regatta weekend, every hotel room from Littleton, Franconia, St. Johnsbury and beyond was booked solid. Local restaurants, gas stations, and shops saw their biggest weekends of the year. It injected hundreds of thousands of dollars into the local economy at a time when the North Country was transitioning away from its heavy industrial roots.

2. Putting the “North Country” on the Map The Regatta was a sanctioned event that drew racers and spectators from all over New England, New York, and Canada. It proved that Littleton had the infrastructure and the community spirit to host “big city” events. It gave the town a sense of pride and a distinct identity.

3. Community Cohesion Perhaps most importantly, it brought the town together. Hundreds of volunteers worked side-by-side to manage the crowds and the safety logistics. It was the “can’t miss” social event of the year where neighbors met on the banks of the Connecticut River to celebrate summer in the White Mountains.

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A Lasting Legacy

Though the roar of the engines has faded and the Moore Reservoir is back to its peaceful, scenic state, the spirit of the Regatta lives on. It taught Littleton how to dream big—a spirit you can still see today in our thriving Main Street and community festivals.

Did you attend the Regatta back in the day? We’d love to hear your favorite memories—whether it was the sound of the starting gun or the taste of a fried dough in the summer sun!

Photo Credit – Ben Lemay

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