About
Tucked along a road in Terryville, Connecticut, Pondering Creations is part pond paradise, part rustic gift shop, and part farmstead — a combination you won't find anywhere else. Owners Kevin and Liza have built something deeply personal here: a sprawling koi pond that serves as both a showpiece and an education in what backyard water features can become, surrounded by farm animals, birds, sheep, and a sweet shop dog named Willow. The pond side of the business is serious.
Kevin has earned a loyal following for his hands-on pond construction and maintenance work, building backyard ponds and waterfalls from scratch and rescuing damaged ones — one reviewer credits him with restoring a pond after a bear tore through the liner. Customers consistently praise his deep knowledge of koi keeping and water feature design, with several describing their finished projects as transformative. He stocks koi, goldfish, native pond plants, aquatic plants for water features, and pond care supplies.
If you're planning a pond in the greater Connecticut area, Kevin's consultation and craftsmanship come highly recommended by homeowners who've worked with him across multiple seasons. But Pondering Creations is more than a pond shop. The gift barn is stocked with locally made crafts — painted signs, wooden spoons, Tiger Eye essential oil bracelets, handmade creams and scrubs, fairy garden items, jewelry, and art prints from area artists, complete with their business cards.
It's a genuine community marketplace. They also offer crafting classes, making the space a gathering spot as much as a retail destination. Visitors love feeding the massive koi for a quarter and sitting on benches beside the pond.
Kids are welcome, and the farm atmosphere gives the whole visit a sense of escape. The store's eclectic inventory and the warmth of its owners make every trip feel like a discovery. If you have a pond — or dream of one — this Terryville farmstead is worth the drive.
What they offer
Livestock, services, water
- Livestock & products
- Services
- Pond ServicesTank SetupConsultation
- Specializes in
- Pond
Highlights
What makes them special
- Massive display koi pond with coin-operated fish feeding
- Custom pond and waterfall construction by owner Kevin
- Native pond plants and aquatic plants for water features
- Rustic gift shop featuring local artists and handmade crafts
- On-site farm animals, birds, and friendly shop dog Willow
From keepers
Customer reviews
“Very cute craft barn. Beautiful pond. Friendly owner”
— susan deluco4.05 months ago“Beautiful place to get ideas for your pound”
— Adam Hasiuk5.07 months ago“A plus”
— Jer West5.09 months ago“Best koi pond ever and a lovely family business!”
— Gabby S.5.0a year ago“Super cute and owner is friendly. Has native pond plants.”
— elvenfox 75.0a year ago“Kevin made my pond look beautiful! My koi and gold fish truly love their pond! Kevin is extremely helpful and has a vast knowledge about Koi and ponds.”
— Amy D'anna5.0a year ago“I love this place! They have lots of little knick knacks, fairy garden items, cups, pictures, jewelry, art, aquatic plants, art prints, shampoo bars, stuff for taking care of water features and more. We love feeding the fish for 25¢ and sitting on the benches, and looking at the birds and sheep. There's always a friendly face when you visit the store, and they have a really sweet pup, Willow, who is happy to see people. I can't overstate how cool it is that they sell stuff from local artists and creatives, with their cards and everything. Give this place a visit, you won't be disappointed. They even offer classes for all sorts of things, making this a really wonderful little community spot.”
— Caitlyn Monterosso5.0Edited 2 years ago“Unfortunately, I drove an hour here to check out the selection and pick up some plants for our pond. Unfortunately, despite the website and signs out front saying they were open, they were not closed. Wish the website would be maintained with hours open and when they are closed outside of normal.”
— David F3.02 years ago“I purchased a few water plants here for a mini water feature in my yard and the owners were so friendly and helpful. What a cool spot. I look forward to shopping with them again.”
— Ashley S5.02 years ago“A gorgeous pond with huge goldfish (koi) 🐠 and a quaint gift shop.”
— Danielle Rivard5.02 years ago
Reference
Frequently asked questions
Note — Store information and services may change. Always call (860) 302-6741 to confirm current availability, hours, and services before visiting Pondering Creations.