Welcome to Mystic. . . a wonderful place to live and work! Located at the mouth of the Mystic River, between Groton and Stonington. Mystic was originally a highly profitable whaling and fishing center that still provides opportunities for commercial and sport fishing to this day. The Native Indians, Pequot's called this area "missi-tuk." Missi means "great" and Tuk refers to a river driven in waves by the tides of winds. The Mystic River is actually a salt-water estuary fed by fresh water streams. With age comes beauty, and tradition, and with Mystic as the centerpiece of southeastern Connecticut, today Mystic is known for it's unique shops, restaurants, antiques centers and art galleries. It's minutes from world-class gaming and entertainment, attractions for the whole family and museums that will transport you back to another era. Everywhere you turn you will see the kind of scenic beauty that takes your breath away. Browse this website to learn more about the individual businesses, shops, attractions and events that combine to make Mystic a primary destination for folks looking for an easy escape from the ordinary.
The Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce was incorporated in 1954, but its roots are more than 100 years old, It is also one of the first organizations in the area to serve the business and industrial community. The economy of the Mystic community has been in constant transition since its founding in 1654. It was fueled by the whaling industry, shipbuilding during the clipper ship era, textiles after the Civil War, and changed to defense during the Cold War years. Today, tourism is the number one industry, and more than 50% of Chamber members are in tourist-related businesses, in addition to attorneys, banks, merchants, community organizations and others.
Because there is not town of Mystic, the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce is the unifying voice in a shared community that draws 60 percent of the state's visitors to the area.
The chamber has spearheaded efforts to find solutions to the many challenges Mystic faces and has assumed additional responsibilities since tourism soared ten years ago. The Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce operates a tourism information center at the Mystic Depot Welcome Center, publishes and distributes an annual visitors guide (circulation of 200,000), disseminates information to hundreds of visitors each day, and it fields over 100 phone calls daily. The chamber participates in several local and state agencies. It initiates and fosters legislation as it pertains to business, and advocates on tourism impact issues as they relate to visitors and residents. It is also active in small business legislation and works closely with the two local school systems, including them in the business community.
