Something we’re perennially in search of is the perfect New England Inn – a blend of elegance, history, style, charm and the authenticity that cannot be duplicated outside of the six states that make up the iconic region. And we may have finally found the best of them in Vermont at the picture-perfect Woodstock Inn. The 142-room, AAA Four Diamond Resort, a member of the Preferred Hotels & Resorts LVX Collection, epitomizes all of the qualities we mentioned above, along with award-winning dining and luxury amenities typically found in larger and more lavish properties in other locales.
Situated in Woodstock, Vermont, widely recognized as one of the “prettiest small towns in America,” the Inn is surrounded by Vermont’s storybook Green Mountains, and is the perfect destination all year round. Earlier this year it unveiled a two-year, $16.5 million enhancement which brought about a redesign and upgrade of its 142 guest rooms including the debut of six new Legacy Suites inspired by the Inn’s original founders Laurance S. Rockefeller and Mary French Rockefeller, as well as other notable figures associated with the Inn and the town.
The renovation and design work, led by Paul Duesing of the noted resort interior design and architecture firm Paul Duesing Partners, touched on all aspects of the historic 200-year old property, including a “reimagined” lobby and public spaces, the new Red Barns at Kelly Way Gardens culinary center, and upgrades to the adjacent Woodstock Athletic Club, Woodstock Country Club, Suicide Six Ski Area, and more. The guest rooms are warm, bright, and charming, with botanical floral prints, framed butterflies, vintage brass reading lamps and period Bulova wind-up alarm clocks. Some suites have wood-burning fireplaces, a feature found at only the very best of properties these days.
The Woodstock Inn is an idyllic place to soak up the glory of a New England summer, but winter is equally appealing. Over 100 acres of skiing and snowboarding are available on 24 trails and slopes at the resort’s nearby Suicide Six Ski Area. The resort’s Nordic Adventure Center has an additional 30 kilometers of groomed trails to explore via Nordic skis, fat tire bikes or snowshoes. The Inn has a winter sports concierge to connect guests with resort professionals to personally tailor an itinerary for each guest, including reservations at the Inn’s restaurants, the Red Rooster and Richardson’s Tavern, an extremely cozy wood-paneled space offering locally-sourced gastropub fare along with local beer, well-selected wine and craft cocktails.
Perley’s Pourhouse at Suicide Six is especially popular with the après ski set and offers a selection of Vermont craft beer on tap, a menu of hearty winter dishes, and a wood-burning fireplace. And at the Inn itself, one of our favorite features is a game room bedecked in Vermont flannel, complete with a giant Scrabble board, foosball table, vintage pinball machines, board games, and more. Other popular spots are the Inn’s iconic lobby fireplace, its beautifully-appointed library, and spa, a 10,000 square foot facility complete with a relaxation space, Shaker wood stoves, a hot tub, and a Scandinavian sauna.
