A trip to the picturesque Green Mountain state isn’t complete without a stay at one of Vermont’s historic inns. In the mid-to-late 1700s, inns, and taverns provided vital services by welcoming weary travelers looking for a place to water their horses, rest their heads, and enjoy a hot meal. Back then, just traveling to-and-from the nearest town could take the better part of a day or longer, depending on where you lived, so it wasn’t uncommon for folks to turn even their shorter trips into overnight stays. A cozy Vermont inn meant the difference between sleeping in a bed with a full belly or sleeping in the back of your wagon or on the ground. While camping is fun, and there are some fantastic Vermont campgrounds, we prefer a warm room at one of our inns—especially in winter.
A Doorway to The Past
Stepping through the doors of a historic inn is almost like stepping out of a time machine. Like old books, there’s a pleasant aroma that comes from buildings that have endured centuries of use. You can smell the history—the memories of visitors who have come and gone, delicious meals, joyful celebrations, and holiday traditions passed down from generation to generation. That enduring warmth greets you at the door like a warm welcome home.
These days, many historic Vermont inns have upgraded their amenities and modernized their interiors, but echoes of the past still shine through. In the kitchen you might be greeted by the scent of every meal cooked there, especially breakfast and bacon, and you may notice a kettle still hanging in the original stone hearth. Elsewhere, you might find a secret stash of Sunday funnies, thumbed through countless times and perfumed with the faint smell of pipe tobacco and woodsmoke. Exploring the grounds at historic inns in Vermont might lead you to discover secret gardens where the hedgerows have been made to grow into a kind of tunnel that leads to a hidden stone patio, perfectly tucked away. You don’t have to look too hard to find beautiful echoes of Vermont’s storied past.
Preserving and Conserving Vermont’s Historic Inns
As storekeepers, we know a thing or two about how important small, independently run businesses are to our communities—especially generational ones. Our collective experience and knowledge of the local region and its people run deep. It’s the wisdom and practical know-how passed down from generation to generation, each adding something more to it before passing it down again. The longevity afforded our historic inns comes from Vermonters’ dedication to preserving and conserving as much of our history as possible. Much of our beautiful little state has been added to historical registries, including many of our inns, some of which are on the Historic Hotels of America registry.
Many of Vermont’s historic inns have some unique claims to fame, such as those built and lived in by heroes of the American Revolution. Some were visited by US Presidents and their families, while others were stops along the Underground Railroad. Some have stood exactly where they were built and endured for hundreds of years, while still others were picked up in one piece and moved several miles away. Even a few inns are said to be haunted, but we’re sure they’re friendly ghosts. After all, they’re Vermonters.
Vermont Community
Tourism is an essential part of life here, and when visitors come and stay at our inns and shop in our stores, those experiences make lasting memories for friends and families alike. They’re part of what helps people fall in love with Vermont and keeps them returning year after year. Those positive experiences also attract newcomers looking to relocate here, bringing their families, skills, and traditions to add to our ever-growing community, just as the first settlers in the region did.
Storekeepers and innkeepers take pride in helping neighbors and newcomers, whether with a recommendation for a great place to stay, a gourmet local eatery, or the best route to take to their next destination. Knowing that we’re all working together to better our state is enough to keep us providing the best service we can. We’ve got the Green Mountains on our minds, Vermont in our hearts, and our roots planted deeply in this rocky soil.
Some of Vermont’s Historic Inns and Hotels Built Before the 1900s:
The Grafton Inn, Grafton, VT – 9.3 miles from our Rockingham, Vermont store – Built in 1801.
The Inn at Weathersfield, Perkinsville, VT – 14 miles from our Rockingham, Vermont store – Built in 1792
The Palmer House Resort, Manchester Center, VT – 19 miles from our Weston, Vermont store – Features a tavern from the 1790s.
The Equinox Resort, Manchester, VT – 21 miles from our Weston, Vermont store – Built in 1769
The Inn at Ormsby Hill, Manchester Center, VT – 23 miles from our Weston, Vermont store – Built in 1764
The Ira Allen House, Sunderland, VT – 26 miles from our Weston, Vermont store – Built in 1779.
The Woodstock Inn, Woodstock, VT – 36 miles from our Weston, Vermont store and 39 miles from our Rockingham, Vermont store – Built in 1793.
Blue Horse Inn, Woodstock, VT – 36 miles from our Weston, Vermont store and 39 miles from our Rockingham, Vermont store – Built in 1831.
The Hermitage Inn, West Dover, VT – 37 miles from our Weston, Vermont store and 41 miles from our Rockingham, Vermont store – Built in the early 1800s.
The Dorset Inn, Dorset, VT – 41 miles from our Weston, Vermont store – Built in 1796.
The Vermont House, Wilmington, VT – 42 miles from our Weston, Vermont store – Built in the 1850s.
Four Chimneys Inn, Bennington, VT – 43 miles from our Weston, Vermont store – Built in 1783.
Blueberry Hill Inn, Goshen, VT – 49 miles from our Weston, Vermont store – Built in 1813.
The Middlebury Inn, Middlebury, VT – 59 miles from our Weston, Vermont store – Built in 1827.
Swift House Inn, Middlebury, VT – 60 miles from our Weston, Vermont store – Built in 1814.
The Old Stagecoach Inn, Waterbury, VT – 99 miles from our Weston, Vermont store – Built in 1826.
Rabbit Hill Inn, Lower Waterford, VT – 106 miles from our Rockingham, Vermont store – Built in 1795.
Smuggler’s Notch Inn, Jeffersonville, VT – 113 miles from our Weston, Vermont store – Built in the 1790s.
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