Historic & Grand Hotels in New England

New England > All New England > Specialty Lodging > Historic Hotels in New England

New England has a deep and wonderfully varied history from the Pilgrims to the present. Much of that history is alive and on display at comfortable historic inns and Grand Hotels -- a few that have been welcoming travelers since before America was a country. If these walls could talk, they would tell stories of rich ship owners, farmers, or outdoor explorers who built hotels in the mountains and along the shores.

Looking for historic lodging in a specific state? Click here for: Connecticut • Maine • Massachusetts • New Hampshire • Rhode Island • Vermont

Inn at Diamond Cove

22 McKinley Court Portland, ME, 04109 Phone: 207-805-9836

Inn boasts modern amenities but honors its past as a military fort and artists’ retreat

The inviting Inn at Diamond Cove features a variety of modern amenities, from a heated pool to tennis courts and a yoga studio. But its celebrated roots are in the past. The inn is housed in what used to be the barracks for Fort McKinley, built during the 1890s to protect Portland Harbor and Casco Bay. It actually overlooks the former parade grounds. The casually elegant Diamond’s Edge Restaurant is in the former quartermaster’s storehouse, overlooking the cove. But before the fort, the property was a well-known artists’ retreat, welcoming Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Harriet Beecher Stowe, among others. No doubt they, too, enjoyed the island’s old forests, secluded beaches and spectacular sunsets. Relaxation is still only a short boat trip away from Portland’s Old Port district.

Watch Hill Inn

38-44 Bay Street Watch Hill, RI, 02891 Phone: 877-394-8903

Warm hospitality is still the watchword at this historic New England village inn

Iconic New England charm that has endured the test of time: You will find that and so much more at the elegant Watch Hill Inn, in the heart of bustling downtown Watch Hill village. The inn, established in 1845 by the son of the village’s first lighthouse-keeper, has played host to Henry Ford, Clark Gable, Andrew Mellon and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and today welcomes its guests with the same superior accommodations and warm hospitality. Meticulously renovated in 2006 and 2013, its 21 chic, suite-style accommodations feature stainless steel kitchens, spacious living areas and luxurious bedding as well as lovely water and village views. Guests enjoy continental breakfasts, evening wine-and-charcuterie gatherings and amenities in nearby sister including a pool, spa and private beach.

Visit our sister properties - Ocean House Resort - Weekapaug Inn

Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa

Mountain View Road Whitefield, NH, 03598 Phone: 888-260-4929

Luxurious accommodations, breathtaking views, impeccable service part of resort’s grand tradition

Mountain View Grand is open for overnight stays! Please review our health & safety measures for current updates and information.

Now the oldest surviving grand hotel in New Hampshire, the Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa began its proud tradition of hospitality in 1865, when William and Mary Jane Dodge welcomed guests to their family farm. The White Mountains resort, known for its sunny yellow exterior, floor-to-ceiling vistas and impeccable service, has hosted celebrities, presidents Harding and Eisenhower, and other guests seeking luxurious accommodations and amenities. The AAA 4-Diamond hotel is a member of the Historic Hotels of America and is on the National Register of Historic Places. In a timeless setting, guests can enjoy fine dining, play golf on the nine-hole course, get a massage in the Tower Spa, and swim in the indoor and outdoor pools.

Fireplace & Billiards - Adair Country Inn & Restaurant - Bethlehem, NH

Adair Country Inn and Restaurant

80 Guider Lane Bethlehem, NH, 03574 Phone: 603-444-2600 Toll-Free: 888-444-2600

Idyllic getaways are a specialty at this country inn with a history centered on romance

You’ll sense the romantic history of the Adair Country Inn and Restaurant when you pass by stately pines, gleaming birches and stone walls on your drive up to the white colonial-style inn. The country estate was built in 1927 by Frank Hogan as a wedding gift for his only daughter, Dorothy Adair Hogan. The intricate, colorful gardens on the 200-acre estate were designed by the Olmsted Brothers and still welcome visitors seeking an idyllic retreat. The 11-room inn’s Carriage House was the original estate innkeeper’s quarters; the post-and-beam 1811 House retains its historic atmosphere (but adds a a jetted spa tub and large eat-in kitchen). Dine in casual comfort by the fire in the cozy on-site restaurant.

Lamie's Inn Common Room for NE Inns page

The Old Salt Restaurant & Lamie's Inn

490 Lafayette Road - Route 1 Hampton, NH, 03842 Phone: 603-926-0330 Toll-Free: 800-805-5050

Colonial-era inn honors its heritage while offering all the modern guest amenities

Historic elements and modern amenities combine comfortably at Lamie’s Inn, in the picturesque seaside town of Hampton. The iconic inn was built in 1740 and retains the charm of that era with the decor in its 32 rooms, its post-and-beam ceilings and 18th-century stone fireplace. Modern conveniences include free wifi, refrigerators and microwaves in each room, 24-hour fitness club privileges and a deluxe continental breakfast served each morning. The inn was the original home of the Lane family, who helped build the town of Hampton. The inn was, and continues to be, a whistle stop on the presidential campaign trail and, with its famous Old Salt Restaurant, a gathering place for locals and guests from all over the world.

Weekapaug Inn

25 Spray Rock Road Westerly, RI, 02891 Phone: 877-394-8902

Hospitality amid scenic surroundings reflects this inn’s origins and earliest ideals

The aura of warm hospitality that surrounds the Weekapaug Inn comes to it naturally: It was a hallmark of the original 1899 inn. The Buffums family wanted to make their inn a welcome retreat for guests, rebuilding it in a secluded enclave by a salt pond after the 1938 hurricane. The inn was totally renovated in 2012 with an eye toward preserving its storied past while providing a host of modern amenities and activities from a lap pool and private beach to kayaking and nature walks. Each room is still unique in layout, furnishings and views, a tribute to earlier guests who requested their same rooms year after year. Each room also has been fitted with a vintage piece – a furnishing or textile – from the old inn.

Visit our sister properties - Ocean House Resort - Watch Hill Inn

Rabbit Hill Inn

48 Lower Waterford Road Lower Waterford, VT, 05848 Phone: 802-748-5168

Romantic inn takes guests back to more relaxed era

Hospitality is an age-old tradition at the Rabbit Hill Inn, which began in the late 1700s as a place where traders traveling from Montreal to Boston or Portland could hoist a tankard of ale and lodge overnight. Save one period in the 1900s when it was a private home, Rabbit Hill has been an inn ever since. Today’s guests in the 19-room bed and breakfast will discover not only modern comforts (some rooms have double hydromassage tubs) but those that harken back to a relaxed age: a candlelit dining room serving exquisitely crafted American fare, crackling fireplaces, puzzles in cozy sitting rooms, lemonade in the afternoon on the porch and gazebos where you can listen to the waterfall. Rated #39 of the Top 100 Hotels Worldwide, #3 in the USA, and #1 in the Northeast by Travel & Leisure, July 2020.

Deerfield Inn

81 Old Main Street Deerfield, MA, 01342 Phone: 413-774-5587

Ambiance at this gracious New England inn reflects its history, hospitality

Guests at the Deerfield Inn used to arrive by stagecoach back in 1884, when the inn first welcomed travelers to the aptly named Happy Valley region of Massachusetts. Parts of that past are still in evidence in the gracious 24-room inn: There’s the original hayloft door, the horse weathercock still turns, there are native plantings in the gardens, and the front porch ceilings are still painted robin’s-egg blue. Some of the uniquely appointed rooms and suites have period furniture, there’s a quaint parlor, and the restaurant, which serves superb meals, has period wallpaper along with its cheery fireplace. The inn is perched among fine examples of 19th- and 20th-century homes, right on Old Main Street in Deerfield Village, listed as a National Historic Landmark.

Ocean House Resort

1 Bluff Avenue Watch Hill, RI, 02891 Phone: Toll-Free: 877-346-9442

A century and a half after its opening, inn still the quintessential summer retreat for guests

When the Ocean House opened its doors to guests in 1868, it became, for them, the quintessential summer home by the sea. Generations came then, as they do today, to savor ocean breezes, superior service and comfortable accommodations. Today’s luxury inn, newly constructed in 2004, replicates the warm yellow exterior, and the welcoming hospitality, of its predecessor – but with so much more! Ocean House guests not only enjoy its private beach, with cabana service, but its world-class spa, croquet lawn, putting green, saltwater lap pool and fitness facility, fine dining and accommodations that have made it one of the top 10 resorts in the Northeast, and one of the top 100 hotels in the world, according to Travel + Leisure readers.

Visit our sister properties - Weekapaug Inn - Watch Hill Inn

The Landmark Trust USA

707 Kipling Road Dummerston, VT, 05301 Phone: 802-254-6868

Stay in charming homes with a true sense of history

Almost as enjoyable as staying in the unique historic vacation rentals of The Landmark Trust USA is choosing which property to try! Most famous is Rudyard Kipling’s Naulakha, built in 1892, where you can sit at the desk where The Jungle Books were written. Follow the tree-lined driveway to The Kipling’s Carriage House, built in 1895, which offers sweeping meadow views. Built in 1802, The Amos Brown House retains much of its original detail; it’s furnished with period furniture and boasts a charming front porch to watch the sunset. The 1849 Dutton Farmhouse is perfect for a getaway with family or friends and offers spectacular views. Once a working sugar house, The Sugarhouse, built in 1915, is now a cozy retreat for one or two. The homes are all close to skiing, hiking, water activities and cultural venues.

Stonehurst Manor

3351 White Mountain Highway North Conway, NH, 03860 Phone: 603-356-3113 Toll-Free: 800-525-9100

Romantic manor maintains glamorous touches from its 1874 origins as lavish summer home

Romantic Stonehurst Manor was originally built in 1874 as the lavish summer estate of Erastus Bigelow, inventor of the carpet loom and owner of the largest carpet manufacturer in the world. Today, that era’s aura of romance and glamour can still be found in the intact English Manor-style building. Rooms and suites have mountain views, wood-burning fireplaces, period furniture and whirlpool tubs. Stroll through sunny and shady gardens (or play on the life-size chess game), hike or cross-country ski nearby trails, take a dip in the seasonal pool or hot tub, dine al fresco at the Wild Rose (breakfasts and dinners are complimentary) and enjoy cocktails by the fire in the Library Lounge or by the patio fire pits.

Publick House Historic Inn On the Common

277 Main Street - Route 131 Sturbridge, MA, 01566 Phone: 508-347-3313 Toll-Free: 800-782-5425

Lovely Sturbridge inn’s colonial atmosphere is downright Revolutionary

Not many inns can say this: The Publick House in Sturbridge got its start before the country did. The doors to this elegant inn were opened in 1771, and the original innkeeper, Col. Ebenezer Crafts, entertained Revolutionary troops hearthside with culinary feasts and generous drinks. (You can still get both at the cozy tavern that bears his name.) When you stay in the main inn, you’ll notice period antiques and reproductions in your comfortable room, part of the inn’s colonial ambiance. If you stay at the Chamberlain House, you’re in what once was a farmhouse offering lodging. Even the pastries have a sense of history (and a delightful aroma): The 18th century Bake Shoppe’s Yankee ovens still produce mouth-watering breads, pies and cookies.

16 Bay View Hotel Camden

16 Bay View Street Camden, ME, 04843 Phone: 207-236-4325

Boutique hotel celebrates its past while providing the latest in luxurious amenities

A 100-year-old industrial brick building in the heart of picturesque Camden has been transformed into a jewel of a hotel: 16 Bay View. With modern amenities including gas fireplaces, pillow-top mattresses and radiant floor heat, the hotel’s 21 one-of-a-kind rooms and suites also honor the past with exposed brickwork and private ornamental iron balconies with harbor views. Guests gather in the Vintage Room, where contemporary classic meets Golden Age opulence, to enjoy cocktails and small plates (and an expanded dinner menu Fridays and Saturdays) in plush leather chairs by a roaring fire. The hotel also has a breathtaking rooftop bar and terrace and passes to the local YMCA with a pool, running track and fitness center.

Visit our sister properties - Lord Camden Inn - Grand Harbor Inn

Hotel on North

297 North Street Pittsfield, MA, 01201 Phone: 413-358-4741

Boutique hotel draws on its legendary past and its vibrant sense of modern amenities

Don’t be surprised if you hear whispers of the past in the corridors of the Hotel on North, the boutique hotel in the center of the Berkshires region. The hotel’s buildings, on the National Register of Historic Places, have a long heritage as the legendary menswear and sporting goods emporium, Besse-Clarke. Many century-old details have been preserved, including exposed brick walls, tin ceilings, decorative columns – even a (stationary) birdcage elevator. But the present is evident here, too, with 45 individually appointed rooms, all with lightning-fast wifi, pillowtop mattresses and luxurious linens. The hotel is minutes away from all the great Berkshires attractions, from art and history museums to cultural venues, ski slopes, hiking, biking and shopping.

Ponds at Foxhollow

Route 7 Lenox, MA, 01240 Phone: 413-637-1469

Former estate ‘cottage’ now a comfortable mountain resort perfect for getaways

The Ponds at Foxhollow has been part of the Berkshires scene since the late 19th century, when George Westinghouse built a “cottage” on the 223-acre estate for his wife, Marguerite. The estate, originally called Erskine Park, went on to do service as a girls school for 40 years in the mid-20th century. Today, it welcomes guests seeking a respite in a scenic, secluded resort with in-room amenities including fireplaces, decks overlooking the pond, fully equipped kitchens and jetted tubs. Two-bedroom condos have loft sitting rooms. The resort has indoor and outdoor pools, a fitness center, hot tub, sauna, a playground and courts for tennis, bocce and basketball and is close to the region’s great restaurants, museums, recreational activities and arts venues.

The Griswold Inn

36 Main Street Essex, CT, 06426 Phone: 860-767-1776

Longstanding heritage of hospitality at this Revolutionary War-era inn

The heritage of hospitality at the Griswold Inn began when the first visitors were welcomed in 1776 and proudly continues today with first-rate service, comfortable accommodations and fine dining. One of the oldest continuously operated inns in the United States, the Griswold, in a picturesque and historic seaport village, offers guests a choice of 34 unique rooms, furnished individually with antiques and period reproductions. The inn hosts an impressive collection of maritime art and illustrations as well as a collection of firearms used in the War of 1812. Guests can dine in the Tap Room, attached to the inn in 1801 after being rolled down Main Street by a team of oxen. (Check the inn website for updated health regulations and protocols.)

Harbor Light Inn

58 Washington Street Marblehead, MA, 01945 Phone: 781-631-2186

Federalist mansions make up this gracious inn located in Marblehead’s historic harbor district

Two elegant Federalist mansions make up the lovely Harbor Light Inn, where its 18th century past is celebrated in everything from hand carvings to finely tooled furnishings to paintings and other artwork. Stay in a room with a four-poster or canopy bed, with a working fireplace and cozy window seating, and you’ll feel you have slipped back into a more serene time. The gracious inn is located in Marblehead’s historic harbor district, not only close to shops, galleries and restaurants but also to other colonial homes. Guests can get a glimpse of this famous sailing town’s past at the Marblehead Museum or by visiting Old Burial Hill, with gravestones going back to the 1600s. The inn’s modern amenities include an outdoor pool and popular tavern.

Inn at Tanglewood Hall

611 York Street York Harbor, ME, 03911 Phone: 207-351-1075

Once a lumber baron’s summer cottage, this luxurious inn welcomes travelers seeking ideal seaside vacation

The romantic Inn at Tanglewood Hall has its origins in the 1880s, when it was built as a summer cottage for Chicago lumber baron Alexander Coburn Soper and his wife, Mollie Eliza Pope. The bed-and-breakfast inn, a York Historical Society Decorator Showcase in 1994, has been restored to its 19th-century grandeur, with six exquisite guest rooms, a wraparound veranda, grand staircase and gorgeous woodland gardens with whimsical fountains. Period antiques can be found both downstairs and in classic rooms and suites, all with gas or electric fireplaces, silky sheets and room to stretch out and plan your day on the nearby beach, in the seaside village or engaging in coastal activities from sea kayaking and harbor cruises to beachside arcades and concerts.