Historic & Grand Hotels in New England

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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.

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Red Lion Inn

30 Main Street Stockbridge, MA, 01262 Phone: 413-298-5545

A history rich in warm hospitality and welcoming atmosphere still honored at this lovely inn

Travelers on stagecoaches between Albany and Boston found welcome respite and genial hospitality at the Red Lion Inn when it opened as a tavern in 1773. That year, citizens gathered to protest Britain’s Acts of Intolerance and to propose a boycott of British goods. It was an exciting beginning to the inn’s proud history, which includes visits by Presidents Cleveland, McKinley, Coolidge and both Roosevelts as well as Nathaniel Hawthorne, Thornton Wilder and Bob Dylan. The stately white inn with its renowned front porch (perfect for rocking and beverage-sipping) honors its heritage throughout the property, from its individually decorated antique-filled rooms to the historical posters in the Widow Bingham Tavern to the colonial pewter used in the elegant Main Dining Room.

Visit our sister properties - Briarcliff - Porches Inn

16 Bay View Hotel Camden

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

Sense of history merges with ultra-modern amenities at luxury hotel

At 16 Bay View, the elegant boutique hotel in the heart of picturesque Camden, a sense of history is evident throughout, giving the perfect balance to sophisticated modern amenities. The industrial brick building, erected in 1905, was transformed into a jewel of a hotel in 2015, and honors it past with everything from ornamental iron balconies and freestanding soaking tubs to its Vintage Room bar and small-plates restaurant, a nod to Golden Age opulence. Modern touches include gas fireplaces, spacious spa-inspired bathrooms, luxury linens and pillowtop beds, as well as 24-hour concierge service, deluxe continental breakfast and day passes to the state-of-the-art fitness center and pool at the local YMCA. Plus, in season, there’s a fabulous rooftop terrace.

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

Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa

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

Walk through history at this classic mountain inn, which opened its doors a century and a half ago

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

When you walk the landscaped grounds and gardens and through the halls of the majestic Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa, you are strolling through history. The resort opened as an inn in 1866 and has hosted former presidents from Teddy and Franklin Roosevelt to Dwight Eisenhower and Richard Nixon. Other guests have included Robert Frost, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Babe Ruth, Neil Armstrong – and all four Marx Brothers! The inn added its classic golf course in 1900, along with steam heat and electric lighting. The iconic Italian Revival-style tower, which still welcomes guests to luxurious, relaxing vacations, was erected in 1911-12. Some things have not changed, though: The mountain views are still jaw-dropping, the accommodations comfortable and the hospitality as warm as it was a century and a half ago.

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.

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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

Romantic past, famously designed surroundings, make this elegant inn a must-visit

The story of the Adair Country Inn and Restaurant is as romantic as its stunning location in the heart of the White Mountains. Built in 1927 by renowned lawyer Frank Hogan as a gift to his only daughter, Dorothy, upon her marriage, the elegant 11-room inn sits on 200 acres of manicured grounds and stone walls. Those scenic grounds, walking trails and colorful gardens were designed by the Olmsted Brothers, son of the man who designed New York’s Central Park. Today, they provide the serene, and romantic, atmosphere that draws guests back regularly to the inn and its exquisite accommodations with four-poster feather beds and cast-iron gas stove fireplaces.

The Old Salt Restaurant & Lamie's Inn

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

Modern comfort at an historic 1740’s inn

Here’s old world charm and modern comforts. Built in 1740, this historic lodging retains its character and alluring seacoast ambience. Originally home to the Lane family who helped build the seaside town of Hampton, it became a whistle stop on the presidential campaign trail and a gathering place for locals and tourists - traditions that continue to this day. Rooms offer what you’ve come to prefer while traveling today including digital TV with HBO, wi-fi access, refrigerators, and microwaves. The Old Salt Restaurant is a Seacoast legend, famous for its New England clambakes and Sunday brunch, delicious seafood and its revolving list of 18 delicious brews on tap. Nearby are the beaches and the best of this magnificent region.

Four Columns Inn

23 West Street Newfane, VT, 05345 Phone: 802-365-7713

Picturesque Vermont inn celebrates its New England roots and history

Four Columns Inn is open! Availability is limited during the reopening period, so please call for up-to-date reservations. Also, visit our FAQ for our COVID policies & procedures.

Playing host to history and celebrities, including everyone from Henry Kissinger and John Kenneth Galbraith to Mick Jagger and Sting, is nothing new at the Four Columns Inn. The boutique inn, which opened as a guest house in 1965, is known for its peaceful setting, attention to detail and sense of place. Today, its 16 spacious rooms feature an eclectic collection of antique and modern pieces and original art that celebrate the region. The tradition of farm-to-table dining excellence, which began decades ago, is still celebrated at Artisan restaurant. Nearby Newfane is the perfect New England village, with its columned courthouse on a handsome green.

Stonehurst Manor

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

A carpet king’s vision can be your next destination

Stay at the White Mountain’s foremost example of Victorian rural elegance. Built as the summer estate of carpet baron Erastus Bigelow, this historic lodging offers 16 guest rooms in Manor house, and ten in a wing attached to the Manor with spectacular views of the Moat Mountain Range. Set on 30 pine wooded acres, the site has retained all of the original buildings and looks much as it did a century ago. There are Adirondack chairs and quiet places in the gardens to relax, and a tennis court and heated outdoor pool. Four dining rooms attend the popular gourmet restaurant and the Library Lounge is open for a nightcap by the fireplace. North Conway is your gateway to the area’s major attractions and seasonal recreational activities.

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.

Inn at Tanglewood Hall is now open - Book your stay today!

Watch Hill Inn

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

Historic seaside allure, contemporary comforts continue to attract guests to charming inn

The strong ties between the Watch Hill Inn and its seaside village go back almost two centuries. The luxury resort, which sits in the heart of Watch Hill village, was first owned and operated in 1845 by the son of the village’s first lighthouse-keeper. An electrical trolley system brought guests in over the years. Celebrities followed, from Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and Clark Gable to Andrew Mellon and Henry Ford. The inn, which survived the devastating 1938 hurricane, has been meticulously renovated in 2006 and 2013. Exceptional service, as in the golden age of hospitality, is still a point of pride for the staff. And the inn’s welcoming suites and coastal beauty still serve as beacons to travelers seeking seaside retreats.

Visit our sister properties - Ocean House Resort - Weekapaug Inn

Porches Inn at MASS MoCA

231 River Street North Adams, MA, 01247 Phone: 413-664-0400

Old meets new in this Berkshires-area inn with a whimsical, artistic vibe

What do you get when you combine a celebration of 19th century heritage with modern conveniences like whirlpool tubs and Apple TVs? You get the Porches Inn, where sturdily built Victorian row houses that were once homes to mill workers have been transformed into a wonderful, whimsical inn where every room and suite is unique, from its architecture to its decor. There’s an intentional blend in this inn of old and new: cutting-edge technology and retro furniture and collectibles. You can relax on your private porch, grab a to-go continental breakfast, swim in the heated outdoor pool, then explore the history-rich Berkshires area starting with walkable North Adams, an old mill town now infused with a vibrant arts scene.

Visit our sister properties - Red Lion Inn - Briarcliff

Ocean House Resort

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

Guests have been singing the praises of this magnificent seaside resort for decades

Accolades like its five-star rating from Forbes and AAA are nothing new at the Ocean House beachfront resort: Guests were raving about the location and service at the grand Victorian hotel back in the 19th century, when it was the premier place to experience the quintessential New England summer. Today’s resort has been meticulously reconstructed to pay tribute to that storied past. Rooms are furnished in turn-of-the-20th-century decor, with custom wooden furnishings and early New England artwork. Added modern amenities include wifi, soaking tubs, private terraces, 400-thread-count embroidered linens and plush robes. But the room views are still the spectacular selling point, whether it’s of the Atlantic, Little Narragansett Bay or charming Watch Hill Village.

Visit our sister properties - Weekapaug Inn - Watch Hill Inn

Ponds at Foxhollow

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

Breathtaking Berkshires resort honors its origins as historic estate

The former Westinghouse estate, nestled among the majestic Berkshire Mountains, is now the elegant Ponds at Foxhollow, with 48 condo units, providing guests with all the modern amenities and old-fashioned attention to service and detail that make for the ideal getaway. Each condo unit has a hot tub, full kitchen, dining area, living area and deck overlooking a lovely winding pond. (Canoes on site allow you to enjoy the pond up close.) There are indoor and outdoor pools, exercise room, a gorgeous fireplaced library, tennis courts, putting green and a Friday wine and cheese gathering. History buffs will love being close to museums, historic homes like Edith Wharton’s The Mount, and quintessential New England towns like Lenox and Stockbridge.

Weekapaug Inn

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

Storied past continues at this class Cape Cod-style inn on the Rhode Island shore

When the Weekapaug Inn says it has a storied past, that’s not an exaggeration. The five-star resort’s saga begins in 1899, when its doors were first opened to guests who wanted a summer retreat on the shore. Rebuilt in 1939 following a hurricane, its location between the ocean and a salt pond made it a highly desirable location. And it still is: The inn’s $20 million renovation in 2012 preserved its past and added luxurious modern conveniences like a pool with a view, a state-of-the-art fitness center, superb farm-to-table dining and an on-site naturalist to lead tours and discussions. Some things don’t change, though: You can still open your windows in your comfortable room or suite to those sea breezes.

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

Harbor Light Inn

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

Luxury and comfort in an historic setting!

The Harbor Light Inn, among the Ten Most Romantic Inns in America, is set in one of America’s Ten Most Beautiful Small Towns. Near the harbor district and the birthplace of the Navy, the Inn consists of two Federalist mansions joined together. Luxurious rooms are equipped with private baths, DVD players, WIFI, fireplaces, hot tubs and additional amenities for your comfort and pleasure. An extensive continental breakfast buffet is included along with afternoon tea, coffee and cordials. The inn’s popular Tavern serves fine wines, beers and cordials and local favorites like chowder, crab cakes, shrimp, and grilled panini. Within short walking distance, you’ll find shops, galleries, art organizations, museums and historic buildings and sites and a wide variety of casual and fine dining establishments.

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.)

Nonantum Resort

95 Ocean Avenue Kennebunkport, ME, 04046 Phone: 207-967-4050 Toll-Free: 800-552-5651

Inn near the coast celebrates its proud heritage and region’s maritime history

History matters at The Nonantum Resort in Kennebunkport, as evidenced by the fact that they have been helping guests celebrate life’s special events or get away for fun vacation retreats for over a century. Stay in the resort’s Carriage House Inn, and you will be transported back to the Victorian era, as it is part of the original 1883 inn. That inn was part of a sea captain’s home, and that nautical theme, perfect for an establishment located on the Kennebunk River, is celebrated in the inn’s Portside Lodge. That sense of pride in the past and celebration of Maine’s maritime history can be found throughout the region, from lighthouses to lobster boat tours to classic fishing villages, ready for a new century’s worth of guests.

The Landmark Trust USA

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

History, and your senses, will come fully alive when you stay at one of these lovingly restored properties

History comes in a variety of forms when you stay at one of the lovingly restored properties of The Landmark Trust USA. Couples love the rustic, intimate Sugarhouse, once part of a maple-sugaring operation. Families love the 1837 Dutton Farmhouse with its orchard views and game room. The barn-red Amos Brown House, built in 1802, boasts period furniture and front-door access to hiking, biking and cross-country skiing. Rudyard Kipling’s three-story Naulakha, built for the author in 1892 (along with its Carriage House, which sleeps four), features much of the original furniture (you can sit at the desk where “The Jungle Book” was written) as well as a mini-museum with Kipling artifacts. Outside, play tennis on the original clay tennis court.

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.

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.

Kennebunkport Inn

One Dock Square Kennebunkport, ME, 04046 Phone: 207-967-2621 Toll-Free: 800-248-2621

Historic Federal-style inn honors its past in its architecture, ambience

The golden age of Maine’s maritime history is still celebrated at the Kennebunkport Inn, perched in the heart of this bustling village. The inn, which features 35 luxurious guest rooms, was for generations a home to the Perkins family, famous for being successful merchants and sea captains. In 1899, the home was purchased, and torn down, by coffee and tea merchant Burleigh S. Thompson, who transformed it into the lovely Federal-style house it still is today. Design updates have repeated the historic architecture while adding contemporary flair, meaning rooms still offer classic luxury, period style and a heritage of warm ambience. Select rooms and suites have gas fireplaces, four-poster beds and views of Dock Square and the Kennebunk River.

Deerfield Inn

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

Historic inn, nestled in a National Historic Landmark, still a welcome respite for guests

When you drive up to the picturesque Deerfield Inn, imagine how those early visitors arrived in the 19th century: by stagecoach, carriages and horseback. That sense of history envelops you in this elegant inn, from the 24 rooms (11 in the main inn and 13 in the carriage house) appointed with antiques and period reproduction furniture to the robin’s egg blue ceilings of the charming front porch. The horse weathercock still turns, the original hayloft door is still part of the inn, the garden is still populated with native plantings. And Deerfield, a National Historic Landmark, with its 1774 liberty pole and gorgeous 18th- and 19th-century houses, still feels like the heart of colonial America. Please visit our website to see current COVID policies.