Luxury Magazine: “Three Times a Charm”
STOWE, VERMONT
Edson Hill
The town of Stowe is busier than ever now that Epic Pass is accepted at the mountain, and many who come for Alpine skiing and snowboarding are finding other ways to avoid the congestion. “People are discovering us by taking the turn up Edson Hill Road to check out our Nordic Center, and they get hooked,” says Allison Casey, event sales and marketing manager for Edson Hill, a 22-room boutique hotel about a 12-minute drive from Stowe Mountain’s base. “Initially, our guests may come to go downhill, but once on-site, we’re finding a lot are trying crosscountry skiing for the first time, and increasingly fat-tire biking throughout the winter.”
Edson Hill’s Nordic Center is housed in a historic barn next to the property’s horse stables. It’s quintessential Vermont with a cozy lounge and outdoor firepit for apres ski sessions. Snowshoes and cross-country skis are available to rent, along with Nordic ski lessons and guided snowshoe tours. The 38-acre property sits on the Catamount Trail network, which is a 300-mile backcountry ski trail that spans the length of Vermont,
from Massachusetts to Quebec, with difficulty levels ranging from easy to strenuous on groomed and ungroomed trails. A winding road travels up the hill from the Nordic Center, around a fishing pond, and toward the Manor House. Built as a private residence in 1940, Edson Hill was established as an inn 10 years later. In its heyday of the ’50s and ’60s, the owner’s Bogner ski model daughter created an upper-crust, celebrity party scene with her model friends that made Edson Hill the exclusive spot to be and be seen. “The tavern was always busy and the Nordic Center was really popular,” says Casey. “That fell off after her family sold the
place, and for a few decades, it was just the typical, tired bed & breakfast.”
Its current owners are three Boston families who purchased the property in 2014 after spotting it on one of their annual family ski trips. They brought it back from its worn 1980s aesthetic with a total redesign. In an effort to preserve the iconic history, co-owner Susan Stacy, of Boston-based interior design firm Gauthier-Stacy, established a modern residential feel with a mix of contemporary and antique pieces, some found on the
property and others she curated. The Manor House features seven guest rooms, the Dining Room restaurant, and the Tavern bar. “We have a casual approach to hospitality,” says Casey. “No formal front desk, no lobby. The living room welcomes visitors. We’re inviting people into our home rather than into our hotel.”
Four hillside cottages built in the ’80s add 15 more suites, and throughout the property every single guest room is decorated differently. “They’re not necessarily themed but they’re individually designed,” Casey
says. “This was all Susan Stacy’s vision and style, and it really sets Edson Hill apart.” Edson Hill may not have all the amenities one might expect at a mountain resort, like hot tubs and a spa, but it does offer
relaxation, serenity, and lots of charm. When it relaunched in 2016, Edson Hill was Stowe’s best-kept secret for a hot minute. Now, the patio off the living room requires reservations way in advance, as it’s the only
restaurant in the area that offers outdoor covered dining. And the menu is simple, showing off the local ingredients organic to Vermont. “It’s not fussy,” says Casey, “and it’s going to be the best meal in town.”