Hill Farm Inn, Sunderland, Vermont

By Erin on March 25, 2015

If I had chosen to take Randy’s last name when we got married, I would now be a Hill. McCormick is a name people take—not give away—I was told. I tend to agree. I have to admit, though, that I am excited for my future kids to take on the Hill name. Not only does it go well with just about any first name, the surname also means “a person who lived on a hill,” which is quite apropos for living just about anywhere in Vermont.

Hill Farm Inn, Sunderland, Vermont

When I learned about Hill Farm Inn, one of the first inns in Vermont and a soon-to-be event space and farm-to-table restaurant, I was eager to discover the tiny town of Sunderland (poplation 956) in Southern Vermont. Hill Farm Inn immediately felt like home to us as we visited during a perfectly snowy Valentine’s Day weekend getaway. The inn’s rich history paired with beautiful renovations, country chic decor and warm service simply make you feel good.

Finding Hill Farm Inn

Hill Farm Inn is located off-the-beaten path in Sunderland, just four miles outside of Manchester, Vermont. Once you’re out in the farmland, you feel miles away from anything and anyone. Whether you’re visiting the area for a ski vacation at Bromley, indulging in a shopping spree at Orvis or the outlets in Manchester, or just trading the hustle and bustle of city life for rest and relaxation, the Hill Farm Inn makes a great home base—and has for many years.

The inn has welcomed guests for the past 100 years, making it one of the longest running inns in the state. Locals say that it’s hard to meet someone who doesn’t have either a memory of the inn or a connection to the Hill family, who owned the property for 200 years. The home was built in 1830 (the Annex—the original home—also on the property dates to 1790) and was completely renovated in 2012, by David and Nina Mooney, an architect-designer duo based on Manchester.

Over the years, it’s evolved into a true destination with comfortable accommodations, a game room with darts and pool, a serve-yourself bar with local libations and an oversized central wood fireplace for cold winter nights. There are also many acres of fields, marshes and trails to explore and farm animals to visit with, adding to the country charm of the inn.

Dining at Hill Farm Inn

On given weeknights, Hill Farm Inn’s General Manager, Innkeper and Chef Mariah serves small bites and appetizers to draw locals in for a night of mingling. For Valentine’s Day, Mariah also prepared a prix fixe dinner, the first time the inn opened its doors for a full meal. Although we didn’t partake (rather we opted for a cheese plate and wine per our Valentine’s Day tradition), the laughs from late-night diners gave us a sense that it was quite the meal (and party!).

I can’t wait to go back in the summer to sit on the porch and enjoy a nice bottle of wine, while overlooking the mountains and hearing sounds from the farm animals in the barn.

Upstairs Seating Area, Living Room, Hill Farm Inn, Sunderland, Vermont

Hill Farm Suite, Hill Farm Inn, Sunderland, Vermont

Pool Table, Living Room, Hill Farm Inn, Sunderland, Vermont

Wilcox Farm Room, Living Room, Hill Farm Inn, Sunderland, Vermont

Saratoga Room, Living Room, Hill Farm Inn, Sunderland, Vermont

Living Room, Hill Farm Inn, Sunderland, Vermont

Tips for Visiting Hill Farm Inn like a Local

Choosing a Room: No matter what room you choose, you really can’t go wrong. If you’re traveling with a kiddo, you might want to opt for one of the suites, Hill Farm Suite ($295) or Honey Bee Suite ($285). If you’re traveling with the whole family or friends, you might opt for the Annex or the beautiful Farmhouse ($550) that are private and sleep a crowd.
My pick of all of the rooms would be the Wilcox Farm room ($225), located at the back of the inn (think quieter and away from the clacking of pool table balls). The room itself is small but there’s a large shared sitting room off of it and has wonderful views out back of the barns and marsh. It’s also just a stagger up from the help-yourself bar downstairs, if you imbide a bit too much.
Location, location, location: The location is close to Bennington (only 25 minutes or so) and downtown Manchester (5-7 minutes). There’s plenty to do in the area. I guarantee what you’ll enjoy most is heading “home” to the quiet and warmth of the inn, sitting in front of the fire and letting your stress (literally) melt away.
Depending on how GPS takes you to the Hill Farm Inn, you just might stumble upon one of the coolest covered bridges in Vermont: The Chiselville Covered Bridge, which bares the sign, “One Dollar Fine for Driving Faster than a Walk on this Bridge.” A fair warning: taking this route makes the inn really seem like it’s off the beaten path, and it might be slightly hairy in snow (or mud for that matter).
If you visit in the winter, bring your snowshoes. If you visit in the summer or fall, bring your hiking boots! The property is on fifty acres of meadows and marshes, made for exploring.
Make your way back to the barn and check out the old sign for the Hill Farm Inn on the side of the silo. It’s a very cool way to get a feel for what the place used to be. There’s also an antique gas pump at the road that gives you a sense for just how old the place is!