Ask anyone who knows me well… I hate surprises. I am admittedly and openly a (recovering) control freak. If I’m going somewhere, I want to know where and precisely when. If I’m eating or drinking something, I want to know exactly what it is. Don’t attempt to surprise me with a birthday celebration, an engagement or by dropping by my house unannounced. Your sweet and well-intentioned plan will undoubtedly backfire, as I truly, madly and deeply hate being surprised.

What I don’t hate, however, are “surprise-and-delight” moments… you know, those times when you have low (or no) expectations about a given person, place or thing, and your expectations are far exceeded. Like when a colleague brings you a cup of dark roast on a Monday morning. Or a friend comes over for dinner with a bouquet of wildflowers handpicked from her garden just because. Or you meet someone on a first date and you feel like you’ve known them for ever. The result of a surprise-and-delight moment is a hardly containable, warm, bursting-with-happiness kind of feeling.

The Tucker Hill Inn, a historic Vermont lodge and tavern dating to 1941 in Waitsfield, recently gave me a serious surprise-and-delight moment. I was planning on staying in the Mad River Valley for a weekend away and after passing the hill-top inn for many years on my frequent trips to the Mad Taco, I decided it was time to give it a try.

In all honesty, I was expecting to find an inn that didn’t meet my (sometimes-too-high) standards. The photos on the website made the inn look drab and dated. Yes, I am a marketer, and yes, I judge a book by its cover when it comes to websites. The rooms seemed to be missing the distinct personality I want when choosing an inn or bed-and-breakfast to call home for the night. TripAdvisor reviews gave me further pause, since even a few Focal Bangers can’t make me sleep soundly in a place that gives me the heebie jeebies. But something told me I had to give it a shot, and I’m so glad I did.

What I found, as cliché as it sounds, was a true diamond in the rough… a Vermont inn with inherent charm and a distinct and welcoming rustic feel. The inn immediately emanates an authenticity that’s not easy to find or experience in Vermont anymore. The new owners, Patti and Kevin Begin, who acquired the property in November of 2015, are reinvigorating the inn and breathing new life into the formerly sleepy Vermont destination. I, for one, can’t wait to experience the result after I got a taste for what’s in store at this feel-good place…

Visiting the Tucker Hill Inn
When I drove up snow-covered Marble Hill Way to turn into the Tucker Hill Inn, which is just three miles east of Mad River Glen, I didn’t have high expectations. I didn’t realize the historic lodge boasts 18 rooms; it simply doesn’t look that big when you pull into the parking lot and see the inn off to the left and the “carriage house” off to the right.

When I stepped inside, I felt like I was stepping back in history—in an authentic kind of way. The inn feels like quintessential Vermont with wood paneling that cozies up common rooms, crackling fireplaces scattered through the property and many nooks and crannies waiting to be explored. When you walk into the Tucker Hill Inn, you take an often much-needed step back to simpler times, when houses were made of stone, rough-hewn lumber and wide-planked floors and families played board games together (of which there are quite a few to be found at the Tucker Hill inn). The property simply feels good and has a welcoming, classic Vermont nature about it.

The Rooms at the Tucker Hill Inn

I was fortunate to stay in the Innkeeper’s suite, an expansive room located in a walk-out basement underneath the inn’s living room. There’s a staircase in the back of the property that leads down to the room, complete with a king-sized bed, oversized fireplace, a wall of windows, two couches, a sitting area and a bathroom with a jacuzzi tub. What stands out in the room, other than its size, are the gorgeous mis-shaped stones for the flooring and the wooden beam supports. The room has an intrinsic Vermonty feel to it—something I tend to prefer over cookie-cutter rooms that could be anywhere. It’s not glamorous or fancy, but it is a comfortable, feel-good space. I could see the Innkeeper room being a lovely romantic retreat for a newly engaged or married couple, or a couple celebrating a long-life together, or a single traveler, looking to spread out and relax in his or her own space for a few days. The room did have a few pings and patters from the antique radiator that heats the room, but the sounds quickly became soothing to me rather than bothersome.

The linens, which the inn has a service for to ensure they’re fresh, crisp and as white as can be for every guest, made for a seriously good sleep—almost like sleeping in my own bed. The Quayl’s chocolate, locally made in Warren, Vermont, along with toiletries from Vermont Soap Company, made for an even more authentic Vermont experience matching the  community-centric vibe of the Mad River Valley in general.

A Family Affair at the Tucker Hill Inn
One of the main things that surprised and delighted me about the Tucker Hill Inn was its family friendliness and the energy that came along with having a “kids-of-all-ages-are-welcome” policy. Having no kiddos yet, I typically stay at Vermont inns and bed-and-breakfasts that are geared towards adults, as a good night’s sleep is a must and I need dead silence to sleep.

Patti’s and Kevin’s own kids, Abby and Tyce, who are ski racers at Sugarbush and part of the reason for the family’s relocation to Vermont, were around and about the inn during my stay and as sweet as can be. Abby told me about the friends she had made in kid visitors to the inn—even Facetiming with one during my stay—while Kevin and Patti told me that it’s been for parents to have their kids feel at home while they travel and stay at the Tucker Hill Inn. They’re able to go off and play with other kids while they relax and grab a pint or glass of wine at their pub bar. Patti has also arranged for babysitting at the inn for a family before, so the parents could escape and enjoy some alone time during their vacation in the Valley.

Regardless of who you are, you will feel welcome at the Tucker Hill Inn, as Patti and Kevin go out of their way to make sure you’re comfortable and have everything you need. They genuinely want you to feel at home, have a good meal and a good night’s rest. Over the next few months, they’ll be continuing to restore the Tucker Hill Inn to what it once was with modern updates here and then, to create a must-visit Vermont lodging destination, with some serious rustic charm. I, personally, can’t wait to go back.

Tips for Experiencing the Tucker Hill Inn Like a Local:

• If you’re looking for a particular kind of experience (more rustic or modern? family friendly or romantic?), email or call Patti and Kevin for a room recommendation. There are many different lodging options to fit exactly what you’re looking for at the Tucker Hill Inn. Some rooms have gas fireplaces, while others have decks overlooking the gardens. Some are clustered and perfect for couples or families traveling together. Others are extremely private and expansive for an anniversary or honeymoon visit. Many of the suites have Keurig machines and fridges.
  Come to breakfast at the Tucker Hill Inn hungry. In addition to a hot meal that’s different every day, the Tucker Hill Inn offers quite the spread for breakfast, from an oatmeal bar to a fresh fruit salad to a Vermont cheese plate to homemade breads and pastries. Don’t miss Patti’s cookies in the afternoon as well, the perfect snack after a hike or skiing. There are also granola bars, popcorn chips and other healthy snacks waiting for you after your day outside as well.

• Want to get away for only a night? Although many Vermont inns and bed-and-breakfasts typically have a minimum stay, if the Tucker Hill Inn has availability, they will host you and throw the minimum night requirement out the window.

• If you’ve had a long day of traveling, you can sip on some of Vermont’s best beers and eat locally made food without leaving the Tucker Hill Inn. Innkeeper Kevin went to culinary school and loves hosting guests in the pub that is currently only open to guests and friends of guests. Burgers, hand-cut fries, beer chili… Lots of feel-good, home-cooked meals are waiting for you. During your stay, you must experience the tavern / pub space, complete with Lawson’s Sip of Sunshine on tap, a wide range of liquors, ample board games and seating areas, a TV for watching the game and a neat foosball table. Tucker Hill’s tavern is rustic and homey and makes you feel immediately welcome. Be sure to check out the antique sign for the lodge; there’s some serious Vermont and Mad River history there!

• If stairs can be an issue for you, ask to be in the main inn on the first floor. Being a historic property, the stair cases—of which there are quite a few—tend to be steep and narrow-stepped, which adds to the overall charm of the building but also can be tricky to navigate. All of the staircases do have railings, however, and are well lit.

• Want to get out and move a bit without getting in your car? There’s a trail directly behind the inn for snowshoeing in the winter or hiking in the non-snowy months. Offer to bring the Begin’s Bernese Mountain Dog Rosi along for the walk!

The Tucker Hill Inn
65 Marble Hill Rd, Waitsfield, VT 05673
tuckerhillinn.com
802.496.3983

*Disclaimer: I received a complimentary night’s stay at the Tucker Hill Inn in order to review the inn in Waitsfield, Vermont.