"Thomas, we may be hidden, but..."
- Marilee Spanjian
- Dec 30, 2018
- 2 min read
Dear Thomas,
Over six years ago, we bought your house.
From the minute we took ownership of The Inn at Weathersfield, we haven't stopped. I should say we've chosen not to stop. While we worked to position the business, naming the restaurant The Hidden Kitchen, we serviced our house and dinner guests, took care of our wedding couples and cooking class students and dug into every nook and cranny of your now 10,000+ square foot house and 21 acres to bring it back to its full glory.
It's paying off. Recently, we were recognized by several publications as the "best inn in Vermont" and now, "The best hotel restaurant in Vermont" AND "Best food in Vermont for 2019."
It's so exciting because we're in Perkinsville. There's still no stop sign. We're not in some big city like Burlington, 2 hours to the north. We're 20 miles from Woodstock and 15 miles from Okemo Mountain. We're 2 1/2 hours from Boston and 4 1/2 hours from New York City. Your house is tucked back in the woods, and yet, people are finding us without us paying any big agency to get us noticed.
Why? I'd like to say it's only because of your house, but it's also because of the food. Chef Michael Ehlenfeldt and our staff take great pride in creating the best food and giving the best service. And we're thankful for this great team, this great work family.
As we head into 2019 (can you believe it?), I realize life is good. I'm extremely tired and looking forward to a long winter nap, but I'm thrilled that we're getting recognized along side such incredible restaurants and hotels across the country.
Until next time, your faithful house caretaker,
Marilee
Thank you for sharing such a heartfelt and reflective post. The personal storytelling makes it easy to appreciate the dedication, hard work, and passion that go into preserving and growing a special place over the years. I especially enjoyed the way you highlighted the connection between history, community, and hospitality. The way you explained the journey was both engaging and inspiring. I recently came across a similar discussion related to https://rtawholesalers.com/, and it offered an interesting perspective as well. Posts like this remind readers that success is often built through persistence, care, and a genuine commitment to creating memorable experiences.
This was a really interesting read — I like how it highlights the charm of being a “hidden gem” rather than a mainstream destination. There’s something special about places that quietly build their own loyal community over time. The tone of the post feels very authentic and inviting. I recently saw a similar kind of reflection on a review blog https://grandoaksorthodontics.com/, which also discussed how lesser-known places often have the strongest sense of character. Great post overall.
Reading how they revived that 10,000+ square foot house and won best inn awards while being tucked in the woods without a stop sign, I feel like it's the eggy car of hospitality – a fragile balance of hard work and charm that somehow stays on track.
Wow, running an award-winning inn in a town without even a stop sign is such a surprise! It’s like a perfect color match between their dedication and the remote, 21-acre property;
This was a reflective and thought-provoking post. It has a calm, almost philosophical tone that encourages readers to think more deeply about visibility, purpose, and connection. The writing style feels personal and meaningful, which makes it stand out.I recently came across a similar discussion on a review blog https://thesagelawgroup.ca/, and it also explored ideas around self-reflection and perspective in a subtle, thoughtful way. Appreciate the depth of this piece.