Vermont Grampas & Loring

A personal word from Michael & Stan.

After several failed attempts due to the financial crises, we have succeeded in selling Deerhill Inn to Ariane Burgess and Scott Kocher – a very interesting couple.  Ariane is originally British and spent many years in New Zealand.  Scott is from Wellesley, Mass, and met Ariane while on a trip to New Zealand.  We have known them for several years and feel we are leaving the Inn to friends who will take very good care of our wonderful guests.  They are committed to continuing the level of hospitality and fine dining which we have strived for over the years.

During our nine years as the owners of Deerhill Inn, our families have grown to include in-laws and five wonderful grandchildren, who refer to us collectively as the “Vermont Grampas.   We are ready to enjoy a less stressful lifestyle which leaves more time for family visits and holiday celebrations.  The same relaxed retirement that many of you enjoy.  Statistically, Innkeepers own their Inns for an average of seven years, so we are proud of the fact that we have beat the average.

We would like to thank all of the guests who have visited us over the years, many of you who we have come to know through your return visits.  Although many Innkeepers love to recall tales of problem guests, we have learned that most guests are no problem at all but a joy to care for.   One of our greatest rewards was welcoming stressed out, grouchy power couples on Friday afternoon and watching as they loosened up and relaxed over the weekend.  As we look forward to a new chapter in our lives, we a mindful of what we leave behind.

Michael Allen & Stan Gresens

michaelchef51@gmail.com

stangres@me.com

Apple Blossom Room with Mural

Gift Certificates for an “experience” are just about the most thoughtful gift you can give.  You are not saddling the recipient with “stuff” that lies around collecting dust, and you are not just giving cash – which seems so impersonal.  Instead, you are giving them a little push to get out and have some fun.  Whether it is for dinner, a massage, a concert or a travel destination, you are giving them an “experience” that they might not have had – and, perhaps, memories to last a lifetime.

Over the years, we have hosted dozens of couples staying with a gift certificate and we know that it is always appreciated.  It is wonderful to have arriving guests admit that this is their first experience in a bed and breakfast and they are here because their kids gave them a gift certificate.  They often don’t know how to act or what to expect, and we always try a little harder to make sure the first experience will lead to many others.  It doesn’t take long to get used to the experience.

Of course, we think the very best experience anyone can have is a relaxing weekend stay at Deerhill Inn in beautiful southern Vermont.  We have thirteen wonderful rooms to choose from and a really “amazing” dinner by Chef Michael Allen.

You can purchase our Gift Certificates for dollar amounts, or for a specific room.  Give us a call for details or go to the Gift Certificates link on our website and buy online.

It’s a gift that can’t fail to please.

We have some great ski packages this year which all include one free lift ticket and a four course dinner one evening in our cozy candlelit dining room.

The Ski Free and Love It package is for a two to five day (we throw in Sunday) midweek stay with one to four days of skiing included.  One of the lift tickets is free even up to four days.  Dinner for two one evening is included with tip.  Prices range from $466 to $641 depending on room choice.

The Wine, Dine & Ski Weekend package includes dinner one evening with a bottle of wine and tip plus one day of weekend skiing for two.  You can add a second day of skiing, and you can add a third night stay at half price.  As in all the ski packages, one of the lift tickets is free.  Prices range from $575 to $915 depending on room choice.

As an added bonus, lift tickets are delivered to the Inn the afternoon before the first day of skiing.  What could be easier?

Amazing Food, Amazing View

During our eight years as owners of Deerhill Inn, we have gotten used to hearing accolades about Michael’s cooking and the Inn.  This  includes the term “scrummy” which I was assured was a compliment in the British Isles.  I assume it has something to do with scrumptious, but seems to be a bit more homey and comfort foody ish.

The word we hear most often, however, is “amazing” used to describe  the cooking, the Inn, the rooms, the mountain views, the gardens, the atmosphere, the robes, the breakfast,  the hospitality, the wine, the weekend, the experience, the romance …

Here are just a few which we have picked at random

“Amazing food and lovely décor” – Dan & Sarah, CA

“Amazing! Great Atmosphere, Wonderful Food.” – Phil & Sarah, CT

“What an amazing couple of days” – Karen & Michelle, PA

“Amazing Stay” – John & Sarah, NY

“Beautiful, amazing food!” – Carol & Rick, MA

“Amazing Experience” – Lisa & John, PA

“Amazing” – Harold & Jenny, OH

“We had an amazing stay” – Madelyn & Marilyn, MS & MA

“Amazing food” – Andrea & Ryan, MA

“Amazing! Superb!” – Jon & Tom, NC

“Amazing experience” – Jeremy & Ken, VT

“Beautiful, Delicious, Amazing!” – Nicole & Brian, MA

“Amazing! Return visit and we will return again” – Jeanne & Lisa, PA

“Simply amazing!” – Richard & Barbara

“An amazing experience” – Karen & Jeff, PA

“Absolutely amazing! Beautiful, great service, great food” – Toni & Bogart, Canada

“Food was amazing and just perfect!” – Leslye & Carl, MA

“An absolutely amazing experience.  Superb dining and lodging” – Lorna & Joe, Canada

“Amazing!” – Ashley & Chris, NY

“We had an absolutely amazing time.  Your Inn is lovely, thanks so much!” – Earl & Kelley, MI

“Breakfast was amazing and so relaxing here!” – Ryan & Gretchen

“Always an amazing evening!” – Scott & Danielle, CT

“Amazing food and incredibly cozy.  We loved it” – Billy & Racquel, NY

“Amazing experience, thank you!!” – John & Linda, VA

“Dinner was amazing!” – Nicholas, NC

“We had a wonderful time.  The food was absolutely amazing!” – Brian & Carson, RI

“Absolutely breath-taking!  Romantically amazing!” – Kaitlin & Gerry, NJ

“A very relaxing and comfortable stay.  The food was amazing! Thanks!” – Isabel, NY

“Amazing food!” – Rachel & Katy, NY

“Wonderful!  Amazing food, every mouthful was terrific!” – Meredith & Paul, NY

Christina, Shane, Jeff, Jordan

We were happy to host Shane & Christina and Jeff & Jordan from Grand Isle, Vermont.  Shane & Jeff are in the reserves.  Robert, who lives in Western Mass with his wife Frances, is stationed in Boston.  Joseph from Albany is a recruiter  stationed in Catskill, NY – he was here with his wife Joanna.   Joe & Margaret from Roxbury, MA are both in the military, he just rotated off active duty and she is stationed in Boston.  (I apologize that only one of my pictures turned out good enough to use)

If you look at the long list of Inns participating in this program, you will see that almost all of the rooms were taken. I think the popularity of the program testifies to the fact that it is greatly appreciated by the men and women of the military.  We certainly felt gratified that our military guests seem to deeply appreciated this simple gesture.

This was truly a WIN/WIN.

Get away to Deerhill Inn in Southern Vermont for a relaxing holiday weekend and you will not only enjoy a Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner, but we will save some leftovers for you to enjoy throughout the weekend. That really is the best part of Thanksgiving anyway, isn’t it?  We will offer sandwiches for a day or two until the turkey is gone and put out some of the left over pumpkin, apple, and pecan pie for our afternoon refreshments.

And wait, there’s more –  if you stay for three nights, the dinner and leftovers are on us.  Check out our Thanksgiving Package and rates.  We hope you can make it!

Those of you who have been our guests in the past might remember Sophie as the shy, frightened little dog cowering under the reception desk in our office.  Although she was painfully shy and nervous around strangers, she was a much happier dog with all of us at Deerhill Inn.  She enjoyed getting treats from all of the staff members, kept Jeannette company all day as well as making a daily trip with her to the post office.

It was my task to accompany Sophie to the office in the morning and back to our apartment at night.  The evening ritual was my favortie time with her.  It was most always the last thing I did after closing up the Inn for the night.  I would either whistle or snap my fingers and wait about two seconds to hear her bound through the swinging office doors and head for the exit – her tail wagging in a circle as she ran.  I was always aware of what joy she provided and it was the perfect way to end the day.  I suspect I will be thinking of Sophie at closing time for as long as we have the Inn.

Stan

Deerhill Inn joined in the festivities with two weddings on Oct 10 plus one a little earlier in the weekend on the 8^th.   On Friday we hosted Jonathon and Ron from Florida and on Sunday Kristi & Lisa from Texas were married as well as Bill & Matt from Florida.  It looks like everyone was trying to escape the heat to get married in the cool crisp Vermont autumnal air.

We sure provided the cool & crisp, with temperatures in the 50’s, sunny skies and lots of gorgeous foliage.  Two of the ceremonies were outside in an Autumn garden setting and the third was inside in front of a cozy wood fire.

All three of the couples celebrated with an “amazing” six course tasting dinner by Chef Michael Allen in our romantic dining room.  The two Sunday wedding parties joined with other guests in the dining room with lots of toasting and drinks being sent back and forth.

Deerhill Inn hosts many small weddings throughout the year with our Wedding For Two Package which provides a three day stay at the Inn plus a complete wedding for those who choose to keep this special day for themselves.  Of course, you can add a few friends if you choose.

For  those wishing to share with their closest family and friends, we also have a Wedding with Family & Friends Package which features exclusive use of the Inn for two nights plus all of the wedding essentials.

We have already booked two weddings for 1/1/11.  It looks like that is our next “lucky day”.

We are making this easy to do by teaming up with The Hermitage, our fellow Select Registry Inn in West Dover, to offer the Inn to Inn Dining Package. When you book a stay at either Inn, you will be able to add this package which provides dinner one night at the Hermitage and dinner one night at Deerhill Inn.  To make it even easier, we will provide transportation between the Inns so you don’t have to worry about anything but enjoying the evening.  We pick you up, we bring you home.  You are always treated like an Inn guest and we add a complementary glass of champagne to get the night started.

Package includes two four course dinners, transportation, champagne and the gratuity.  Offered at $290 plus tax.

Rachel & Brendan

Once upon a time in Merry Olde England, the fair maiden Rachel became betrothed to the dashing young Brendan.  Rachel & Brendan had their hearts set upon an intimate wedding in far off Vermont just for the two of them to cherish.

After much searching of the Ye Olde Internet, they discovered a charming Inn nestled on a hillside in the Green Mountains in the quaint hamlet of West Dover – which just happened to special in Weddings For Two.  Thus it was that Rachel & Brendan realized their dream and traveled to Deerhill Inn.

The fairytale came true in the lovely autumnal Wedding Garden of the Inn, with Rachel in a beautiful beaded gown and the apple trees laden with their autumn harvest.  There followed a carriage ride with a white horse through the local countryside,  champagne, hors d’oeuvres, a six course tasting dinner.   Their very own wedding cake completed the dream.

Rachel & Brendan are now living happily ever after in north east England in the hamlet of Blaydon on Tyne.

We wish thee well, Rachel & Brendan