Since acquiring Swift House Inn in 2020, Matthew and Serena have constantly been finding ways to renovate and refresh the property. In 2021, they revamped the first floor of the Main House, which involved a big modernization of Jessica’s and a new look for the parlor. Serena has been busy planting lots of flowers and vegetables to really beautify the grounds. This year, Matthew has undertaken the big project of upgrading all of the guest rooms and renovating the Gate House. Here are six of the ways that we’ve improved the inn so far this year.
New Reception Area in the Gate House
A long-term goal is to move inn reception from the Main House to the Gate House. The prior common area of the Gate House will be home to the front desk, and guests will eventually check in there. It’s a beautiful circular room that will hopefully give guests a warm and welcoming first impression of the inn. This project is still in progress, but it already looks so much better. The walls are now navy blue, in keeping with the Swift House Inn brand. Stay tuned to see how this project turns out, and be sure to visit to see what the new reception area is like when it’s complete.
New Bathrooms in the Guestrooms
We want guests to feel comfortable and luxurious during every part of their stay. Maintaining a clean, fresh bathroom is a vital part of this process. Three bathrooms in the Main House (Room 20, 22, and 23) and all five bathrooms in the Gate House got a total makeover, with new, pristine fixtures and a more modern design. We also added a handicapped accessible ground floor bathroom for reception at the Gate House. It took a lot of work to gut and reconstruct so many bathrooms, but so far the guest feedback has been great!
More Parking Spots at the Gate House
One drawback to the Gate House was limited parking. We need more space so that there is plenty of room for all the guests, including ones staying in other buildings who will likely park down at the Gate House while getting checked in. An excavator dug up part of the lawn, freeing up space for two more parking spots.
Freshly Painted Gate House Porch
We want guests to have a stellar first impression of the inn when they check in at the Gate House. This means making sure they are greeted with a clean, well-maintained porch. Part of this paint job includes a sky-blue ceiling to the porch in traditional New England style. There are differing theories as to why porch ceilings are often painted light blue. Some think it is because the lye in the blue paint may deter bugs. Let us know if you’ve heard any other explanations!
Private Entrance for the Cartmell Room
Another project at the Gate House was giving Room 31, the Cartmell Room, its own private entrance. This allows guests to enter their rooms directly from the outside for added convenience and privacy. The room is newly pet-friendly (see below!), and a separate entrance makes it easier to take furry friends in and out when needed.
Additional Pet-Friendly Guestrooms
Swift House Inn has always welcomed pets. We love our four-legged friends so much that we decided to increase the number of pet-friendly rooms available. Before, guests with animals had to stay at the Carriage House. Now, you can stay with your pets in the Garden Room in the Main House and the Cartmell Room in the Gate House as well. Both of these rooms now have a private entrance, so you don’t have to worry about taking your pet through common areas.
It is really exciting to watch the inn continue to improve each day. We hope that our guests love the renovations as much as we do. Let us know what you think next time you visit!
Jim Monette says
Hello my name is James Monette and I
I live in Castleton Vermont. I enjoy reading about your inn and plan on having a friend and his wife go out to dinner up there. He is a Chiney sweep living in Crown Point Ny. I am a retired sweep. Both of us have had many experiences with our local Chimney Swifts in the are. Usually we are greeted with the loud squawking of the young ones as we peer down or up the chimneys. If possible we relocate the nest. Many times the homeowners are in a quandary about the occasional loud noises coming from the chimney! It is usually the large old unlined brick chimneys that have the Swifts. Their half round, spit glued nests are fascinating. Recently at an archaeology project in Castleton I found such a nest and gave to one of the archeologists there. At any rate I was wondering if the Swift on your sign is a Chimney Swift, it sure looks like one with their prytnear tailless body. I will be calling at some point with a reservation.. my fellow Sweep is still at it in his latter seventies, I on the other hand would rather go brook fishing and catch a couple three trout. I have the scar on my forehead to prove it.
Jim Monette
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