At the Sugar Hill Inn, New Hampshire’s charm comes to life

The Sugar Hill Inn offers year-round charm to visitors.

The town of Sugar Hill, N.H., sits up the hill from its slightly larger neighbor Franconia amid the majesty of the White Mountains. In this beautiful setting you’ll find the Sugar Hill Inn, an upscale yet unpretentious, welcoming lodging with scenic vistas in all directions.

The main building is an historic farmhouse originally built in 1789 and restored lovingly to accommodate guests from around the world. The unique guest rooms and cottages are elegantly furnished, have lovely views from each room and every amenity to make their guests feel special and pampered. In the main building you’ll find three suites and four rooms, each with its own private bath.

The Peckett Suite features a whirlpool tub, spacious sitting area and a large private deck with views of the mountains, the forest and a perennial garden. The Richardson Suite offers a private deck overlooking the forest, a sitting area with a gas fireplace and a back porch with steps to the sculpture and herb garden. Lovely mountain views are visible from the breakfast corner. The Nickerson Suite’s separate sitting room lets you cozy up to an inviting gas fireplace as you look out on the woodlands and gardens. The Bickford Suite offers a soaking tub for two and is a guest favorite, with many returning year after year.

Each of the suites has a king-size bed, bathroom with a double whirlpool tub and separate shower, a flat-screen TV and Bose music system providing the most in comfort and relaxation.

The four guest rooms in the building have queen or king beds, tiled baths with a tub and/or shower, flat-screen TVs and other features. Each has its own story and distinct features as well as varying and, in some cases, iconic mountain views. The owners have a commitment to showcase local art, and they do it well. The inn and its rooms are decorated with original paintings or prints of the surrounding vistas, most by local artists and some by others coming from a distance and who chose to paint while visiting.

In addition there are several other lodging options — two smaller cabins, each with two units and a third luxury cabin, the Dream Cottage.

Champagne and chocolates, flowers and chocolate, fruit, cheese and wine or a bouquet of flowers can be ordered as a special treat or a surprise for a special occasion. There also are a number of more comprehensive packages available to add on for a big occasion.

The Honeymoon, Proposal, Birthday and Romantic Getaway packages feature extras, depending on the package, such as an all-inclusive dinner for two, flowers, champagne and chocolate in your room, hand-thrown pottery mugs, a bourbon nightcap and more. The inn also caters to solo and business travelers with a welcome cocktail and a discount on room rates. Also offered are relaxation and therapeutic massages. You don’t have to leave the inn. Massage therapists in private practice come to you by appointment and provide the type of massage you prefer in the comfortable inn setting.

The Tavern is a cozy gathering spot after a full day’s activity. With a café table, comfy seating, a wood-burning fireplace and a boutique bar, guests can come together to share their experiences or just relax before dinner. At 4 p.m. daily the Tavern offers “small bites.” The chef will surprise guests with various tasty treats. It could be anything from local cheeses to a tasty dessert treat to anything in between. The bar is fully stocked with premium liquors and there is a specialty cocktail list. Although opening times for the bar change with seasons, your hosts are ready at any time to pour a glass of wine or beer. Dinner is served in the dining room Wednesday through Saturday featuring locally grown produce and herbs grown in the inn’s garden.

“We purchased the inn in December of 2021 and business has been excellent since that time,” said owner and innkeeper Chris Chesley. “Summer and fall are always busy with activity. Tourists enjoy staying at the inn because of the quality of the rooms and the restaurant as well as the unique nature of staying at an inn built in 1789. Business in the winter is strong but is more variable depending on the snow conditions.”

While staying at the inn there are plenty of activities and sites to visit in the area. Of course, in winter there is skiing at nearby Cannon Mountain, the closest, and Bretton Woods and Loon Mountain just a short drive away. A visit to the New England Ski Museum located at the base of the Cannon tramway, with its rotating exhibits, is informative and interesting.

Sugar Hill is home to the storied Fields of Lupine Festival. This brilliant display of spiky blue, pink, purple and white blooms, with its accompanying butterflies, is a must-see attraction in early June, featuring a backdrop of the Presidential, Kinsman and Franconia mountain ranges. From the inn it’s just a short distance so some of the best flowering fields.

“In the future, the property will continue to expand its food-service options and continue to upgrade and beautify the grounds,” Chesley said. “Accessible wooded areas and outdoor seating areas as well as relaxation stations will be a top priority. A few additional cabins will also be part of the plan. However nothing will change the core nature of the inn.

‘Our property will continue to be a unique and peaceful retreat in the White Mountains.”

Visit: SugarHillInn.com