The Hermitage Inn

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Historic Inn, Completely Reimagined

Built in the early 1800s as a summer retreat, The Hermitage Inn sat abandoned for three years before husband-and-wife team Mary Lou Ricci and Tim Hall stepped in to bring it back to life. Their vision was clear: a complete renovation of the inn, restaurants, and 112-acre grounds, resulting in a luxury country destination in Vermont's Deerfield Valley. Set at the base of Haystack Mountain along Coldbrook, the property includes 14 luxurious guest rooms and suites, a private carriage house, a trout pond, apple orchards, private gardens, hiking and cross-country ski trails, and a covered bridge.

The Culinary Program

Executive Chef Bobby Will leads a team that has built close relationships with local producers and artisans to deliver what the inn calls the best dining experience in Southern Vermont. The American cuisine here is grounded in seasonal menus and local ingredients, served across several distinct settings: the Birches fine dining restaurant, a casual upscale Tavern, an elegant Wine Cellar available for private dinners, and beautiful outdoor spaces that shift with the seasons.

The inn's event programming reflects the same ambition. A recent celebrity chef dinner brought James Beard Award-winning Chef Michael Schlow together with Hermitage Inn Chef Erin Bevan — colleagues from their Boston days at Via Matta — for a six-course coastal-inspired dinner, with cocktails and wines curated by Wine Director Justin Peregoy. The Wine Cellar Dinner Series has featured producers such as Peay Vineyards from the Sonoma Coast and legendary Italian estates including Gaja, Sassicaia, and Biondi Santi.

The Wine Cellar

The wine program is at the heart of what makes The Hermitage Inn stand apart. With over 600 labels and 6,700 bottles, the cellar earned the Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence for multiple consecutive years — a recognition that speaks directly to the depth and curation of the list. Private wine tastings and cellar dinners are available throughout the year, making this as much a destination for serious wine lovers as it is for those seeking refined American dining in a mountain setting.

Beyond the Table

Guests who stay at the inn can draw on a full calendar of on-property experiences: snowshoeing and ice skating in winter, fly fishing at the trout pond, kayaking, archery, e-bike rentals, spa services, and pastry and culinary classes year-round. The surrounding Deerfield Valley adds skiing at Mount Snow, golfing, boating, and mountain biking to the mix — making The Hermitage Inn a place that holds its own well beyond dinner.