 |
|
 |
|
Among The Most Storied New England Hotel Resorts
Throughout its 238 years, The Equinox has served as one of the country's most historically
significant lodgings. "Serving the Republic since before there was a Republic," this New
England hotel was a meeting place for the fathers of the American Revolution, has hosted
American presidents (including Taft, Grant, Harrison, and Teddy Roosevelt), and has housed
innumerable well-to-do Americans looking to experience the year-round vacation offerings of
Vermont -- New England's most scenic and diverse vacation destination.
The roots of our 1,300-acre resort date back to 1769, when the town of
Manchester was less than a decade old. In that year, the forerunner of today's luxury hotel
-- a stoic, wooden two-story building called the Marsh Tavern -- was erected. Today, the
original Marsh Tavern structure serves as a restaurant at the hotel.
One of the Vermont's first lodgings, the tavern quickly became a popular gathering spot for
locals. Many would become memorable figures during the American Revolution, including the
legendary "Green Mountain Boys." The Marsh Tavern was also the first Tory (British loyalist)
property seized by revolutionaries to support their war efforts. In 1780, new owner Thaddeus
Munson expanded the territory of the tavern by adding a new inn next door. More than six of
the subsequent owners modified the resort structurally and architecturally over the next two
centuries -- resulting in 17 major architectural changes in six distinct styles.
The name "Equinox" first emerged in 1853, when owner Franklin Orvis opened his own hotel, the
"Equinox House," in his father's home next door to the Marsh Tavern. The hotel's reputation as
a "premier summer resort" was solidified in 1863, when Mrs. Abraham Lincoln and her two sons
vacationed there.
The lifestyle enjoyed by guests during these years was a lavish one. During its peak, guests
were treated to four meals a day - breakfast, lunch, dinner, supper - and tea and gingerbread
snacks. A typical Sunday breakfast at Equinox House featured veal cutlets, codfish balls,
eggs, smoked beef, and potatoes. Breakfast was included in the price of the hotel room, but
"Equinox Sparkling Water" -- a natural, mountain mineral water advertised for its "health
maintaining properties" -- was extra. A scale from the period, uncovered during the 1980s
renovation, was used to weigh guests at the end of their stay to ensure they had put on a
few pounds! To attract the well-heeled at our premier choice among New England luxury hotels,
an 1856 advertisement offered this dramatic cost-cutting slogan: "children and servants
half-price."
The Present And Future Meet At This New England Luxury Hotel Resort
Through the following three decades and three ownerships, The Equinox continued to operate.
However, in 1972 the structure was declared structurally unsound and abruptly closed. The New
England luxury hotel was saved from destruction on November 21, 1972, when it was added to the
National Register of Historic Places.
Francesco Galesi of The Galesi Group took over the hotel in 1974. After years of careful
planning and an extensive $20 million restoration, the resort re-opened to year-round
vacationers in 1985. In April 1991, the property was purchased by Equinox Resort Associates -
a partnership of Guinness Enterprise Holdings (Vermont), Inc.; Callaghan & Partners, Ltd.;
and The Galesi Group. The partnership began an ambitious revitalization program designed to
make The Equinox the premier resort destination in the Northeast. In 2000, Olympus Real Estate
Partners purchased an 85-percent share of the hotel.
In the fall of 2002, The Equinox continued its renovations with the addition of the Rockwell
Room … a state-of-the-art, multi-function meeting space designed to fit a variety of guest
needs. In January 2003, this luxury hotel in New England completed the newest Avanyu Spa --
offering an intimate, personalized spa experience like no other in the Northeast, reflecting
the transcendent beauty and nature of Vermont's pristine environment in both its treatments
and décor. In March 2007, HEI Hotels & Resorts purchased the property and will be moving
forward with a master plan of renovations and improvements.
Click here for a full list of Features & Services at this New England Resort.
Since 1769, The Equinox has symbolized all that is elegant and gracious in colonial and
contemporary America. Enjoy lavish accommodations, world-class service, and breathtaking
scenery and natural beauty - perfect for revitalizing your body and spirit.
Book your New England hotel reservations online today for preferred rates.
|
|
|
|
|
