The Equinox Story

Revolutionary Beginnings

Originally known as the Marsh Tavern, it was here that the local Council of Safety held its first meetings and where Ethan Allen’s younger brother, Ira, proposed confiscating the property of Tories to raise money for the Green Mountain Boys during the American Revolution. Coincidentally, Marsh House was the first property to be expropriated after its owner, William Marsh, declared his allegiance to the British. 

Not long after, Thaddeus Munson purchased Marsh Tavern and operated it as Thaddeus Munson’s New Inn. The Inn changed hands multiple times after that, becoming Widow Black’s Inn, Vanderlip’s Hotel, the Taconic and the Orvis Hotel. Owner Martin Vanderlip added fluted columns to the front of the inn in 1839. Those columns still stand today and have become a trademark of The Equinox.

The 200-room Equinox House, predecessor to The Equinox of today, was established in 1853. The north wing of the inn was the original Orvis family homestead, and its fireplace continues to warm our guests in Chop House restaurant.

Architectural History

The 17 structures that form The Equinox showcase six distinct architectural styles and a visual history of construction in the U.S. Though shuttered in 1972, The Equinox experienced a renaissance in the 1980s, reopening as a resort hotel and conference center. The Equinox’s restoration came after years of study, controversy and debate about how to revive the structure without losing the unique qualities that made it a landmark designated as a National Historic Place.

During the restoration, workers uncovered a few of the resort’s secrets, including a previously unknown passageway between two wings, and the old hotel scale, still in working order. It’s hard for us to imagine today, but guests used to weigh themselves after a visit to the resort to show proof they’d gained weight during their stay. You can try that for yourself by stepping on that same scale in our spa.