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Franconia/Sugar Hill The landmark annex building that was all that was left of a famous hotel straddling the 1,700-foot-high ridge of Sugar Hill has been nicely transformed into an urbane country inn. Lon and Nancy Henderson bought the inn in 2000 and continued to make improvements to take the inn “to the next level,” in Lon’s words. Both he and his wife took early retirement from the military to raise their young family in what they consider a postcard setting atop a mountain ridge. The restored hotel holds 21 guest accommodations containing king or queen beds covered by quilts or duvets. All have new baths (some with fiberglass showers, others with refurbished clawfoot tubs) with the inn's own toiletries. They also have a simple but stylish, uncluttered look with Waverly prints, coordinated colors and handmade draperies. Nancy is partial to yellows, florals, birds and bugs for decor, as evidenced from a guided tour of an assortment of rooms. Nearly half the rooms have a fireplace, whirlpool tub or both. At one visit, we could see the sun both rise and set from our second-floor north corner bedroom with windows on three sides. More recently, we luxuriated in one of two new master suites, each with a king bed, living room with TV, fireplace, two-person whirlpool tub and separate shower. Ours had an enormous four-poster bed with a hidden jewelry compartment, a wood stove, a wet bar/kitchenette and a private balcony overlooking the mountains. The adjacent Hill House is more like a B&B. Six oversize rooms are decorated in spiffy country inn style, some with separate sitting area, two with porches and all with mountain views. The best room here comes with a kingsize bed, fireplace and a two-person whirlpool tub. The public spaces are beauties. Along the front of the main inn is a succession of three open, airy living rooms with fireplaces and splashy floral arrangements. One holds the inn's TV. Strung along the rear are four elegant dining rooms with windows onto the mountain panorama and one of the best fall foliage views in New England. On the other side of the reception desk is a tavern, which is fun for drinks or light fare. Rates include a full breakfast with juice, fresh fruit with yogurt and homemade granola, wonderful coffeecake and chocolate-chip scones and a choice of entrées, from a Cuban omelet to steak and eggs. Evidence of the innkeepers’ brand of hospitality is the most enlightening orientation book of any inn we know. Found in each guest room, the hefty volume offers page after page of personal suggestions from Nancy. Everything from driving tours to shopping tips reflects her self-styled status as “the world’s happiest innkeeper.” Of course, you may not want to stray far from the inn. Outside in front is the ridge-top Sunset Hill Golf Course, a conservation-protected landmark that is New Hampshire’s oldest nine-hole layout. It includes a pond (for ice skating in winter) and a network of cross-country ski trails, which the Henderson family enjoys as much as their guests. Behind the inn is a most attractive rock-rimmed swimming pool – an all-new heated pool within a pool because the old one was deemed beyond repair. Beyond is a wedding arbor framing Mount Lafayette and an awesome mountain vista.
e-mail: innkeeper@sunsethillhouse.com For more information: www.sunsethillhouse.com
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