Summertime at the Willoughvale Inn and Cottages

Spring is upon us and summer is fast approaching. It’s time to break out those bathing suits and come join us at the WilloughVale Inn and Cottages on Lake Willoughby! Grab a quick bite to eat or join us for dinner at Gil's Bar and Grill! Swimming, canoeing, kayaking, tubing and of course rope swinging are also some of the great activities this majestic lake has to offer. With a surface area of approximately 1,687 acres this 300 foot deep lake lies between two beautiful mountains and the surrounding Willoughby State Forest to the south. Created by massive glaciers that once covered the area, Lake Willoughby is known as a National Natural Landmark of New England.

Surrounded by beaches on both ends of the lake, The WilloughVale Inn offers exclusive activities season round. The Inn owns one double kayak, two single kayaks, and three canoes that are rented out for two hours at a time with no charge on a first come first serve basis. With your boat preference you can navigate the many beautiful self-guided scenes along the lake or swim out to our floating trampoline and enjoy some fantastic fun and sunbathing! On the eastern shore you can find many natural waterslides along with great views of Mount Pisgah and Mount Hor. And you may even find yourself facing the eerie devil’s face painted on the lakeside of Mount Pisgah less than halfway up from the southern beach, or known to the locals as “Devil’s Rock” a popular diving spot.

While out, relax and enjoy the variety of birds that occupy the lake, making sure to keep watch for the ever elusive Peregrine Falcons that inhibit the area. Lake Willoughby is also known for the variety of fish and great fishing it has to offer. The biggest trout ever known to be caught in the state of Vermont came out of Lake Willoughby. Rainbow Trout, Yellow Perch, Longnose Suckers, and even the VT native Round Whitefish are some of the species that can be found in the crystal clear waters of this lake. Take a romantic canoe or kayak ride out on a moonlit night to really capture the glow of the mountains and stars that surround the lake! And if your lucky you may even catch a glimpse of Lake Willoughby's lake monster "Willy"!

Come join us for a summer season full of fun in the sun at The WilloughVale Inn on Lake Willoughby and enjoy an outstanding meal at Gil's Bar and Grill! Whether enjoying a day of swimming or boating around the lake, or relaxing in the sand while soaking in the superb beauty of the landscape The WilloughVale Inn and Cottages has so much to offer! Enjoy fishing, swimming, boating, and perhaps some of the local lore that lies in and around this wonderful lake in northern Vermont!

Ice Climbing at the Willoughvale Inn

The thrill of climbing, the wind streaking through your hair, the sun glistening off the ice, the adrenaline rush, the realization that you are suspended more than two hundred and fifty feet above the ground. The absolute ecstasy and exhilaration of ice climbing!

Located on Lake Willoughby, the Willoughvale Inn offers breathtaking and exquisite views for anyone looking to get away. Situated approximately an hour and a half north of The Green Mountain Inn, Lake Willoughby and The Willoughvale Inn offer many year round activities including, hiking, biking, swimming, fishing, and in the usual frigid and dreary winter, the excitement of snowshoeing and ice climbing!

Located near the southern shores of Lake Willoughby in Westmore, Vermont loom some of the finest ice climbing cliffs in the Northeast. Towering over Lake Willoughby the cliffs range from three to six hundred feet and can accommodate climbers of various levels, with eight routes ranging from single to multi pitch climbs.

Vermont Adventure Tours offers novice, intermediate, and advanced guided tours at single or group rates; and the Willoughvale Inn is currently working with Vermont Adventure Tours to arrange a weekend getaway/ice climbing expedition either this spring or next winter.

Here are a few photos of the beautiful face overlooking Lake Willoughby:

Green Mountain Inn and WilloughVale Inn Once Again Named to New England Travel 2010 'Best of New England'

The Green Mountain Inn in Stowe, VT and its sister property the WilloughVale Inn in Westmore, VT have been named for the second year in a row to the New England Travel 2010 “Best of New England” list published by the editors of Boston Magazine. The guide’s travel experts research inns and hotels throughout New England and their selections are based on a variety of criteria including level of hospitality, quality of accommodations, customer service, amenities and dining choices.

Says Innkeeper Patti Clark, “We are delighted that the Green Mountain Inn and WilloughVale Inn have been named to the ‘Best of New England’ list two years in a row as our goal has always been to offer our guests a memorable stay at a great value for their hard-earned travel dollars. We are continually upgrading and reinvesting in both properties to make sure our accommodations are comfortable, welcoming and our amenities of the highest quality. We take pride in our long tradition of consistently delivering outstanding customer service, attention to detail and the warm hospitality our guests have come to expect from us. To see both inns named to the New England Travel 2010 list tells us we’re on the right track in meeting those expectations.”

Recently the Green Mountain Inn was voted Number 34 in the Condé Nast Traveler on concierge.com fifteenth annual “Readers’ Choice Survey of Top 50 Ski Hotels in North America” and TripAdvisor.com ranks the inn as the #1 Hotel in Stowe.

Says Clark, “The Green Mountain Inn and the WilloughVale Inn are set in two incredibly beautiful Vermont locations, each with its own distinctive character and ambiance. Guests at either inn are sure to enjoy a truly unforgettable escape.”

Situated in the heart of Stowe village, the historic Green Mountain Inn has been offering travelers respite for over 175 years. The Inn features 107 accommodations ranging from traditional guest rooms to luxury suites and townhouses. Dining options include the Main Street Dining Room as well as the famed Whip Bar and Grill.

Guests at the equally historic WilloughVale Inn overlooking Lake Willoughby in Vermont’s magnificent Northeast Kingdom, may choose from four lakeview cottages, 10 unique main inn rooms or four shoreline cottages.

WilloughVale Inn fishing contest for the One That Didn’t Get Away!

Hooking the biggest fish in Lake Willoughby this summer will win a lucky WilloughVale Inn angler a complimentary two night stay at the Inn’s sister property, the Green Mountain Inn in Stowe, VT. The WilloughVale Fishing Extravaganza contest runs from May 28 to August 31.

Says Innkeeper Roy Clark, “This is our way of encouraging guests and visitors to see for themselves just how incredible Lake Willoughby is – for everything from fishing to sailing, swimming, kayaking, canoeing or simply exploring and relaxing. It’s a fabulous place to be and we love to share it with fellow lake enthusiasts.”

“There is no entry fee to take part in the contest which is open to any and all of our inn and cottage guests who like to fish – as well as for those who never have but would like to give it a try. All entries must be weighed by a WilloughVale employee and we’ll award the prize to the biggest fish measured by weight.”

In addition to a two night stay at the Green Mountain Inn, the grand prize winner will receive a complimentary daily continental breakfast as well as a two-for-one dining voucher good at the Inn’s Whip Bar & Grill.

The historic WilloughVale Inn and Cottages provides warm hospitality in a classic natural Vermont setting on the shores of Lake Willoughby throughout all four seasons.

WilloughVale Fishing Extravaganza!

The WilloughVale Fishing Extravaganza is a contest to see which WilloughVale Inn guest can catch the largest fish based on weight from Lake Willoughby. The contest begins May 28, 2010 and runs through August 31, 2010.

Who: Open to all guests; no entrance fee

Where: The WilloughVale Inn and Cottages on Lake Willoughby

Requirements: Your fish must be weighed and recorded by a WilloughVale Inn employee.

Grand Prize: 2-night stay at our sister property the Green Mountain Inn in Stowe. Continental breakfast included daily and a 2-for-1 dinner entree voucher in the Whip Bar & Grill. Some restrictions apply.

Best of luck to all contestants!

New and Exciting Features at the WilloughVale Inn and Cottages

The WilloughVale Inn’s new and improved waterfront has something for every vacationer this summer. After months of hard work, the Inn is ready to welcome visitors with new enhancements that make it the ultimate spot to relax on or near the water. The waterfront grounds and facilities have never looked more inviting now that renovations are complete. A new game room, expanded dock and patio have been added as well as a new lighter fare menu, so you’ll be sure to find an array of choices to tempt your palate. Kids of all ages who need a game fix will love the new game room downstairs in the Main Inn building with air hockey, pool, video games, Nintendo Wii and more.

“Our waterfront is such a gorgeous spot that it’s always been the natural focal point for the WilloughVale Inn and our visitors,” said innkeeper Roy Clark. “But we wanted to give our guests an enhanced lakeside experience that offers even more ways to unwind and enjoy the water.”

The waterfront has been transformed into a lakeside resort experience in true Vermont tradition. There is an expanded fleet of watercraft including kayaks, canoes, a Sunfish and a new 14 foot Sylvan Sea Snapper motorboat. For those looking to have some serious fun, there is a new 20 foot diameter Rave water trampoline. All these amenities were added to the array of existing waterfront features that were put in place last year, which include a new floating dock, playground equipment and a fire pit perfect for roasting s’mores after the sun goes down.

The popular Robert Frost cottage has been given some extra TLC this past season as well. The cottage was renovated to include a new kitchen with dishwasher and washer/dryer, enlarged dining area and central air-conditioning. The Main Inn, Robert Frost and Angler cottages have been freshened up with a new coat of paint as well.

For additional information or to make reservations, visit www.willoughvale.com.

Vermont Sister Inns Share Honor as Top Vermont Lodging Choices

The Green Mountain Inn in Stowe, VT and its sister property the Willoughvale Inn in Westmore, VT were recently highlighted in the New England Travel Journal’s Best of New England 2009 annual publication.

Says Donna Garlough, Senior Editor at Boston Magazine which publishes New England Travel, “We research exhaustively to establish our own choice picks of where to stay within the New England region. Our goal is to direct readers to properties which consistently deliver a quality experience. Criteria we consider in our selections include the level of hospitality, customer service, amenities and dining selections offered by hotels and inns.

“The Journal highlights places where a hotel or inn’s distinctive value is perceived the minute a guest walks in the door whether it’s the property’s location, setting, décor, furnishings. Maybe a place is deemed a favorite because it sets a great mood or ambience – whatever quality that lodging possesses which lets visitors understand they’re getting their money’s worth and that this is a place they want to stay.”

Says Innkeeper Patti Clark who oversees both the Green Mountain and Willoughvale inns, “We’re honored and thrilled to have both our sister properties included in the Journal’s Best of New England 2009. Our goal has always been to make sure our guests not only enjoy a memorable visit with us, but feel their hard-earned travel dollars are well spent. Both the Green Mountain Inn and the Willoughvale offer unforgettable getaways in the unique tradition of warm Vermont hospitality. Yet each property has its own special signature atmosphere, setting and amenities which we’re certain visitors will find equally inviting as well as distinctively unique. “

Nestled in the heart of picturesque Stowe village, the Green Mountain Inn has been a quintessentially New England respite for travelers for over 175 years. The Inn features 107 accommodations ranging from traditional guest rooms to luxury suites and townhouses. Dining options include the Main Street Dining Room as well as the famed Whip Bar and Grill.

Overlooking the spectacular panorama of Lake Willoughby, the equally historic Willoughvale Inn embraces the unspoiled beauty of its fabled Vermont Northeast Kingdom location. Guests may stay in one of 10 unique inn rooms, four cozy lakeview cottages as well as four breathtaking cottages situated directly along the shoreline.