Library at the Woodstock Inn

Our Story

History of the Woodstock Inn & Resort

The historic Woodstock Inn & Resort is a year-round destination in the village of Woodstock, Vermont that embraces the vision of Laurance and Mary Rockefeller. With a legacy that’s deeply rooted in the Woodstock community, the Inn is cherished for its preservation of New England history, heritage, and elegance.

Our Heritage

Nestled in Vermont’s Green Mountains, the Woodstock Inn & Resort is a four-season gateway to New England’s heritage and personalized hospitality. Established by Laurance and Mary Rockefeller, today’s Inn features fine craftsmanship accented with elegant, artisanal amenities that reflect our authentic Vermont style and service, as well as our deep sense of care for all our guests. 

The Tavern that started it all

1793 - The Tavern That Started It All

Captain Israel Richardson built one of the first lodging accommodations in the newly designated shire town of Woodstock, Vermont. Over the next 50 years, the original two-story Richardson’s Tavern changed ownership many times, undergoing numerous alterations and additions, quickly exceeding capacity as the arrival of the town’s first railroad brought many new visitors to the area.

The Eagle Hotel

1830 - The Eagle Hotel

Moody Heath, an expert carver and a local cabinetmaker carves a large golden eagle that is mounted above the Tavern’s entrance. Richardson’s Tavern is renamed The Eagle Hotel. The original eagle is preserved in our Rockefeller ballroom, the Woodstock Inn incorporated the eagle symbol into their brand identity and remains so to this day.

Victorian Inn

1892 - The Original Woodstock Inn

Responding to the tourism boom of the mid-19th century, the new Woodstock Inn was built on the site of the original Eagle Hotel for $120,000 and was celebrated for its grand architecture, 400-foot verandah, and more than 100 guest rooms. The Inn quickly attracted many affluent visitors and became known as Vermont’s first winter-sports center for tourists, with “riotous” winter parties that were the talk of Boston and Montreal. (Source: The Green Mountains of Vermont)

Arthur Wilder Inn Keeper

1897 - Arthur Wilder

A key individual at the Woodstock Inn was Arthur Wilder, brother of one of the early investors. Arthur was an accomplished painter, and managed the Woodstock Inn from 1897 until 1935. His impressionistic murals of old Woodstock are displayed in the Inn today.

1956 - Rock Resorts

1956 - RockResorts

Laurance Rockefeller was a conservationist whose vision was to create eco-friendly resorts. The RockResorts brand was originally created in 1956 by Laurance Rockefeller, with the development of Caneel Bay on St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Other resorts formerly branded under the RockResorts identity include Little Dix on Virgin Gorda; The Lodge at Koele, Manele Bay on the Hawaiian island of Lanai; The Mauna Kea on the Big Island; Kapalua Bay Hotel on Maui; The Hyatt Dorado Beach, Cerromar Beach in Puerto Rico; The Woodstock Inn in Vermont; and the Grand Teton Lodge Company in Wyoming. In 1986, the Rockefeller family sold the brand to CSX Corp.

The Original Inn

1967 - Laurance Rockefeller purchases the Woodstock Inn

Over the years, basic improvements were made to the Inn, but a major renovation was needed to modernize the building. Laurance S. Rockefeller was approached by the Inn’s resident manager David Beach to help with the remodel. After some research it was determined that even a superficial remodeling would cost $600,000 and experts agreed that tearing the Inn down and building a new one would be the only feasible approach. In November, Mr. Rockefeller purchased the Inn with plans to tear down the neglected building and construct an entirely new hotel.

1970 - 2015

1970 - 2015

Since the opening of the new Inn, the resort has been expanded 4 times with revisions to guest rooms and public spaces. In 1970 the Woodstock Ski Touring Center was opened, and in 1986 the Woodstock Racquet & Fitness Club opened south of the Golf course. In 2010 our 10,000 square foot, LEED-certified Spa facility was added, featuring 10 treatment rooms, a bridal suite, and locally sourced products.

Garden Exterior Web

2016 - Woodstock Inn & Resort Unveils Enhancements

The completion of Phase 1 of our enhancement project was revealed in May of 2016.

Public “Living” Spaces, Front Lawn and Entry were enhanced with a $2.6 million investment.

These enhancements included a completely new lobby and library that were designed to create a community “living room” in keeping with the Inn’s classic New England Federalist structure. These changes offer guests significantly improved service levels with a new check-in process and expanded concierge presence. In addition, we have made beautiful upgrades to our front lawn and entrance with improvements completed to the porte cochere, front steps, entryway, landscaping, and more.

Mary Rockefeller's Suite
The Mary F. Rockefeller Suite

2018 - Renovated Guestrooms

In 2018, we renovated all 142 guestrooms and suites for $6.5 million, adding two new luxurious categories to celebrate the history of the village, the beauty of the land, and the adventurous spirit of the resort.  These include our Legacy Suites and Woodstock Collection Rooms.