As I write my thoughts about our recent trip to Blueberry Hill Inn in Goshen, Vermont, I am overwhelmed with a profound sense of having experienced something rare. Something that is incredibly difficult to put into words, but I’ll try.
What makes Blueberry Hill Inn special
The building has a living heartbeat.
This is a direct quote from Eric, after a lengthy conversation on what makes Blueberry Hill Inn so special. And he’s absolutely right, the building and grounds feel alive, imbued with their own character and stories. Our list of “beautiful landscape, old world charm, friendly people, delicious food, long history” — all of these apply but they also apply to other places we’ve stayed in the past. But this place is different, and to understand why, I need to start with the original dreamers.
“When two people have such a love, have such a desire to make something work, it works.” Excerpt from Nothing Whatever To Do (1956) by Elsie and John Masterton, original innkeepers of Blueberry Hill Inn.
Blueberry Hill Inn has a rich history dating back to 1813 when the original house was built. Over the years, it has undergone several additions, including hundreds of blueberry bushes, miles of trails through lush forest and an outdoor center that oversees the all-season activities that Blueberry Hill Inn has to offer. We enjoyed learning about the original innkeepers, Elsie and John Masterton, by reading Elsie’s book which kept us laughing and gave us a good sense of why this place is so different from other inns.
It’s because it was created with love, dreams for a better life, and lots of hard work and compromise.
We loved Elsie’s book so much, we ordered a copy as soon as we got home. It tells the story of an attorney and his wife who quit their successful careers in New York to purchase a 1,000 acre wooded property in Vermont, with dreams of turning their mountain into a ski resort. Elsie’s love for her dreamer husband and determination to learn how to cook and adapt to a simple country life while opening her home to strangers reminds me so much of my Mom and the way I grew up.
“Our guests were the kind of people who came for the reason that there was nothing whatever to do, they spent the busiest kind of a day; it was over before they knew it, what with the talk and the beauty and the companionship of others just like them.” ~ Elsie
Upon arriving at Blueberry Hill Inn, we were greeted with fresh flowers in our room, handpicked from the gardens and wild patches surrounding the inn. The sunroom served as the heart of the inn, where Eric perused Elsie’s book and the inn’s cookbook collection and I found inspiration for my writing. It was here, amidst the sunroom’s cozy ambiance, that we had some of the most meaningful conversations with Shari and her charismatic team.
Shari is a treasure trove of stories about the inn’s history and her deep-rooted connection to it. We loved hearing her stories about the inn, how she began working there in the 80s and how entwined her life became with the inn to the point where she is now the owner. Shari felt like a big sister, showing interest in what I’m trying to achieve with Trips to Walkabout and offering advice and encouragement. She’s a force of nature, determination and hard work written all over her face, along with plenty of laugh lines showing a life well-lived. She talked candidly with us about the challenges and joys of running an inn with such a large property. I am in awe of this woman.
The team at the inn, including Olivia, Allison, Nate, and Shari’s shadow, the large lovable Remi, made us feel like we were part of a big family. We had the pleasure of hearing Olivia’s inspiring views on sustainable food practices and hospitality, leaving us with hope for the future of tourism. And we most certainly enjoyed the mouthwatering comfort foods created by Nate and Allison. I had to pull Eric away from the kitchen so they could get their work done, he could have happily discussed food with them all day. My favorite was their charcuterie board and fresh nectarine salad, lovingly prepared for us on a day when the kitchen was closed.
Blueberry Hill Inn attracts the kind of people who come to enjoy the simple joys of life and genuine companionship.
From the moment we arrived, a sense of familiarity and casual comfort embraced us. Everything about this place says “welcome, come as you are, leave your worries and pretensions behind.” I can see why Blueberry Hill has such a loyal following, why couples like Ed and Ellen return 17 times. In a world that so often seems fake and cold, this place is the exact opposite. Much like our stay with Kim in Fleur de Lys, Shari and her team reminded us how powerful this simple truth can be:
When you open your heart to strangers and greet them with a desire to listen and learn, you will almost always be rewarded with the pure joy of witnessing someone as they truly are. This is how meaningful connections are made. This is how we experience the best part of being human.
During our stay, Eric surprised me by fully embracing the charms of Vermont’s countryside. He willingly walked into the valley of death so that I could hike the trails of Blueberry Hill. Witnessing him pause to admire water lilies by the pond, wildflowers that he usually avoids because they mean stinging insects, brought a smile to my face. He was no more immune to the magic than I was.
“It was our home. It was their home. We were sharers of the same thing, of the same aura of simplicity.” ~ Elsie
As we reluctantly prepared to leave Blueberry Hill Inn, we took the back roads, savoring every moment and every breathtaking view. Vermont had woven its spell on us and we found ourselves daydreaming about the possibility of living here. Our stay at Blueberry Hill was an unforgettable experience, reminding us of the power of genuine human connections and the beauty of embracing simplicity. It’s not just an inn; it’s a sanctuary that welcomes you with open arms, urging you to be your authentic self, stripped bare of the modern world’s burdens and distractions.
The spirit of Elsie and John Masterton is still alive at this inn, and it has many more stories yet to tell.
Our stay at Blueberry Hill Inn was part of a 50-day Road Trip to Canada.
