A Historic Vermont Inn
Just 19 years after Vermont became a state and two years before the War of 1812 broke out, an enterprising man by the name of John Foote built a boarding house and tavern at the foot of a gap in the Green Mountains, in the east village of Middlebury. He foresaw the establishment and growth of this tiny community into an industrial boom town, and planned to take advantage of it by providing the ageless necessities of good food and comfortable shelter to the workers employed in local businesses, including the Vermont Glass Factory, an iron forge and a woolen fabric works. Stagecoach travelers crossing the mountain also stopped to partake of his hospitality and it seemed as though his fortune was assured.
Unfortunately for Mr. Foote (and happily for you), East Middlebury never became a center of industry, but has remained a small village. The Waybury Inn still hugs the base of the mountains and welcomes all manner of travelers – from across the street and around the world. Generations later, the Inn’s accommodations, elegant dining room, casual pub, and beautiful setting continue to make it a popular destination for intimate dinners, family gatherings, weddings and receptions of all kind.
An Ideal Green Mountain Location
The year that Mr. John Foote established the Inn, then known as the Green Mountain House, was 1810. It is hard to imagine the surroundings, the transportation system and the Inn as it existed over 200 years ago.
Today the Inn sits at the base of the Green Mountain National Forest, there is a nicely paved road that runs in front of our Inn and slowly climbs the mountain, curving along the Middlebury River and twisting its way through the little village of Ripton. The road travels by the Spirit in Nature hiking trails and then past the Robert Frost Interpretive trail before heading up to Middlebury College’s Breadloaf campus, famous for its summer language and writing schools. In the winter, the Breadloaf campus is converted into Rikert Nordic Center, a beautiful cross country skiing venue, with miles of groomed trails and lots of space for quality snowshoeing.
A few miles further down the road is the Snow Bowl, one of the most enjoyable and relaxed downhill ski areas in the county. To crown the glory of this byway, the Long Trail threads along the spine of the Green Mountain Forest and as you begin your descent down the back side of Rt. 125 there appears another treasure: Texas Falls. The falls offer a picnic area, hiking trails and the hypnotizing view of falling water and extraordinary rock formations.
All of this is on a great 15 mile stretch of road which starts at the Waybury Inn. Anyone with the slightest interest in the great outdoors can stay captivated for days. If hiking, biking, fly fishing, snowshoeing, cross country or downhill skiing are of interest to you, there is not a better 15 mile stretch to explore.
Become a Part of the Story
We welcome you to experience the Waybury Inn for yourself! Travelers and diners from all over the world have made our classic Vermont inn a part of their stay in Middlebury. Please click here to learn more about our accommodations and book your stay. For menus and info about our Middlebury restaurant and pub, please click here.