Sumner Mansion Inn

After a long, depressing search for a unique, down to earth, affordable location in Vermont to have our wedding, Waylon and I were thoroughly delighted to find the Sumner Mansion (which conveniently happens to be just down the road from my mom). Our ceremony will be next fall (outside under the giant maple tree if the weather is nice, inside in the beautiful conservatory/​dining room if it’s raining), so this review is reflective of the impressions gained through the early planning process and a one-​night stay we had a few weeks ago.
Jill (the Inn’s new owner) exudes creativity and decorative flair and is a dream to work with. She has tastefully decorated the Inn with antiques (most of which are for sale) from her local shop and (even in late September) freshly cut flowers from her CSA share at Cobb Hill in every room. Jill has enthusiastically begun aesthetic redecorating and functional renovations throughout the house and surrounding grounds (e.g. uncovering the beautiful brick floor in the dining room).
On the day we arrived Jill was preparing for a large dinner party the next night (yes, she cooks too!), but she was extremely relaxed and made herself available to talk over details when we peppered her with questions and ideas for our wedding. In the evening she left us firewood for the working fireplace in our room (the red room upstairs with its own little private balcony), and in the morning she cooked a delicious casserole served with in-​season fruit, wholesome toast and homemade jam, along with the most unique pitcher of cream I have ever seen. (As a side note: I had to ask Jill about this zebra-​shaped piece of pottery, and learned that it was made in Africa by a cooperative of craftspeople living with HIV, and acquired on a trip Jill made to visit her son, who is currently living in South Africa.)
Melanie’s lovely pictures capture much of the physical beauty of the Inn, but to really appreciate all that makes it special you must stay for a night, explore all the rooms, and meet Jill! We can’t wait to celebrate our marriage at Sumner in a year, so stay tuned for an update.

Sumner Mansion is an amazing experience! My husband and I just went a week ago while attending/​shooting a wedding, and we were so generously welcomed in by the new owner of Sumner, Jill. Being there was like being home– comfortable and inviting. The physical property is beautiful, with a large grassy space outside where the rehearsal dinner was held (75 people with plenty of space for kids to still run and people to mingle and dance). It would be the perfect place for a wedding or large party, with all of the antique décor inside and the 4 acres of grass and trees outside.
The house itself is such a wonderful place to explore– an open dining room as you enter, a very large sitting room with library loft off to the side, two more sitting rooms the other way, and the four guest bedrooms, each with their own beautiful antique decorations and wallpaper. We stayed in the French Room, which had a very comfortable bed and an enormous amount of space (and its own bathroom). That room also had the most amazing kaleidoscope in it– a feather one (all of the rooms have their own).
Jill is such a gracious hostess and very cultured woman with so many stories. She also has an antique store in town called The 3 Seasons, which has helped her decorate Sumner with exquisite pieces of furniture and art. This is definitely the place to stay if you are in the area– we are trying to plan a trip back already, just so we can have a mini vacation specifically at Sumner.
Oh, I believe the proper address is 4 Station Rd…