Lauren Kabis add mystique and import, as do several paintings held over from the acquisition of the hotel. Large, framed, topographical maps of Manchester and the Green Mountain National Forest and custom-ordered reproductions from USGS hang alongside vintage Bromley ski photos. Together, the pieces ground the Lodge in Vermont’ s cultural landscape.“ We want our hotels to feel like where they are,” Carrie says.“ Hopefully when you arrive, you feel completely present in the local experience.”
The Trailhead & Outdoor Spaces
From the lobby, guests can walk directly into The Trailhead Restaurant’ s bar area.
During the renovation, Bob and Carrie uncovered compelling structural secrets that were hidden for decades. Bob elaborates:“ When we bought the hotel, there was a
solid wall with just one door leading into the bar. When we knocked on the wall, it was hollow. We ended up tearing it down after we found the original openings.”
The bar itself is a custom piece, built from a slab of rough-cut wood hand-picked at Cripple Creek Sawmill.“ I went down there and picked the piece myself,” says Bob.“ Andrew Brennan runs the mill, and he does incredible work.” Inside, the restaurant’ s color scheme combines neutral tones with wooden accents and tartan textiles, giving it a welcoming ski gastropub ambiance that nicely contrasts with the lobby.“ It has a different vibe,” Carrie explains.“ It’ s more intimate, and more of a place to settle in with a drink after skiing.”
The restaurant’ s décor incorporates a mixture of local art and memorabilia: Vermont scenic paintings, vintage Bromley photos, close-up photographs of ice crystals, and a record player complemented by vinyl sourced from a Londonderry shop.“ We even got a little ski racer artwork from a Bromley Outing Club fundraiser,” says Carrie. Topographical maps of the Green Mountains and the Appalachian Trail— custom-framed for the space— line the walls, reminding guests of the landscape outside and the nearby Appalachian Trail / Long Trail trailheads.
The outdoor patio extends the restaurant into the open air. Wooden picnic tables and benches sit beneath string lights with direct views of Bromley. Just off the patio, a welcoming firepit offers breathtaking, panoramic views of the Southern Vermont Green Mountains.“ It’ s a great place to meet people,” Bob says.“ One night, we met a hiker who had come all the way from Georgia on the Appalachian Trail. He told us about the FarOut guide, and now Sun Lodge is listed there. That came from a conversation around the fire.”
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kim @ oldmillroadmedia. com manchester manchester life magazine life holiday magazine / winter 2023 2025 81 81