At the Riverside Inn, we welcome individual travelers, families, and groups year-round. The inn consists of two buildings, The Lodge, a large house with 8 guest rooms, and The Motel, with 6 motel-style units.
We are on the bank of the West Branch Little River and exactly halfway along Stowe’s famous recreation path. Many of the town’s finest restaurants, shops and favorite nightspots are within walking distance, and our guests often leave their cars in our car park and explore the area on foot, by bike, or on rollerblades. In season, you can catch the Stowe trolley right outside our door.
Accommodations
The Lodge
An ‘at-home’ experience, featuring a fireside lounge for mixing and mingling with fellow guests Apres-Ski or enjoying a pre-dinner drink in the summer and autumn months
– 1831 converted farmhouse has eight guest bedrooms
– Six Lodge rooms share two bathrooms, and two rooms are available which have their own en-suite bathrooms
– Main floor includes a TV Lounge with a fireplace, and a games area with pool table
– Free bike rental is available
– Rates start at $99 per night, dependent on room chosen and season
The Motel
Spacious, well-equipped accommodation for a single night’s rest or for an extended vacation. Units back on to the West Branch Little River and Stowe’s famous recreation path.
– Each of the six units has a private bathroom and features the following amenities:
Individually-controlled heat and air-conditioning, flat screen TV, in-room safe, mini-refrigerator, coffee maker, and microwave
– Free bike rental is available
– 2 units are available for guests with pets
– Rates start at $139 per night, dependent on number of guests per room and season
Is the Riverside Inn for you?
The Riverside Inn is a genuine “old style” Ski Lodge / Inn that dates, in parts, back to 1831. We have found over the years that the vast majority of people who stay with us understand this and love the place. However, we do have a tiny percentage who, as we can often tell from the moment they walk through the door, will not appreciate this. Why they expect a nearly 200-year-old building to have an elevator escapes us. Please, please, understand that we mean it when we say the Lodge building is rustic. We are easy going and casual. We are not a Holiday Inn or Best Western nor do we want to be!
Our aim is to provide clean, unpretentious but characterful accommodation in the best location, at the best rates, in Stowe. If that is what you are looking for then please come and join us.
If you are unsure whether the Riverside Inn is right for you (or whether you are right for the Riverside Inn), please complete the following little quiz to help you come to a decision. Enjoy.
Realtors say that the value of a property depends on …
Location, Location, Location!
The Riverside Inn clearly possesses one of the best. We are exactly halfway along Stowe’s famous recreation path and a short walk to many of the town’s finest restaurants, shops and favorite nightspots.
We’ve labeled some of our favorite places on the map below.
For directions from major cities, click here. Or, for custom Google Maps directions, click here.
Why stay at the Inn?
You’ve heard that Stowe is lovely in the winter and summer… and fall and spring!
You’re bringing your pet dog, cat, lamb, etc.
You’re attending the “Stoweflake Hot Air Balloon Festival”
You want to attend the “Brew Fest”
You want to visit the “Antique Car Show”
You wish to experience the “British Invasion”
You ride a motorcycle.
You want to accommodate your wedding guests.
You would like to visit the “Craft Festival“
You are a fan of Mountain Biking
You’re walking the “Long Trail”
You, and your dog, are attending the “Camp Gone to the Dogs!“
You’re taking part in a local race. We have many! “Stowe 8-Miler” – “10-Miler” – “Marathon” – “Ultra!”
You’ve dreamt of seeing the “Fall Foliage” in Vermont
For even more reasons, check out one of the events below.
Events
Click on a button below to learn more
History
The Riverside Inn was originally a farmhouse built sometime in the early 1800s, when Vermont was a rural farming community. The earliest documentation relating to the property we have found shows it was sold by Elisha Cady to Asa Luce in 1836 for $50! Over the next 100 years the property passed through the hands of the Gales, Bigelows, Ayres and Kittles and to the Warners in 1945.
The earliest time we know it was used as a Lodge is during the early 1940s , a period when tourism began to replace farming as the main economy. The Lodge was then bought by the Teffners in 1947 and operated by them until 1952.
It was then purchased by the Rutledge family and renamed the Rutledge Lodge.
In 1972, Phil and Margee Jones arrived in Stowe from Philadelphia with their two young children. They purchased the Rutledge Lodge, christening it the Golden Kitz. Sadly, Phil died shortly after their arrival, but Margee continued to run "The Kitz" until her own death in the mid-1990's.
During her reign, the Kitz became one of Stowe's best-known Lodges. Everyone we have spoken to who knew Margee has a colorful tale to tell and by all accounts, a whole book could be written about the property under her stewardship.
And most recently in 1997, the property was bought by the Bartlett family (that's us!). We first came to Stowe from our home in England for the skiing, and found we just kept coming back. When other business commitments pointed towards a permanent move to the US, we knew exactly where we wanted to settle down.
Our research of the Riverside Inn's history is ongoing, so this page will be continually updated as we learn more and more about the property. If anyone reading this can help with any information or old pictures, we would love to hear from you. You will see many of the names that have been associated with the property are echoed in place and road names around Stowe.