About Us

Visit Stowe's most unique property

The Stowehof Inn & Resort is the creation of architect, Larry Hess.  In 1945, when Mr. Hess was on leave from the United States Navy, he discovered the site on which the Stowehof sits.  Chosen on its splendid view of Mt. Mansfield and the Stowe Valley, the site is now considered one of the most picturesque of its kind.  In 1949, the construction of the Stowehof began.  The original building, constructed by Roger Adams, was completed in 1950 as a 13-room inn. 

 

Mr. Hess believed that the Swiss-Austrian alpine architecture was most befitting of the surrounding Green Mountains.  The preserved white maple trees that are seen in the entrance way and interior of the inn are trees that were taken from the property.  Much of the Stowehof comes from rural Vermont, including hand-hewn beams that once served in local farmhouses.  The Dutch clock in the main lobby was painted by Mr. Hess and marks the time of his first son's birth. 

 

On August 3, 2000 Susan and Christopher Grimes and their son, Chris Jr. (CJ), purchased the 46 room Stowehof Inn & Resort.  The Inn itself had suffered from neglect and needed to be renovated.  The Grimes' moved from St. Albans, Vermont to the Stowehof and started to bring the Inn back to its previous splendor.

Within two months all the roofs and balconies had been replaced.  The building was completely repainted, and the walkway from the main building to the Chalet was rebuilt.  In the next four months the Stowehof received the cleaning and refurbishing of its lifetime. 

Every sheet, comforter, pillowcase, napkin, and tablecloth was replaced.  Of the original 13 rooms, every one was rewired, the plumbing redone, the rooms remodeled, and the bathrooms completely removed and replaced with new fixtures and tile. An intense mission to remove all linoleum from the building was conducted. Thousands of square feet of new tile was laid and tens of thousands of square feet of new carpet laid.

 

The Living Room was completely gutted, rewired, new sound system, dozens of recessed lights, and furniture replaced with antiques.

The Dining Room was also done in the same fashion, including the addition of a new service area. Close to thirty one hundred foot dumpsters were removed from the Stowehof in four months.  Antiques replaced dilapidated 60's and 70's furniture. The kitchen received new equipment and the staff areas were completely redone including carpeting.

The Grimes Family invites you to enjoy this truly unique inn with warm New England hospitality.