Snow Goose Inn is located in West Dover, Vermont, which is a city found on the southern side of the state. The establishment is only open from December to April and June to October. A total of 13 rooms can be reserved in the inn. Amenities that are provided in each unit include television, Wi-Fi, heating, air-conditioning, and a private bathroom. Patrons who stay at the inn can receive breakfast in the morning, provided by a business that is partnered with Snow Goose Inn called Betsey's Dot's of Dover, a restaurant within walking distance. Also near the inn is Mt. Snow, a mountain that skiers can utilize in the winter. Visitors can also find hiking trails and a reservoir in the vicinity. Snow Goose Inn is a pet-friendly business.
Snow Goose Inn has a total of 13 units inside the 10,000-square-foot house. Each room comes with a private bathroom, individual heating and air conditioning, a television, and access to Wi-Fi. Most of the rooms have a porch or balcony, and some of them have wood-burning fireplaces. Each room varies with king and queen-sized beds. The inn also provides breakfast to its patrons.
Breakfast is complimentary to everyone who is staying at Snow Goose Inn, though guests have several options on how they would like to get their food. The owners are partnered with a local restaurant called Betsy's Dot's of Dover, less than a mile from the inn. One option available to patrons is to place their orders for items on the restaurant's menu with Snow Goose Inn and request a time of the day to receive their meal. Another option for visitors is that they can tell the owners what they would like and have their food ready in roughly 45 minutes. Finally, patrons can choose to drive to the restaurant, eat breakfast there, and have it charged to the inn. Some of the dishes that the Betsy's Dot's of Dover can make include California eggs benedict, chicken and waffles, steaks, and more. Many of the ingredients are locally sourced. The restaurant is capable of accommodating people who have food allergies and dietary restrictions, as long as they are given notice ahead of time.
Snow Goose Inn's owner describes the building's interior as being "warm, inviting, and having lots of natural wood." He also mentions that there is much variety in the rooms' designs. The common areas where guests of the establishment can gather share two fireplaces—one gas and one wood. There is no formal lobby or check-in desk. One room where patrons can lounge has a television, monitors, and games and is fully stocked. The owner explains, "We run the business like an airline club or a concierge level. There's always coffee, tea, espresso, beers, wines, cocktails, and a wide assortment of juices and soft drinks, which are all complimentary." Surrounding the house are perennial gardens with seats and tables. A covered porch at the front has rocking chairs and a few dining tables. One can find a deck with chairs around fire pits in the back. Wraparound balconies are available on the first and second floors.
Snow Goose Inn is located about one mile from Mount Snow, a ski mountain. The business is also within walking distance of Valley Trailhead and other trails, as well as a bike rental shop. Somerset Reservoir is a lake that is found nearby, offering canoeing, kayaking, swimming, and boat rentals. Several golf courses are located in the vicinity, as well as some breweries and a distillery. The town has several restaurants, some of which are within walking distance. The owner enjoys recommending places to eat, often telling guests about eateries such as Saw Mill Bar & Table, Two Tannery Road, and Alpenglow.
The owners, John and Cheryl, would like their guests to feel at home by "creating a relaxed, comforting environment where most of their needs are anticipated, and those things are available to them." John and Cheryl interact with their visitors as often as the patrons would like. One aspect of the property that John believes the inn is most known for is that each person who arrives for their stay receives a charcuterie board that can be provided whenever the patron would prefer.
The business has several policies that visitors are expected to follow. The building is pet-friendly, so visitors can bring pets if they please. Smoking is not permitted inside any of the units. Quiet time begins at 10:00 P.M. each night. The business does not usually host events on the property; however, the establishment can provide booking and extra space for wedding overflow, meaning, weddings that are being held in the area, and if guests need more space to stay during the celebration.
Patrons who have been to Snow Goose Inn often comment on the comfort of the home, the complimentary charcuterie boards, and the quality of care the owners put into the business. John, the owner, also explains that guests enjoy the flexibility that is offered for breakfast. One person who recently stayed at the inn noted, "We were impressed with the service, setting, and thoughtful surprises that the Snow Goose Inn offered. The atmosphere is very cozy yet fresh and clean. It's a wonderful way to experience the area. Our dog enjoyed it too."
The business is closed during the shoulder seasons, which are mud season (from mid-April to Memorial Day) and stick season (from the end of October to the first week in December). The best season of operation is usually during ski season, but the fall is often busy for the company as well. Many visitors come to the town during ski season because of the mountain that is found within the vicinity, Mt. Snow. According to the owner, "Mt. Snow is the largest mountain in southern Vermont, which is also the closest mountain to Boston, New York." Fall is popular, in part, due to the weather and the increase in weddings that occur in the area. John mentions that the people who arrive in the fall are "completely different clientele" than those who come during ski season. The guests' demographic is typically 35-65 years of age. Snow Goose Inn receives a mix of families and couples throughout the year.
John Parker, the current owner of Snow Goose Inn, has owned the business for about two years, having purchased the building in December 2020. Before that, the property had been closed for about five years. The house was initially built in 1959. The building has undergone several expansions and renovations over the years, with the most recent batch of updates occurring in 2017. It was previously known as The Shields Inn and operated under this name for many years. According to the owner, "it had been purchased by a private ski mountain to house their membership guests and prospective members, but the property went bankrupt, which is why it was closed for five years."
The building used to be owned by the Hermitage Club and its members, who reopened the ski mountain in March 2020. It wasn't until later that same year that the current owners found it for sale and decided to purchase the establishment. The owner mentions that when they came across it, "It was an opportunity at an opportune time." John and his wife, Cheryl, used to manage airplanes and hangars for corporations, which he attributes to making it easier for them to move on to managing Snow Goose Inn.
Since they took ownership of the inn, the owners have made various changes and updates. Renovations were made to the common areas, entry, and front patio. So far, John and Cheryl have finished the outside patio and have plans for more improvements over the course of the next two years. A few of these projects include expanding the deck to create more room, adding a pond and waterfall, and more.
259 Route 100 - P.O. Box 366
West Dover, Vermont 05356
United States
Bed and Breakfast
John and Cheryl Parker
