The Crafts Inn: Wilmington's Historic Landmark Inn on Route 100

Some buildings just belong to a town. The Crafts Inn belongs to Wilmington. Standing at the intersection of Route 9 and Vermont Scenic Route 100, in the center of one of southern Vermont's prettiest villages, it has been welcoming travelers since 1903. Today it operates as a timeshare hotel that also rents rooms overnight, which means visitors get a landmark stay with the amenities of a resort. Find the full listing at The Crafts Inn.

The history is the first thing you feel. The inn is a recognized historic landmark, a grand building from the turn of the last century that has watched Wilmington grow up around it. The architecture has the dignity of another era, and the location could not be more central: quaint shops and casual restaurants line the streets, and the Deerfield River runs behind the inn, offering a quiet place to sit and listen to the water. It is the kind of setting that makes a regular hotel room feel like a missed opportunity.

The rooms keep the historic charm but think like modern suites. Each room is furnished with the comforts of home: a bedroom with a queen-sized bed, a combined living and dining area with a queen pull-out sleeper sofa, and a full kitchen equipped with a microwave, dishwasher, range, and coffee maker. That kitchen changes the math of a ski weekend or a leaf-peeping trip. Cook breakfast, pack lunches, heat up leftovers from Wilmington's restaurants, and the trip gets easier and cheaper without giving up comfort. The full kitchens are the standout feature for longer stays: a real range, a dishwasher, and a coffee maker mean you can live here, not just sleep here. Families especially appreciate the separate living area, which gives everyone room to spread out after a day in the mountains.

The amenities list reads like a small resort. There is a heated indoor swimming pool, a beautiful hot tub, two saunas, table tennis, a pool table, a racquetball and pickleball court, and a party and game room. An enclosed front porch, complete with chairs, tables, coffee, and vending and ice machines, gives guests a classic Vermont gathering spot. On a rainy day or a rest day from the slopes, you do not need to leave the building to stay entertained.

The ownership model is part of the story. The Crafts Inn offers vacation ownership: owners buy a week, join more than 1,500 fellow owners, and can return year after year or exchange through a worldwide network of resorts. For visitors, the practical upshot is a well-kept property with a loyal community behind it, plus overnight rental availability for travelers who just want a great room in a great location. An owners' special even offers three-day midweek getaways at a famously low nightly rate, subject to availability.

Location is the inn's superpower. Wilmington sits at the junction of Routes 9 and 100, which puts the inn within easy reach of Mount Snow, Haystack, and the whole Deerfield Valley in winter, and within day-trip range of Brattleboro, Bennington, and Manchester the rest of the year. Boston, Albany, and New York are all a reasonable drive, which is why the inn works so well as a weekend getaway. You are in the middle of everything southern Vermont does best. Day trips fan out in every direction: Brattleboro's galleries and bookstores to the east, Bennington's history to the west, and Manchester's outlets and restaurants to the north. The inn's central position means you can pick a different direction every day and still be back for the pool by late afternoon.

The seasons each bring their own version of the trip. Winter is for skiing and snowmobiling, with the inn a short drive from the slopes and the pool and saunas waiting when you get back. Spring brings hiking and village shopping. Summer means fishing, boating, and kayaking on Lake Whitingham, then relaxing on the porch or in the gazebo by the river. Fall is the grand finale: harvest festivals, farm-to-table dinners, breweries, and foliage that turns the whole valley gold and red. Each season has its loyalists, and the inn's repeat guests tend to pick their favorite and return for it year after year. That rhythm of return visits is the mark of a place that does something right.

Wilmington itself deserves a day. The village packs a lot into a few walkable blocks: Bartleby's Books for browsing, Dot's Restaurant for breakfast, galleries and gift shops, and the riverwalk along the Deerfield. In the evening, the Maple Leaf Tavern and Valley Craft Ales keep the night going. Staying at the Crafts Inn puts all of it within a stroll, which is the great luxury of a true village inn.

Practical details are straightforward. The inn is at 10 West Main Street, Wilmington, Vermont 05363, and the front desk can be reached at (802) 464-2344. Check the website at craftsinn.com for room availability and ownership information. Standard check-in is in the afternoon with a late-morning checkout, and the staff can help with questions about the area, the seasons, and making the most of a stay.

The Crafts Inn is that rare thing: a historic landmark that still works as hard as a modern hotel. It has the bones of 1903, the amenities of a resort, the kitchens of an apartment, and the location of a postcard. Whether you come for ski season, foliage, or just a weekend in a real Vermont village, it is the kind of place that turns a trip into a tradition. Some inns you stay at. This one you join.