An inn has stood on this Main Street site in Norwich, Vermont, since 1797, with the current Victorian structure dating to 1890. Today, the Inn offers inviting accommodations, along with Jasper Murdock’s Alehouse and an on-site microbrewery. Enjoy a large selection of wine, housed in our Wine Cellar. Local legend even suggests the Inn and town inspired the beloved TV show “Newhart.”
A historic Vermont Inn and hotel built by Colonel Jasper Murdock in 1797, the Norwich Inn served as a stagecoach tavern and hostelry for generations of New England travelers. Known variously as the Norwich Hotel, Curtis Hotel, The Union House, and the Newton Inn, the little tavern gained quite a reputation over the years, particularly among tourists and coaching parties destined for the White Mountains.
The Norwich Inn was the first tavern in Vermont to entertain a Chief Executive of the United States. On July 22, 1817, President James Monroe visited the hotel, and while here, he addressed the townspeople of Norwich and “partook of a dinner, prepared … in handsome style.”
A devastating fire in December 1889 destroyed the hotel, the Union Hall, and several neighboring structures. The innkeeper, Dr. W.S. Bowles, rebuilt in 1890 on the foundation of the original structure. The new Vermont hotel, renamed the Newton Inn, was a handsome Victorian structure with a wraparound porch and central turret. In 1920, Dr. Bowles sold this historic Vermont Inn to Charles and Mary Walker, who again named it the Norwich Inn.
Though Prohibition had just begun, townsfolk fondly recount that Mary, known as “Ma” Walker, quietly carried on the Norwich Inn’s tradition as a tavern by selling bootleg from the basement. The hotel register from the period, on display in the parlor, features several cartoon drawings of Dartmouth students holding frothy mugs high. Theodor Seuss Geisel, “Dr. Seuss,” Dartmouth ’25, was a frequent patron of the Inn.
Since the turn of the century, several owners have made architectural changes to our historic Vermont inn to reflect the tastes and trends of their time. Porches were enclosed, towers were removed, architectural details were “modernized,” and additions were built. In 1991, innkeepers and owners Sally and Tim Wilson began to painstakingly restore the Inn to its earlier splendor as a Victorian landmark in the center of a lovely Vermont village.
The Inn was purchased in 2006 by Joe and Jill Lavin, who have continued the tradition of ongoing improvement as it evolves through the 21st Century. Major enhancements include the addition of the Walker House and Ivy Lodge, the creation of the Wine Cellar, and significant renovations to all public areas. In one regard, little has changed: throughout its long history, this Norwich hotel and historical Vermont Inn has maintained a tradition of warm hospitality, fine food, and a well-stocked cellar.
Innkeeper David Burtonbush started at the Inn in 2018. Before joining the Inn team, David gained valuable experience in the hospitality industry, working as Food and Beverage Manager at Mohegan Sun Pocono in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and as Food and Beverage Manager at Enchanted Forest Water Safari in Old Forge, New York.
INSPIRED BY YOU, @thenorwichinn
🍁 Before you know it, this will be the view as you make your way over to Dartmouth!
Fall in Vermont has a way of sneaking up on us, and foliage season will be here before we know it. If a Vermont fall getaway is on your list, now is the time to book your stay at the Norwich Inn before the season fills up.
One of the best parts about our location is that we’re centrally located for exploring. Depending on when you visit, you can head north or south in search of peak foliage, then come back to Norwich for dinner, a locally brewed beer, and a cozy night at the Inn.
🍂 Book your fall foliage stay with us today and come see Vermont at its most colorful.
#VermontFoliage #FallInVermont #VisitVermont #VermontFall #dartmouth
🎉 Mark your calendars!
Join us for the Norwich End of Summer Block Party on Sunday, August 30, from 2:00–5:00 PM as we celebrate another great summer with our neighbors.
The front lawns of the Norwich Inn and Dan & Whit’s will be filled with live music, great food, cold drinks, pizza, ice cream, and plenty of community fun.
🍕 Pizza & ice cream available for purchase from Dan & Whit’s
🍺 Beer, wine, cocktails, and pub fare available from Jasper Murdock’s Alehouse
🎶 Live music all afternoon, featuring The Funky Flats from 3:00–5:00 PM
Bring your family, invite your friends, and help us send summer off the right way. We can’t wait to celebrate with everyone!
#NorwichVT #UpperValleyVT #CommunityEvent #EndOfSummer #LiveMusic
💙 Nonprofit Night at the Norwich Inn! 💙
Join us Wednesday, August 19th for our next Nonprofit Night, supporting the Norwich Women’s Club!
Come enjoy dinner and drinks at Jasper Murdock’s Alehouse while helping us celebrate an organization that does so much for our local community.
🍽️ 10% of all food & beverage sales for the evening will be donated to the Norwich Women’s Club.
Grab some friends, join us for dinner, and help us give back to a great local organization. We hope to see you there!
#NorwichVT #NorwichWomensClub #SupportLocal #uppervalley #eatlocal
🍕 Community Pizza Night is TOMORROW! 🍺
Join us Thursday, July 23, from 4:30 to 7:00 PM at King Arthur Baking Company for a fun evening of fresh pizza you too yourself, local craft beer, live music and neighbors!
Your neighborhood innkeeper will be behind the bar pouring your favorite Jasper Murdock Ales, so stop by, say hello, and enjoy a great night with the community.
We can’t wait to see you there!
Just like Appalachian Trail hikers, the monarch butterflies seem to know exactly when it’s time to return to Norwich.
Yesterday we spotted our first monarch of the season fluttering around the patio, and it quickly became the star of the afternoon. Guests paused their meals to watch as it floated from flower to flower, reminding us that some of the best moments of summer are the unexpected ones.
If you’re dining with us over the next few weeks, keep an eye out. You never know when one of these beautiful travelers might stop by to say hello. 🦋
✨ It’s the little things that make a big difference.
Over the past several weeks, Dale and Christian have been hard at work refinishing the tabletops in the Newhart Room, Pub, and Terrace. They sanded, stained, and refinished each one by hand, and the results speak for themselves.
Projects like this often happen behind the scenes, but they’re all part of making sure the Norwich Inn is looking its best for our guests.
The next time you’re in for dinner or a drink, take a look. We think they turned out pretty great.
Thanks, Dale and Christian, for another job well done!
#BehindTheScenes #HistoricInn #UpperValley #VermontDining #Teamwork
Missed our first King Arthur Community Pizza Night? No worries, there’s another one this Thursday!
Join us at King Arthur Baking School on Thursday, July 16, from 4:30 to 7:00 PM for fresh pizza, live music, and your favorite Jasper Murdock Ales poured by Innkeeper Dave and our Brewer Patrick.
It’s the perfect way to spend a summer evening with great food, great beer, and great company. We hope to see you there!
📍 King Arthur Baking School
🗓 Thursday, July 16
🕟 4:30 to 7:00 PM
📚💛 Join us this Wednesday for our Monthly Non-Profit Night supporting the Norwich Public Library!
The Norwich Public Library is so much more than a place to borrow books. It’s a community gathering space, a lifelong learning resource, and a place where people of all ages can connect, discover, and grow.
On Wednesday, July 15, 10% of all food and beverage sales at Jasper Murdock’s Alehouse will be donated to support the library and the important work they do for our community.
It’s an easy way to enjoy a great meal while giving back to one of Norwich’s most valued community organizations.
📅 Wednesday, July 15
🍽️ 10% of all food & beverage sales benefit the Norwich Public Library
We hope you’ll join us!
#PublicLibrary #SupportLocal #CommunityNight #UpperValley #NorwichVT
🍕🍺 Community Pizza Night is back!
Join us for the first Community Pizza Night of 2026 at King Arthur Baking! Dave will be there pouring your favorite Jasper Murdock Ales from 4:30–7:00 PM, so stop by, say hello, and enjoy an evening of great pizza, great beer, and great company.
There’s nothing better than spending a summer evening supporting local and catching up with friends from around the Upper Valley.
#pizza #beer #kingarthur #uppervalley #drinklocal
📍 King Arthur Baking
🕟 4:30–7:00 PM
Hope to see you there!
🍔 It’s Smash Burger Sunday… and today we’re celebrating ONE YEAR of Smash Burger Sundays at Jasper Murdock’s Alehouse!
What started as a fun weekly special has become one of our guests’ favorite traditions, and we couldn’t have done it without all of you.
Join us today and celebrate with our $15 Chef’s Choice Smash Burger, served with our housemade kettle chips. Every week features a new creation from our kitchen, so there’s always something different to try.
Whether you’ve been here since the very first Smash Burger Sunday or today is your first visit, we’d love to celebrate with you.
Thank you for making the past year such a success. Here’s to many more Sundays together!
🍔 Every Sunday
💲 $15 Chef’s Choice Smash Burger
🥔 Served with housemade kettle chips
See you at Jasper Murdock’s Alehouse!
#smashburger #uppervalley #innlife #vt #vermont
🇺🇸 Happy 250th Birthday, America!
As Norwich celebrates this historic milestone, we’d like to wish everyone a safe and happy Fourth of July.
After you listen to the church bell ring 250 times to commemorate America’s 250th birthday, head over to Jasper Murdock’s Alehouse for dinner. We’ll be open and ready to help you continue the celebration with great food, locally brewed beer, and a place to gather with family and friends.
Here’s to 250 years of history, community, and celebration. We hope you’ll spend part of the day with us.
Happy Independence Day! ❤️🤍💙
#FourthOfJuly #America250 #NorwichVT #UpperValley #IndependenceDay
💛 Two great ways to support local non-profits this week!
🥾 Tonight is our final Trail Tuesday of the season!
Stop in after your hike (or just come for dinner!) and enjoy a pint of There & Back Again Ale. A portion of the proceeds from every pint sold helps support the Upper Valley Trails Alliance and the incredible trail network we all enjoy throughout the year.
🏛️ Tomorrow, Wednesday, July 1
Join us for a special Community Night benefiting the Norwich Grange. The Grange is in the final stretch of its fundraising campaign to complete its restoration and renovation project, and 10% of all food and beverage sales on Wednesday will be donated to help get them across the finish line.
Whether you join us tonight, tomorrow, or both, you’ll be supporting organizations that make our community such a special place to live and visit.
We hope to see you both days!
#SupportLocal #UpperValley #UpperValleyVT #norwichvt #CommunityStrong
