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
🐷🍺 Apparently even Barley can be tempted to switch things up once in a while…
Zero Gravity Oktoberfest is so good that Barley, our resident Whistling Pig, has traded his usual first pint of Whistling Pig Red Ale for an Oktoberfest.
Don’t worry, he hasn’t forgotten his roots. He’ll be switching back to Whistling Pig for round two. 😂
The good news is you don’t have to choose either. Stop by Jasper Murdock’s Alehouse and try them both!
Prost! 🍻🐷
#NorwichVT #UpperValleyVT #VermontBeer #Oktoberfest #DrinkLocal @zerogravitybeer
🍗 It’s Wing Night at Jasper Murdock’s Alehouse!
Chameron is serving up tonight’s specialty wings, and like every Thursday, they’re HALF OFF!
Come see what Chameron and the kitchen team cooked up for this week’s flavor, grab a cold Jasper Murdock Ale, and enjoy one of our favorite nights of the week.
🍗 Half Price Wings
🔥 Specialty flavor every week
🍺 Cold local beer to go with them
See you tonight!
#WingNight #NorwichVT #UpperValleyVT #VermontEats #EatLocalVT
Lisa went to the beer garden outside of the Inn and picked some apples for our guests to enjoy. Stop by while they last. McIntosh is our favorite, what’s yours?
❤️ Our next Monthly Non-Profit Night is coming up next Wednesday!
Join us on September 16 as we support the Hartford-Norwich Holiday Basket Helpers, an organization that helps make the holidays a little brighter for local families in need.
Come have dinner, grab a drink, and know that 10% of all food and beverage sales that evening will be donated directly to Holiday Basket Helpers.
It’s one of our favorite things we do each month. A night to bring the community together while supporting organizations doing great work right here in the Upper Valley.
📅 Wednesday, September 16
🍽️ 10% of food & beverage sales donated
Come hungry and help us give back! ❤️
#NorwichVT #UpperValleyVT #SupportLocal #GiveBack #VermontCommunity
🍂 And so it begins…
Looked out the parlor window of Room 32 this morning and spotted the first little tinge of fall starting to show on the tree outside.
It’s always amazing how quickly things start to change once September arrives. Today it’s just a hint of color, but before we know it, Norwich will be putting on its full fall show.
One of our favorite times of year at the Inn is almost here. 🍁
#NorwichVT #VermontFall #UpperValleyVT #FallInVermont #VisitVermont
🍔 Sundays are always Smash Burger Sundays at Jasper Murdock’s Alehouse!
Every Sunday, our kitchen team comes up with a new specialty smash burger for just $15, served with our housemade kettle chips.
This week they created a Goat Cheese Chipotle Smash Burger, and if you haven’t tried it yet, there’s still time to come grab one this evening!
New burger every week. Same $15 deal every Sunday. 🍔
Come see what the kitchen comes up with next!
#SmashBurger #NorwichVT #UpperValleyVT #VermontEats #EatLocalVT
Eric may not know if it’s a video or not but we’ve still got Oktoberfest on tap. Come visit!!!
💚 Welcome to the Upper Valley, Dartmouth Class of 2030!
Freshman Move-In Day is here, and that means a whole new group of students and families are getting their first taste of Dartmouth and the Upper Valley.
To all the new students, welcome! You have an incredible four years ahead of you.
And to all the parents and families visiting for the first time, welcome to you too! We hope Norwich becomes one of those familiar places you look forward to returning to over the next four years. Stop in for dinner, explore town, grab a local beer, and get to know the area your student will now call home.
Good luck with the move-in today, and congratulations on the start of an exciting new chapter! 💚🎓
#Dartmouth2030 #DartmouthCollege #NorwichVT #UpperValleyVT #VisitVermont
September 1st vibes in Norwich this morning. ☀️🌿🍂
We’re in that perfect little stretch where it still feels like summer, but you can tell fall is right around the corner.
Cool mornings, warm afternoons, green hills with the first hints of color starting to show. Honestly, it’s one of my favorite times of year around here.
It’s not too late to sneak away for a late-summer, early-fall Vermont stay. Come spend a few days with us, explore the Upper Valley, eat well, enjoy a local beer, and get a little soul feeding in before the busy fall season arrives.
Sometimes a few days in Vermont is exactly what you need.
#NorwichVT #UpperValleyVT #VisitVermont #VermontFall #NewEnglandTravel
❤️ What an afternoon!
A huge thank you to everyone who came out for our first End of Summer Block Party today.
What started as a small idea from Caroline at Dan & Whit’s turned into such an amazing and fun community event. One of the best parts for us was seeing so many familiar faces that we hadn’t seen much during the busy summer months and getting a chance to slow down, catch up, and reconnect.
A big thank you to the great teams at Dan & Whit’s and the Norwich Inn for making it all happen, to the Norwich Recreation Department for their help, and to The Funky Flats for providing such great live music all afternoon.
And most of all, thank you to this great town for showing up. Seeing everyone spread out on the lawns, enjoying the music, food, drinks, and each other’s company was exactly what we hoped this event would be.
Thanks, Norwich! ❤️
#NorwichVT #UpperValley #Community #EndOfSummer #blockparty
🎉 Don’t forget, the Norwich End of Summer Block Party is THIS SUNDAY!
Come help us send summer off in style on the front lawns of the Norwich Inn and Dan & Whit’s from 2:00–5:00 PM.
🎶 Live music, including The Funky Flats from 3:00–5:00 PM
🍕 Pizza & ice cream available from Dan & Whit’s
🍺 Beer, wine, cocktails & pub fare from Jasper Murdock’s Alehouse
☀️ And a whole lot of neighbors, friends and end-of-summer fun!
📅 Sunday, August 30
⏰ 2:00–5:00 PM
📍 Norwich Inn & Dan & Whit’s
Bring the family, grab some friends and come hang out with us. We’re looking forward to seeing everyone!
#NorwichVT #EndOfSummer #BlockParty #UpperValley #LiveMusic
💻 A 229-year-old Inn just got a brand-new website!
After a lot of work behind the scenes, our new Norwich Inn website is officially LIVE.
This has been a long project, and we’re really excited to finally share it with you. We wanted a site that better tells the story of the Norwich Inn while making it easier to explore our rooms, Jasper Murdock’s Alehouse & Brewery, things to do around the Upper Valley, upcoming specials and everything happening here at the Inn.
Take a look around and let us know what you think! We’re still putting on a few finishing touches, so if you spot something we missed, don’t be afraid to tell us. 😊
Same historic Inn. Same great team. Just a fresh new home online.
Thank you to O’Rourke Hospitality for designing and launching the new website.
Come check it out at norwichinn.com!
#NorwichInn #NorwichVT #UpperValleyVT #VisitVermont #VermontTravel HistoricInn JasperMurdocksAlehouse NewWebsite
