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
💚 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
❤️ What makes the Norwich Inn so special? The people who work here.
We really do have the best team around, and last night we had a chance to step away from the day-to-day, enjoy a BBQ together, have some fun, and celebrate a pretty special milestone: 20 years of Joe and Jill owning the Norwich Inn!
A great time was had by all, and it was nice to have everyone together outside of work for an evening.
Most importantly, a huge thank you to our amazing team members, past and present, who have helped make the Inn what it is today. You’re the reason our guests from all around the world feel at home when they stay with us.
And congratulations to Joe and Jill on 20 years! Here’s to the next chapter. ❤️
#OurTeam #InnLife #NorwichVT #UpperValleyVT #VermontHospitality
🍁 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
