ONCE UPON AN INN Silas W Robbins House Wethersfield, Connecticut Shining in a neighborhood full of historic homes, this Second Empire-style mansion is a steadfast fixture of the Wethersfield Historic District. Intricate cast-iron patterns, a mansard roof, beckoning balustrades, and an impressive three-tier entry are all original details built by Silas W. Robbins, a successful politician and businessman. However, in 1996, a devastating fire destroyed the inn’s interior. Only after a painstaking restoration, the opulent Silas W Robbins House returned to its original grandeur, complete with intricate woodwork, marble fireplaces, and elegant furnishings—and made its debut in the 2018 Hallmark film, “Honeysuckle Lane.” For guests today, luxurious accommodations and a glimpse into the past await. More on page 37 . Clockwise from top left: The original Silas W Robbins House; the property’s exterior following the reopening in 2018 The Hotel Saugatuck Saugatuck, Michigan If the walls at The Hotel Saugatuck could talk, they would sound like a gangster film. When the 19th-century building reopened as a hotel in 1922, owner—and vaudeville banjo player–Tom Carey invited his fellow Chicago musicians to play, dance, and wait out prohibition. Gangsters from Al Capone’s crew often frequented the hotel, and local legend says shots were fired in honor of one gangster’s sweetheart. If the drama doesn’t impress you, the fine finishings of this historic building surely will, including supple wood floors dating back to the 1920s and original windowed vestibules that are “the perfect place to sit and take in the views of the gardens and Lake Kalamazoo,” says general manager Brittany Hollingshead. More on page 50 . Clockwise from top left: The hotel’s welcoming lobby; a look at the Hotel Saugatuck in the 1920s; the Hotel Saugatuck today 10 Select Registry’s Inn Scene Spring/Summer 2023
Select Registry - Inn Scene Spring/Summer 2023: Page 10
