Waybury Inn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Waybury Inn
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | 457 East Main Street East Middlebury, Vermont |
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| Built | 1810 |
| Architect | John Foot |
| NRHP reference No. | 83003204 |
| Added to NRHP | July 14, 1983 |
The Waybury Inn is a historic inn found at 457 East Main Street in Middlebury, Vermont, United States. It was built in 1810. This makes it one of the oldest places for travelers to stay in Vermont. The inn was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. Many people know it because it was used for outside shots in the Newhart TV show.
What the Waybury Inn Looks Like
The Waybury Inn is on the north side of East Main Street. This street is also known as Vermont Route 125. It sits near the eastern edge of the small village of East Middlebury. The inn is also close to one of the main roads that crosses the Green Mountains in central Vermont.
The main part of the inn is two and a half stories tall. It has a pointed roof. A two-story section extends from the back of the main building. There is a porch on the front and one side of the inn. This porch has a slanted roof. Inside, the inn has a central hallway. Large rooms are on both sides of the main staircase. These rooms go all the way from the front to the back of the building.
The Inn's Story
John Foot built the Waybury Inn in 1810. A new toll road, called a turnpike, had opened in 1808. This road went through the pass to the east. Foot wanted to make money from the people traveling on this new road. However, not many people used the turnpike. Also, plans to build a glass factory in the village did not help the area grow much.
By 1850, the village had grown a little more. The inn's second owner, Royal Farr, decided to make the inn bigger in 1867. He added the section to the back. This new part included a ballroom. Farr also added other things to make the inn a popular place for social events in the area.
Over the years, the inn had different names. It was known as the Glen House and the Green Mountain House. It got its current name, the Waybury Inn, in the 1900s. The only time the inn was closed was during World War II.
The Secret Drawer
The Waybury Inn has a fun tradition. In room 9, there is an old desk with a secret drawer. In 1987, a couple found this hidden drawer. Since then, guests often leave notes inside the drawer for others to find.
The Inn on TV
The Waybury Inn became famous for its role in the TV show Newhart. This show starred Bob Newhart and ran from 1982 to 1990. The inn was used for all the outside shots of the "Stratford Inn" in the show. For the TV series, the Waybury Inn was painted white. After the show ended in 1990, the inn was painted green again. This new color matched the nearby Green Mountains.
