Stave Puzzles at Luxury Inns and Resorts

I've found one of the best ways to get puzzlers hooked on Stave puzzles is to let them “test drive” one, and what better place than luxury hotels and inns. We have learned over the years that “small is beautiful” when it comes to Stave puzzling. An intimate luxurious setting best matches the quality experience of our wooden puzzles. Relaxed guests are often surprised at how much fun they have together over the puzzle table. In addition, in smaller venues we can connect with the hotel staff and they’ll watch over the puzzles with loving care. We have been very fortunate to win the affections of such fine establishments as Twin Farms (Barnard, Vermont), The Point (Saranac Lake, New York), Blackberry Farm (Walland, Tennessee), and the Wickaninnish Inn (Tofino, Vancouver Island). See below.

Steve Richardson, Chief Tormentor...for 35 Years!

The Point
www.thepointresort.com

The Point is a vibrant and exclusive house party, an elegant hideaway, the essence of rustic splendor, luxury and whimsy amid Adirondack Mountain wilderness. Built in the tradition of a Great Adirondack Camp, The Point Resort marries opulent authenticity with epicurean amenities and a secluded, relaxing wilderness. Lavishly expressed and painstakingly constructed on the original site of William Avery Rockefeller's Camp Wonundra, The Point continues that tradition of the Great Adirondack Camp era; with the Elegance and opulence of today.

Stave Puzzles Connection to The Point 
Way back in 1995, we received a call from the owner of The Point inquiring about having Stave Puzzles in their pub. This was in the very early years of our Inn partnerships and the intimate size of The Point was very appealing. Over the years we have entertained a number of prominent guests there.

Blackberry Farm
www.blackberryfarm.com

In 1940, Mrs. Florida Lasier of Chicago snagged her silk stockings on a wild blackberry bramble while exploring the idyllic Smoky Mountain foothills, and Blackberry Farm was born. Thirty-six years later, the Beall family invested their hearts and souls in the same romantic site that became their family home and lifelong passion. Today, one of America's most celebrated intimate luxury hotels beckons discerning guests who aspire to escape modern-day frenzy and slip into a Blackberry state of mind. Situated on a pastoral 4,200-acre estate in the Great Smoky Mountains, Blackberry Farm will show you the many reasons why the 2004 Zagat Survey rated it as the #1 Small Hotel in America.

Stave Puzzles Connection to Blackberry Farm
About 8 years ago Stave Puzzles was approached by a Blackberry Farm manager who had visited Twin Farms and noticed the popularity of our puzzles there. He wondered if we would like to provide similar puzzling entertainment to Blackberry Farm guests. We had heard wonderful things about Blackberry Farm so we were thrilled to establish a puzzling arrangement with them. Many of their guests have become satisfied Stave Puzzles' customers.

Twin Farms
www.twinfarms.com

Twin Farms is a unique country estate getaway for all seasons situated on over three hundred acres of wildflower meadows, hardwood forests, ancient gardens and private ponds in Barnard, Vermont, just ten miles north of picturesque Woodstock. The original 1795-era farmhouse and lodge have been converted into gracious living and dining rooms, plus six elegant guest suites. Ten freestanding guest cottages, each with their own interior design style, are dotted about the property, The Farmhouse at Copper Hill provides an additional four suites.

Stave Puzzles Connection to Twin Farms
17 years ago Stave Puzzles was approached by the owner of Twin Farms, a Stave customer, and asked to help provide entertainment for their guests in the form of small, entertaining wooden jigsaw puzzles.  Stave is only 45 minutes from Twin Farms so many guests at Twin Farms, upon becoming hooked by a Stave puzzle, often drive over to Stave Puzzles to have a tour of our workshop. This is when we really hook them.

The Wickaninnish Inn
www.wickinn.com

The Wickaninnish Inn, Tofino Canada, has become a landmark - the enchanting and critically acclaimed destination on the awesome western edge of beautiful British Columbia. No trip to BC - and indeed, Canada - should be made without experiencing this remarkable Tofino hotel destination. The Wickaninnish Inn is the only resort on beautiful Chesterman Beach.

Stave Puzzles Connection to The Wickaninnish Inn
During September, 2008 Martha and I (owners of Stave Puzzles) traveled to the Pacific side of Vancouver island to specifically stay at The Wickaninnish Inn to see what all the hoopla was about. For years we had been reading about this wonderful resort and we wanted to check it out. We were not disappointed and during our stay we approached the Managing Director of The Wickaninnish Inn, Charles McDiarmid, about providing them with puzzling entertainment (as we had done for Twin Farms and Blackberry Farm) for their guests during their famous ‘Storm Watching’ weekends.

Rabbit Hill Inn
www.rabbithillinn.com

Chosen as a "Romantic Hideaway" by "Discerning Traveler" and often featured as a chosen New England destination by the "Boston Globe", Rabbit Hill Inn sits in the charming little town of Lower Waterford, VT. This Northern Vermont inn exudes an ambiance of bygone days when Lower Waterford was the perfect midway stopping point for folks traveling from Boston to Montreal.

Beautiful vistas of the White Mountains of New Hampshie and the hills of Vermont can be seen from the front porch and lawn of the Northeast Kingdom Bed & Breakfast.

The 18th and 19th century architecture of this Northern Vermont inn invites you to linger, to slow your pace to that of another less hurried era. This feeling will be reinforced as you take your breakfast and dinner in the welcoming Vermont restaurant dining room or afternoon tea and refreshments in the parlor, part of the common area at Rabbit Hill Inn.

Stave Puzzles Connection to Rabbit Hill Inn
Over 20 years ago a Stave employee and her husband stayed at the Rabbit Hill Inn, one hour north of Staveland. She said it was a beautiful inn whose owners loved jigsaw puzzles. So we contacted the inn owners and bartered our puzzles for their rooms. Over the years most of our employees have enjoyed staying at this wonderful inn while numerous Rabbit Hill Inn guests have loved working the numerous Stave puzzles furnished for them and many have become hooked on Stave.

Pitcher Inn
www.pitcherinn.com

The Pitcher Inn (Warren, Vermont) was recreated after a fire in 1993 burnt the original 1800s structure to the ground. It was intentionally recreated by a nostalgia mirroring Vermont’s beauty and simplicity. Hence the Inn’s nine rooms and two suites are each an adventure in the state’s history. In addition, now a member of Relais & Chateaux, the Inn’s philosophy emphasizes the 5 Cs: calm, cuisine, character, charm, and courtesy. The Pitcher Inn’s eleven rooms are patterned to reflect the individual designers’ interpretation of a particular Vermont theme (Mallard, Trout, Calvin Coolidge...). From the whimsical to the classical, each room is a spectacular display of talent and taste lavishly manifested in unique motifs.

Triple Creek Ranch
www.triplecreekranch.com

Triple Creek Ranch is a small, intimate resort designed for adults. Situated among the towering pines on the side of Trapper Peak, the highest mountain in Western Montana, this unforgettable retreat offers the merging of unmatched natural beauty with the height of comfort and personal service. From the beautiful, welcoming main lodge, a world-class restaurant and paramount wine cellar, to the deluxe private guest cabins nestled in the trees throughout the property, it's the attention to the smallest details that make the Triple Creek Ranch experience so memorable. In 1995, Triple Creek Ranch became a member of the prestigious Relais & Châteaux Association.

Stephanie Inn
www.stephanieinn.com

The Stephanie Inn in Cannon Beach, Oregon, is Oregon's premier oceanfront destination. With wonderful views of majestic Haystack Rock, the vast Pacific Ocean and the awesome Oregon Coastal Range, the oceanfront Stephanie Inn combines the charm and casual elegance of a New England country inn with the sophistication of a boutique resort hotel. The four-star Stephanie Inn Dining Room serves a complimentary breakfast buffet each morning in an intimate country setting. Each evening our menu features a choice of five entrees and a selection of á la carte dishes – including starters, soups and desserts.

Lake Placid Lodge
www.lakeplacidlodge.com

A majestic hotel, built by hand in the Arts and Crafts tradition, is perfectly set along the shore of Lake Placid in New York's Adirondack Mountains. There are thirty guest rooms at Lake Placid Lodge: five in the Main Lodge, seventeen cabins on the shore of the lake, six suites in the Lakeside Building, and two cottages, Pine and Birch, overlooking the lake, just steps from the Main Lodge. The feeling of the guest rooms and cabins is private, warm and comfortable, tucked beneath the high swaying trees — a camp of one’s own. The woods and water enfold the Lodge; the sun warms its wide stone porches. Each room has a fireplace at its heart and wilderness visible through its diamond paned windows. Above all, there is comfort and welcome, wherever you go.

The Lodge is a celebration of all that was – and remains – best in the Adirondacks. Its beams are hewn by hand, its rooms filled with art and antiques, its beds were carved by local artisans and its fifty stone fireplaces laid piece-by-piece by Adirondack masons. It is a traditional, personal retreat; rustic and splendid as the Great Camps have always been. PLUS, there are plenty of Stave puzzles!

Lake Placid Lodge is proud to be a member of Relais & Châteaux.

Omni Mount Washington Resort
www.omnihotels.com

As grand as the history behind it, the Omni Mount Washington Hotel, located in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, is gracious in ambiance and generous in amenities. A favorite New England retreat of presidents, poets and celebrities, the hotel delights every sense with enchanting music, refined dining and luxurious décor.
Enjoy all the comforts of home in a luxurious atmosphere at the Omni Mount Washington Resort.  From standard guest rooms to suites and rooms with panoramic views of the Presidential Mountain Range they're sure to have the right accommodations to make your visit memorable and rewarding.
Fine and casual dining including two four-diamond dining rooms, the all-new Stickneys restaurant and the renovated “Cave” – a prohibition-era speakeasy with stone walls and live evening entertainment - an experience and atmosphere not to be missed!
The spectacular grounds of New Hampshire's Omni Mount Washington Resort offer an award-winning 18-hole and a 9-hole championship golf course. In the winter, ski  Bretton Woods — New Hampshire's largest ski area. Other resort activities include fishing, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, rock climbing, zip lines, sleigh rides and Stave puzzles, of course!

Omni Bedford Springs Resort
www.omnihotels.com

A Luxury Golf & Spa Resort in Bedford Springs, PA - after an unprecedented $120 million renewal and expansion, guests now enjoy a new Omni Bedford Springs Resort. The legend began over 200 years ago at Bedford Springs, where eight mineral springs became famed as a mecca of rejuvenation. Today, the legacy continues at the world-class Springs Eternal Spa incorporating treatments with mineral waters, and a magnificently restored golf course. From our luxurious guest room accommodations and historic dining venues, to cutting edge conference rooms—we have preserved all of the original historic charm with the addition of modern creature comforts. A stay at Bedford Springs Resort rekindles your zest for adventure! With activities too numerous to mention, you'll have to book an extra night to enjoy them all. Of course, you can always enjoy the resort's collection of Stave puzzles anytime, day or night! The Omni Bedford Springs Resort was named one of Travel + Leisure’s Top 500 Resorts for 2011 and 2012.

Poetry Inn
www.poetryinn.com

Perched above the vineyards of the Napa Valley's Stags Leap District, this luxurious and exclusive inn offers the discerning traveler all the sensory pleasures of the wine country. Spread over forty acres of pristine hillsides and world-class vineyards, Poetry Inn is a world apart. Guests, those fortunate few, enjoy unparalleled service aimed at creating an atmosphere of rural calm and seductive seclusion. Guest rooms are decorated in warm colors, have wood-burning fireplaces and a private porch from which to ponder the sunset. Tours and tastings at nearby vineyards can be arranged, while the towns of Yountville and St. Helena offer specialty shops, art galleries, etc. on a quaint main street, enjoyable for strolling. Guests can live the life of a Napa Valley vitner for a night or more, enjoying massage in the open air, sipping Cabernet on a private terrace, of simply lounging by the pool. Plus there are Stave Puzzles on site for your puzzling pleasure.

Hovey Manor
www.manoirhovey.com

Hovey Manor is truly one of Canada's most charming and romantic inns. Guests enjoy seclusion, affordable luxury and haute cuisine on 1800 feet of prime shoreline on Lake Massawippi in Quebec's Eastern Townships. The Manor was built at the turn of the century as a private estate modeled after George Washington's Mount Vernon home. Since 1950, Hovey Manor has been a prestigious resort inn, with complete facilities on-site for year-round vacation pleasures. The inn serves an international clientele and an exceptional bilingual staff extend personalized service in English or French.

At Manoir Hovey, there are numerous on-site year-round activities amid our setting on the lakeshore of magnificent Lake Massawippi.  Our private beaches and 35 acres of gardens and forests are serene refuges of peace and tranquility.  In summer months, enjoy a competitive match of tennis on our clay tennis court, one of the oldest in Canada, enjoy a tour of the lake by canoe or simply relax on a hammock!  In winter, set off on a snowshoe adventure directly from our door, enjoy any of the numerous cross country ski trails in the area, or skate on our very own skating rink. You'll also be able to enjoy puzzling with a Stave puzzle during your stay.

The inn is only 75 minutes east of Montreal and 20 minutes north of Vermont. Eastern Township villages such as North Hatley are renowned for regional theater, museums, art galleries and boutiques. St. Benoit du Lac, a Benedictine monastery, may be visited for apple cider and blue cheese.

Manoir Hovey is a proud member of the prestigious French hotel association, Relais & Châteaux, which selects its worldwide members based on their individual character, charm and for the unique services each one offers its guests.