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Eagle Mountain House: Tune up for a baby Grand

Veranda a touchstone
For many, the hotel’s touchstone is its wraparound veranda, whose orientation makes the most of sunsets.

“In the summer, we have 75 nice, oversized wooden rockers on the veranda,” said Boyer. “Between 4 and 7 p.m., all will be taken.”

“There are 8,000 acres of mountain and trees in front of us,” said Greg Godek, assistant front desk manager. “It is about 50 degrees tonight [early January], and four or five of our guests took their drinks out to the veranda and enjoyed the sunset.”

Two summers ago, the hotel began experimenting with dining on the veranda in July and August. The 45 seats were a sellout.

Because of the demand, there are thoughts of extending the outdoor dining season by adding propane heaters. “Outside dining is precious in New England,” said Boyer.
Because the outdoor tables are in such high demand, the hotel does not do dinners on the veranda for large groups, although it does use the opposite end of the veranda for cocktail receptions.

During a reception, guests might watch golfers wrap up play on the nine-hole golf course across the street. The hotel leases the course in the summer; in the winter, it is used for cross-country skiing. Hotel guests can ski out the door.

The easy layout of the golf course won’t appeal to all, Boyer admitted.

“It is attractive to people who are not looking for a serious golf experience,” said Boyer. “It is good when you have people of different skill levels, where some might be too intimidated because they are beginning golfers.”

“Baby grand” is sitting pretty

New Hampshire’s well-known mountain resorts — the Balsams, the Omni Mount Washington and the Mountain View Grand, may overshadow Eagle Mountain. Nevertheless, the hotel is sitting pretty, Boyer believes.

Unlike those full-service resorts, Eagle Mountain is convenient to many attractions, including the village of Jackson, less than a mile away.

Locals head up the hill to dine at the hotel bar and restaurant, known for good food at fair prices. Regulars abound, from guests to locals to longtime employees.

“There’s a friendliness here,” said Godek. “You can sit down at the bar and end up talking to someone who has stayed here before.”

So instead of competing with the large resorts, Eagle Mountain will target the vacationers and the meeting planners who are looking for a more intimate and a more moderate stay.

“They are the grands; we are a baby grand,” said Boyer. “My feeling would be that it would work to keep what we have and improve on the presentation, and we would satisfy the market where there is not a lot of competition.”

www.eaglemt.com