Echo Lake Inn

We are from Florida and visit Vermont at least 4 times a year. Each time (for the past 30 years) we have eaten in the Echo Lake Inn restaurant. The food and service are consistently excellent ~ the quaint historic beauty of the Inn contributes to the amazing experience~ We absolutely love the quaint friendly nature of the bar ~ thank you Tom and your staff for always making us feel welcome!

If you find yourself wanting a world class dining experience in a relaxed, Vermont style environment, look no further than the Echo Lake Inn. Exceptional service, food, and great drinks/beer…plus the staff and ownership are amazing! The crowd is friendly and mixed, anyone would feel comfortable here, that’s for sure.
The only problem I had was choosing what to eat! Thankfully my group ordered several dishes so I got to taste a lot… all delicious!
Save room for dessert, it’s a must… and to cap it all off, the prices are more than reasonable.
I can’t wait to go back, thanks again to Tom and everyone at the Echo Lake Inn.

Fantastic dinner. Exceeded all expectations. I have been coming to the Okemo area for 8 years and just found this star on the map. We were warmly greeted by the owner Tom upon entering. Neil our server was equally friendly and easy going. After dinner the chef came into the dining room to see how everyones meals were. An experience to remember. Definitely will be back. Five stars!

We got married at the Echo Lake Inn Memorial Day weekend-​May 24, 2014. We had started considering venues the year before and knew that we wanted to be married within the Okemo Valley region since my husband Chris’ family annually spends a week during the summer in between Lake Rescue and Lake Pauline for the past 30 years. Chris and I had seen the Inn for the previous 7 years on our hikes along the lakes and when kayaking under the nearby bridge of Kingdom Road and we were always in awe of it and thought it looked cozy and welcoming. Laurence gave us a tour of the Inn, we got to have a tasting, and he was always receptive/​treated us well and we knew that the entire staff (Neal, Anne Marie, Chef Kevin and the others) would be able to accommodate the guests we would be having.
Throughout the planning for the following year the Inn staff were quick to respond and informative. I would describe our wedding as semi-​destination (not too far from the New York metropolitan region but still, some communication with vendors had to be Skyped or emailed as much as possible) and it was also planned from a semi long-​distance relationship (we resided about three hours apart up until we were married) which could be tough logistics-​wise (Chris and I relied a lot upon Google docs as well as Pinterest since we both were equally invested in the planning process and details). Laurence emails a monthly newsletter with planning suggestions based on the month and season of your Vermont wedding. The wedding website and our save the date were electronically sent to them which ensured all parties would be on the same page and I even sent pictures of floral arrangements, backdrops, and other details for the wedding along to receive input but you don’t have to do this as the Inn’s staff will easily rally around what you provide and will know where your items go for your special day. And the coolest thing ever is that as those you’ve invited arrive, they can use the pool, boating equipment on Echo Lake, and even the tennis courts. It made me so happy to know our friends and family were being treated to a mini-​vacation of their own too.
You will fall in love with the charming appeal of the Inn especially if you love history and appreciate the quietness of the rolling mountains of the state. One of the reasons I love Vermont so much, and the Inn, is due to the fact that everyone is so kind, listens to you, and the pace moves much slower. Even the store manager at Shaw’s, the grocery store in downtown Ludlow, spotted me fretting in the aisle a day after the wedding worried about how we would transport our cake to Montréal for the honeymoon and she offered to hold on to the cake in their employee freezer for the week if I would purchase the freezer bags needed for it. I am still astounded by her response and kindness-​something like that would unlikely have ever happened elsewhere (and by the way, she mentioned that her son is also getting married at the Inn this coming summer). I can relay further stories evidencing all the abundance of love outpouring from the Lakes area but I think our experience with the Inn demonstrates this pretty well.
As of March 2015 Echo Lake Inn now has a new Innkeeper, Tom. From his introduction it sounds like he truly appreciates the history of the Echo Lake Inn and will be able to carry on the torch well and be an excellent Innkeeper and Master of Ceremonies for all weddings at the Inn to come. From one fellow admirer of Calvin Coolidge to another, I wish him and the Inn continued luck and prosperity.

This review is not only for the Inn, but for their wedding services. We had a fabulous weekend at the Inn for our wedding. Having the whole Inn for just our friends and family was so much fun. Laurence went above and beyond for everything we wanted. Tons of great spots for pictures, the tent was beautiful, everyone loved the food, the tavern was awesome after the reception. The staff really goes out of their way to make everything perfect for the bride and groom. We loved it!

Felt like home! We had probably the smallest room, but no bother! Was comfy and clean. Free breakfast was fresh and delicious set in a lovely country dining room. I felt like family immediately and was known to all the inn keepers who struck up conversation about our stay. They really care about your stay. Very lovely inn keepers and a lively property. Would love to stay during summer in this gorgeous Forrest area. Thank you for the hospitality! We will return!
To note: this resort is closer to Okemo but not too far from Killington gondola either! We skied Killington and loved the gorgeous drive through the Forrest.

Our daughter located this quaint Inn for her Fall 2014 wedding, and it was spectacular! We’re living in the south, so this was a long way to organize and travel but Laurence really made everything so easy and stress-​free for us.
We met late Spring to see the Hotel and discuss plans, and we were able to reserve the entire hotel for the wedding and the guests. So the weekend turned into a wonderful family/​friends get together on top of the wedding.
The calm organization from Laurence coupled with the friendly efficient staff and incredible food made this wedding so much fun and enjoyable. We plan to return to explore the area and continue to enjoy the hospitality.
If you’re thinking about Echo Lake for your wedding, don’t hesitate. The experience was simply wonderful!

We went there for dinner. The concierge recommended it, and we only wish we had known about this place on previous visits. The food, which is farm-​to-​table, is exquisite! The atmosphere is very nice, and the staff is friendly and wonderful! Neil was particularly kind, going way out of his way for us. We will be going to Echo for dinner on every Vermont trip going forward!

I love this cozy inn, delicious food, sweet little Vermont pub and always wonderful people! A fave and always come back!

Charming inn close to Okemo mountain and 25 min to Killington. Friendly inn keeper and very nice breakfast every morning Rooms are very clean

We had the entire inn and the condos for a weekend for our daughter’s wedding in mid-​June this year. It was all around the best experience we could have imagined. Owner Laurence Jeffery helped us from day one in planning and putting on an amazing gathering for family and friends. The food was fresh and beautifully prepared, the staff helpful and welcoming at every turn, and we knew we were in the best of hands. It would be an great place for a family reunion as well. We will definitely return for an overnight, a meal, a drink — this is not a place you would go to only once! Thank you ELI.

CALVIN COOLIDGE SLEPT HERE.
Ok, perhaps that is not as sexy as «JFK slept here.» But, nevertheless, if you’re into dead presidents, CALVIN COOLIDGE SLEPT HERE.
The Echo Lake Inn is a pure piece of Americana, so it has an interesting history above and beyond the typical commercial establishments that so many of us usually frequent. The first part of the inn probably started construction around 1780 and bits and pieces have been added since. As a result, expect an architectural experience that is somewhat cobbled together: slightly mismatched hallways that require a half step to navigate, a chilly basement lined with stone (but a real nifty pool table) and 3 peripheral buildings a few feet off the main inn that house several multiroom abodes.
My family’s experience is primarily Winter (skiing) based. The Inn is moments away from Okemo, 15 minutes from the Skyship Gondola out of Killington, and a beautiful, breathtaking 50 minute drive to Stratton (that is, if you like sinuous roads, mountainsides coated by snow, bubbling brooks, woods and farms). Assessing the pictures, the inn is a riot of color in the spring and summer, boasts a pool and tennis courts, and has a dock with canoes off Echo lake.
The rooms? Run from the Spartan (think two college students up for the weekend) to the sumptuous (king bed, very comfortable; plenty of room; beautiful built in gas-​fired fireplace that will lull you to sleep after a long day skiing; separate bathroom with French doors and raised bathtub/​Jacuzzi whose gold-​trimmed steps invite you tantalizingly into a warm soak).
The dining? Top notch. Restaurant runs full time during the ski season. Chef Kevin has been there for over 25 years and he turns out masterful soups, splendid fowl and wonderful fish dishes (just finished a mild wasabi-​crusted swordfish with pickled Japanese seaweed salad and beets). And my favorite dessert? In-​house chocolate «Moose» complete with chocolate «antlers.» (My wife is partial to the bread pudding).
Staff? Absolutely delightful. Eager to please and always ready to do a small chore when I need it. A call for a last minute reservation at a nearby restaurant? No problem.
And then there are the things that are not quantifiable. We have been coming here several times a year for the last 4 years. So things are done on our behalf regularly to make it ever so much more pleasant. When a better room opened up at the last minute, the owner put me into it without any increase in price. And Neal, the associate, knows to make me my favorite Martini and get it into my hands the minute we arrive, haggard, from our 3 hour (light traffic) drive from the Bridgeport, CT, ferry.
So, go ahead and make a reservation and sleep in Silent Cal’s room from 90 years ago. It will be a memorable experience

My husband and I got married at Echo Lake Inn and we can’t say enough wonderful things about it! As a courtesy the entire Inn was reserved for the weekend for us exclusively. The food, location, setting, service, and absolutely everything was beyond perfect! Our guests (and us too) were all treated like family, and we felt like celebrities! It was wonderful to have everyone together in once place. The front porch was the place to be– we spent more time there than anywhere else! Laurence, the Innkeeper, was so wonderful to us and helped me with absolutely everything, and Neil was the most attentive and wonderful man (always making sure I was happy and had whatever I needed or wanted). We were so in love with our Luxury King Suite that we booked an extra night! We will absolutely be going back to celebrate our anniversary, and I know my friends and family will be going back as they just fell in love with the Inn too.

Stayed at the Echo Lake Inn over the New Year’s weekend and had a fabulous time!
The room we stayed in was in the main house, it was modest but comfortable. The bathroom had enough room and there was plenty of hot water and heat. The only drawbacks to our room… no closet which required us to leave our luggage on the floor and it was over the downstairs dining room and you could hear everyone during dinner. It didn’t really bother us but it might if you wanted to go to bed early.
The inn was very quaint. Downstairs was a sitting area with a fireplace which was nice. On the other side was another sitting area/​bar which had a small bar. This bar actually had a very nice selection of liquors. They also served fresh hot apple cider which you could order with rum (which of course I did). It warmed your whole body and smelled wonderful.
We had breakfast each of the 3 days and all of them were homemade and delicious (nothing store bought going on here). We ate dinner there 1 night and I was really impressed with the food. As an appetizer, we split an entrée selection of raviolis which were filled with pumpkin, butternut squash, caramelized onions and local goat cheese. Yes, they were as good as they sound! I had their version of Peking duck with Vermont cranberry sauce. Skin was nicely done and the inside a perfect medium. My gf had the lamb which was thinly sliced and cooked exactly to a medium rare. It was tender and had no gamey taste whatsoever. Both came with a side of red cabbage which was also delicious.
The staff at Echo Lake Inn is was really makes this place. Everyone was extremely friendly (even by Vermont standards). Service was polite and with a smile. All you had to do was ask and they would accommodate our request. The owner (I think he was the owner) Lawrence, was always around and asking how everything was and whether we needed anything.
Wonderful stay at Echo Lake Inn, will be back…

Fabulous Inn situated in a great location. We wanted to get away from city life and this was the perfect escape. The staff was super friendly and hospitable. The owners were also down to earth and helpful. The breakfast was amazing and dinner was superb. We enjoyed the pool area, the game room, and the surrounding area for long walks. I was able to relax and catch up on sleep. My 5 year old loved it and we will definitely return as much as we can :).

My wife and I really enjoyed our stay at Echo Lake Inn this past week. We stayed four nights for a family reunion and found both the facilities and the staff to be very good. We stayed in one of the smaller rooms with an AC, which we hardly needed. That said, I would go with one of the condos next time. While both types of rooms have their own bathroom, the condos are more modern and have kitchens. There are a good amount of stairs to get to most of the rooms, so be prepared. In the main lodge, the stairs can be a bit treacherous because they are from way back when.
We never ate at the Inn’s restaurant, except for the continental breakfast. The breakfast was the one major drawback to staying at Echo Lake. We had the choice of several sugary pastries and muffins and 4 oz glasses of juice, but no fruit or anything else. I won’t dock them a point for it, but I hope they take notice.
The inn is at a great location for day trips, or just enjoying the area. There is a pool and tented area to lounge in, plus a game room downstairs and a lounge inside. The front porch is massive and has plenty of chairs for enjoying the summer weather. There is a tennis court and plenty of parking in the adjacent church parking lot. Quite a few members of our family enjoyed the jacuzzi, but I was too busy doing other things.
I don’t know that we will be in Vermont in the near future, but if I am I would definitely come back.

Great Inn (built in the 1800s from what I overheard), so expect the old building experience. The service and food were very good. My only thing was that my room seemed to have no heat, even though I turned up the thermostat. I’d stay here again, given the chance.

The previous review couldn’t be more wrong. I’ve been to the Echo Lake Inn four times, one of which was for my wedding weekend. The Inn is comfortable and welcoming, the staff is incredibly friendly and willing to go out of their way to make you happy, the location is perfect any time of the year, and the food is phenomenal. The Echo Lake Inn is a great place to get away and relax. Go skiing in the winter or canoeing or hiking in the summer and fall — this is a wonderful place any time of the year. You won’t miss the TV. This is a quaint Vermont bed and breakfast — if that’s what you’re looking for, this is the place for you.

NO NO NO NO. Do not go here. I paid $ 185 dollars a night (the discounted rate, too!) for an old room with stained sheets. No amenities at all – no TV, no hair dryer, couldn’t even find me a towel after using the same one for two days. I realize this is VT, and leaf peeping season, so maybe all that fancy stuff shouldn’t be expected… nevertheless, I am convinced you could do better else where.