Beneath the Surface: An operational update – December 2010 Omni Mount Washington

For this month’s ‘Beneath the Surface’, we head east to explore the natural beauty and super-natural history of the Omni Mount Washington Resort. Quietly nestled amongst the mountains of Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, sits the magnificent creation of Joseph Stickney, now a National Historic Landmark.  The hotel was built in 1902 by Stickney, who gained his fortune and success in the coal mining industry as well as the Pennsylvania Railroad. Unique for its time, the hotel was built as a steel structure and installed with innovative heating and plumbing systems. The Grand Hotel opened to the public on July 28th, 1902 and was staffed by no less than 350 employees.

After Stickney’s death, his widow Carolyn frequently returned to Bretton Woods, eventually owning it until her death. This is where the famous ghost stories began. Many people have claimed to see Carolyn wandering the grounds, peering down from her balcony, even sitting in the dining hall at her own special table. If you are one seeking a super natural adventure, be sure to include the Omni Mount Washington Hotel to your list of places to experience.

The hotel was sold and purchased numerous times throughout the 20^th century. It all culminated in 1991 when area businessmen purchased the hotel and soon after the surrounding property – such as golf courses, development land and New Hampshire’s largest ski area, Bretton Woods. With all the acquisitions the area became a year-round destination, and on Thanksgiving Day in 1999, the resort began its first ski season beginning a new era for the hotel and resort.

This year, The Refinishing Touch arrived at the property to lend their hand in restoring not only a one-of-a-kind hotel but one of our Nation’s historical landmarks as well. A hotel with this much history is one that must be taken care of properly. Our crews set up a heated tent outside in the frosty northeast to preserve the hotel’s interior while work to refinish the hotel’s original 100-year-old wooden doors took place. Guests will notice the beautifully modified armoires in each of the rooms as well as the freshly refinished and re-upholstered chairs in the dining room. Preserving and enriching places with such a storied history is truly a joy. We are honored to have done so at The Omni Mount Washington.

And in case you were wondering, there were no reports of Carolyn Stickney from our crew, but we hope that she notices and appreciates the work we’ve done in her dining room.