About Us
“A place where the dressed up folk, travel worn motorists, and roughly dressed hikers all might mingle with no apologies necessary.”
Brief History
The Long Trail Lodge was conceived by Mortimer R. Proctor as a clubhouse for the Green Mountain Club (GMC). He had it designed by Paul Thayer of Wallingford and placed along the Long Trail for the convenience of the GMC members, who cleared and maintained the trail. The original lodge was built in 1923 on the south side of Route 4 atop the Sherburne Pass, making it convenient to guests traveling from either side of Vermont.
In 1938 the first rope tow was installed at Pico Mountain, and the Deer Leap Chalet was built on the north side of Route 4 – fully insulated – to serve the skiing community. This expansion turned out to be quite fortunate, because during a blizzard in November of 1968, a fire completely destroyed the original Long Trail Lodge. The front page of the New York Times carried the story as the “loss of a significant part of Vermont’s history.” As a result, all hiking and skiing activity was moved to the Deer Leap Chalet (the current building now known as the Inn at Long Trail), which continues to operate to serve our community to this day.
Our Story
In July 1977, Kyran and Rosemary McGrath took ownership of the lodge, renaming it the Inn at Long Trail. They quickly set about to restore the rustic splendor of the building, including the natural wood beams and the fieldstone fireplace, and reestablished a welcoming, hiker-friendly atmosphere. They also founded McGrath’s Irish Pub, which was the first in Vermont to sell Guinness on draft. Son Murray McGrath and his late wife Patty took over operations in 1994 and Murray continues to serve as innkeeper to this day.
Amenities
A wide array of board games, puzzles, and books always keep our visitors entertained. Guests at the inn have access to laundry machines and a warm sauna to soothe tired muscles after long days of hiking and skiing. The walls are filled with pictures and pieces of history regarding the inn and Vermont itself.
Guest Areas
Guests feel immediately at home in the charming living room with original hardwood floors, tree trunks beams and supports, and comfortable Adirondack style furniture built by the McGrath family themselves. The split log staircase leads to a small number of cozy country bedrooms for our guests.
Our Community
Our goal is to preserve the history and beauty of the Killington community for generations to come. We want every person – whether they are local or visiting – to feel at home with us.