Stone Hill Inn Offers a Quaint Space for Romantic Dates & Elopements

The Short Version: Stone Hill Inn is a place of relaxation and romance tucked away in the mountains of northern Vermont. The bed-and-breakfast is for adult couples only, and it welcomes honeymooners, elopers, and daters who want to make special memories. Whether you arrive in the autumn for leaf peeping or in winter for the skiing season, you will find plenty of engaging and romantic activities in this serene landscape. 

In 2016, Kristie and Todd Roling needed a change in scenery, so they moved from the bustling city of Dallas to the quiet mountains of Vermont. They became innkeepers of Stone Hill Inn, which is located in the small town of Stowe.

Kristie said she takes pride in bringing Southern hospitality to the Northeast getaway. “The prospect of moving to Vermont with three teenagers was ambitious to say the least… turned out to be the best move of our life,” she said. “Vermont is not only a great state but also a way of life.”

Stone Hill Inn has nine guest rooms, each with its own private two-person Jacuzzi. The rooms also feature king-size beds, a back door to the gardens, and a fireplace. It’s a romantic retreat where couples can get away from their daily stresses, frustrations, and distractions and focus on being together.

If they really want to be pampered, guests can order an in-suite couples massage at Stone Hill Inn.

Stone Hill Inn offers a stunning backdrop for daytime dates and surprise proposals.

The breakfast part of the bed-and-breakfast offers yet another wonderful treat at the inn. Guests can sit in the sunlit dining room, which boasts 14-foot ceilings and 40 windows, and start the day right with a three-course gourmet breakfast. Artisan Coffee is poured generously throughout the meal. Plus, the kitchen staff take note of dietary restrictions and are prepared to accommodate those needs.

During the spring and summer season, many couples choose to sit outside and relax in the recliners throughout the garden. The Great Room can host late-night movies, and horse-drawn carriage or sleigh rides are available upon request.

Kristie said most couples at Stone Hill Inn are celebrating some sort of occasion. Sometimes it’s an elopement, honeymoon, or babymoon, and sometimes it’s a golden anniversary or birthday trip. The team has also helped with quite a few marriage proposals.

“Our inn was designed for romance,” Kristie told us. “It is a couples/adult-only inn that is secluded on over nine manicured acres with many outdoor spots to relax and celebrate your significant other.”

Stone Hill Inn offers elopement packages for guests who want to tie the knot during their stay. The bed-and-breakfast has three elopement packages that are designed to make the experience easy and stress-free.

“We book the chosen flowers and have them delivered, book the JP, and photographer, and order the cake if one is selected,” Kristie explained. “We do the entire set up for the couple, so they only have to show up.”

Couples can choose songs to play over the in-house sound system or the outdoor Bose speaker. The team has its elopement experience down pat, and team members have been working with the same photographer and justice of the peace for over 15 years. A local cake designer is also available.

The team has a private garden space designed to host a romantic moment.

If you’re at Stone Hill Inn for a dating adventure, you may enjoy the Signature Romance Package. This includes a 60-minute couples massage, a dozen long-stem roses, chocolate truffles, and a gift certificate for $120 at Michael’s on the Hill, aka the most romantic restaurant in town. Plus, a bottle of champagne will be sent to the room upon check-in.

Couples with this package qualify for a late check-out time on their last morning, which gives them 90 extra minutes in their room.

Stone Hill Inn has two proposal packages for dating couples who want to get engaged on the grounds. Couples can take a horse-drawn sleigh ride or carriage ride, or they can request rose-petal turn-down service. The Vermont Garden Proposals are popular in the warming months because couples can sit outside in the picturesque backyard garden and make a lasting memory. Professional photography services can be added onto these packages upon request.

“We absolutely love helping prep surprise proposals! They are so fun,” Kristie said. “We have a perfect set up in the summer using the waterfall, fresh rose petal trails, champagne and chocolates with the ring either hidden or open and waiting at the top of the waterfall with all the other goodies.”

Autumn is a particularly magical time to visit Stone Hill Inn. The mountain scenery bursts into a riot of warm colors. Travel + Leisure magazine named Stowe among one of the Best Places to See Fall Foliage in New England.

“We’re a leaf peeper’s paradise,” Kristie told us. “From early September through late October, Stowe visitors marvel at our gold, orange and red hues.”

During the wintertime, guests tend to come ready to ski, snowboard, and play in the snow. Mount Mansfield — the highest mountain in Vermont — is only a nine-minute drive away from the inn. Plus, Stone Hill Inn has sled runs on property and offers complimentary snowshoe for couples who want to do some exploring without having to get in the car.

The cozy inn has a prime location in Vermont’s Green Mountains.

Over the years, Stone Hill Inn has earned many accolades as one of the most romantic and beautiful destinations in the Northeast. TripAdvisor named it a Best of the Best Traveler’s Choice Winner in 2020, and it ranks among the top 1% of hotels featured on the site. The inn has earned TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence every year for the last 10 years.

“No strangers to world-class inns, we found this one to be exceptional,” said one guest on TripAdvisor. “Kristie and Todd lent a personal touch to the weekend experience but in no way obtrusively. We had a great time. We’re sure to return.”

Stone Hill Inn’s impact goes deeper than awards and best-of lists. Many guests say they’ve had the time of their lives and have gone on memorable dates at the inn. Some have even ended their visit newly engaged or married.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Stone Hill Inn hosted micro weddings with no more than 40 guests. These events have been put on hold, but Kristie said she hopes to start anew with wedding weekends once it’s safe.

“We hope guests return here year after year with fond memories of their special moments here,” Kristie said.

Stone Hill Inn has distinguished itself as a romantic retreat with breathtaking mountain views and charming accommodations. The team goes to great lengths to help couples forget their cares and make lasting memories. Dating and married couples have flocked to this destination to celebrate life’s milestones in one of the most romantic bed-and-breakfasts in the country.

Now that Vermont has lifted its COVID travel restrictions — including the mandatory quarantine — the team at Stone Hill Inn is busier than ever and looking ahead to further expansion and development.

“It is our mission to constantly improve the inn and property,” Kristie told us. “We have lots of plans for our newly added hiking and snowshoeing trail. We will be developing it further for more romantic nooks in the woods — perfect for picnics and wildlife viewing.”