The Stoweflake Story: 50 Years of Vermont Hospitality
With many changes and improvements to its physicality, the one thing this inn has not changed is its philosophy regarding hospitality.
Stoweflake Resort has come a long way since its original opening in 1963.
Stuart and Beatrice Baraw began by building a getaway cottage in 1948 for a place to spend weekends and holidays with family and friends. The Baraws came to love Stowe and spent more time at the cottage each year, making regular additions to their home to accommodate additional guests.
In the early 1960s, the couple moved to Stowe permanently to pursue a career in innkeeping, transforming their cottage into a large, two-story lodge with 20 guestrooms and a private apartment.
The Baraws appropriately named their lodge the “Stoweflake Inn,” and began a long and fruitful career as true Vermont innkeepers. Since that founding day, the Baraw family has shown incredible dedication to improving the standards of the hotel, working constantly to provide guests with nothing but the highest quality features and service.
The first floor of the Stoweflake Resort as known to visitors today was initially Stoweflake Inn’s guest lobby and the Baraws’ private living quarters.
Over the years, countless modifications have been made to the main building, including the addition of 80 luxury rooms and suites, a sunlit atrium entryway, a conference center of 2,200 square feet, and a ballroom capable of holding 450 people.
The surrounding 60 acres—originally pasture for the local Gale Farm—has been enhanced over the years to include outdoor amenities for guests, including a Poolside Café, a 9-hole Par 3 golf course, and two har-tru tennis courts.
In 2003, Stoweflake unveiled a 50,000-square-foot luxury spa and wellness center serving both resort guests and the public.
The Spa features more than 30 treatment rooms; a private sanctuary for men and one for women; a meditative garden; a whirlpool, steam, sauna and shower area; a private sunning deck for women; a beauty salon; and a state-of-the-art fitness center.
The Spa also features the Aqua Solarium, a communal area surrounded by rocks and expansive views of Mt. Mansfield, Vermont’s highest peak. The Solarium features Bingham hydrotherapy waterfalls and a Hungarian mineral soaking pool to help guests release the stress of everyday life. It is no secret that Stoweflake’s spa facility offers a beyond-the-traditional spa experience and an unmatched New England spa retreat.
Stoweflake has received several awards and accolades in its years of operation, including recognition by Fodor’s Travel on the “Top 10 Resort Spas in the US” list. Virgin Holidays ranked Stoweflake as one three top three best ski hotels in America, and Ski Magazine ranked the Spa at Stoweflake in their top six. Stoweflake was also chosen by Conde Nast Traveler for their list of the 75 best resorts in the world, a resort spa and again for their Gold List.
Today, Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa is run by three generations of the Baraw family, all of whom are devoted to providing excellence in hospitality. Chuck Baraw, Stuart Sr.’s son, is the current President at Stoweflake, and in 2007 was named “Vermont travel person of the year” for over 30 years of dedication to tourism in the state. Chuck’s daughter, Sheri Baraw Smith, is Vice President and General Manager, and to endorse her 16 years in the industry was awarded the 28th annual Borden Award by the Vermont Hospitality Council. Stuart Junior’s son (Chuck’s nephew), Scot Baraw, is Vice President of Sales. Amy Dwyre-Baraw is Stoweflake’s wedding sales manager and also the resort’s interior designer.
Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa is better today than ever before, thanks to 50 years of well considered development and the Baraw family’s devotion to ever-improving hospitality. Stoweflake is open year-round, offering business and leisure travelers and their families everything they need and more at one fantastic location.
