Birch Lodge and Boathouse Lodge Officially Opening!

The finished Lodges at Church Landing

After eight months of construction and a lot of anticipation, the new Lodges at the Inns & Spa at Mill Falls will be opening their doors this weekend to welcome their very first guests, and will be celebrated at the official grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony this coming Tuesday, June 19^th.

The Birch Lodge and the Boathouse Lodge at Church Landing comprise the latest expansion at the Inns & Spa at Mill Falls, adding 13 deluxe lake-view rooms and suites in two new buildings connected to Church Landing by a covered cedar walkway. Construction began last September and continued non-stop right up to this week, when staff at the Inns pitched in to help clean up, assemble furniture, and get everything in place for guests.

The Lodges were built on either side of Lake Shore Cottage on the South end of Church Landing. All of the new rooms offer spectacular views of Lake Winnipesaukee, and feature balconies, handcrafted fieldstone fireplaces, indoor whirlpool baths, wet bars, tile showers, and bathroom LCD TVs.

“We are so delighted to celebrate the grand opening of the Lodges at Church Landing, which completes our expansion project on the property,” said Rusty McLear, president and CEO of The Inns & Spa at Mill Falls. “I want to thank the architects, contractors, designers and landscapers who have worked tirelessly throughout the last year to create a visually beautiful addition to Church Landing, and kept the project ahead of schedule and under budget. We are confident that tourists and residents alike will enjoy the luxurious new accommodations just in time for the upcoming summer tourist season.”

The Inns & Spa at Mill Falls staff puts the finishing touches on the new Lodges.

Rusty will host a ribbon cutting and open house celebration on Tuesday, June 19^th to mark the official opening of the new buildings. Community and state officials will be in attendance.

The 17,000-square-foot expansion also includes a new lobby and game area, a second indoor/outdoor pool with two Jacuzzis, an outdoor fire pit, and a rooftop sundeck with food and beverage service. Guests will also be able to enjoy 186 feet of additional lake frontage, and a new valet parking lot.

The billiard & game room, named the Golden Pond Room, will feature the backdrop from the set of Ernest Thompson’s play produced in Holderness last summer. Local artist Stephen Hodecker created the artwork. The room also holds a historic billiard table that was built in the early 1900s and was one of the first of such tables at the Mount Washington Grand Hotel.

“The architectural design of the Lodges celebrates the traditional exterior details of a New Hampshire lake hotel while incorporating luxury appointments inside along with the unseen elements of energy-efficient building design,” said Ward D’Elia of Samyn-D’Elia Architects, the group that headed the design of the Lodges. “Cedar covered walkways will connect all buildings with each other. We used rustic unfinished tree logs and branches for the inside of the covered walkway which we believe reinforces the traditional New Hampshire lakeside experience.”

Preparing for guests at The Lodges

Added D’Elia, “The shingle style of the new expansion evokes images of cozy lake houses and lazy days on the water – which is Rusty’s vision for this property. With balconies and plenty of energy efficient windows affording views of the lake and mountains, visitors will find it easy to relax and enjoy.”

The Inns & Spa at Mill Falls took on the Made in America Challenge with the construction of the Lodges, and is proud to announce that the expansion project is 95% American made.

“We are so excited to showcase our new accommodations at the Lodges to our new and regular guests,” said Gail Batstone, General Manager of The Inns & Spa at Mill Falls. “These new rooms and suites offer unparalleled access to the lake, including private beachfront. For us, it’s about providing exceptional accommodations with unforgettable customer service and attention to our guest’s experience.”

Carrie Reed
The Mill Falls Blogging Team