The Lodges are Shaping Up

The clock is ticking with just under a month to go before our opening date on June 15th. See what we have been up to . . .

The lakeside of the Boathouse Lodge. Shown here the rooftop Boathouse Patio, the expansive view from the Golden Pond Game Room and the stone arches over the indoor/outdoor adult only pool.

The Boathouse Lodge facing the lake.

The Birch Lodge facing the lake.

A spacious room in the Birch Lodge.

The amazing fireplace at the Boathouse Patio.

The view from the Boathouse Patio.

The cedar covered walkway connecting the Lodges to Church Landing.

Between a Rock and Cool Place

Exciting times on the construction site today. A 6,000 lb. granite slab was hoisted to its new resting place in front of the pool at the Boathouse Lodge.  Steve Sharps from Holderness harvested the granite from a quarry in Vermont.

6,000 lb granite slab from VT.

Gliding by with ease.

The game/billiard room in the Boathouse Lodge.

The expansive view from the game room.

Here is a great room . . .

with a great fireplace!

At this stage the fireplace looks like a big jigsaw puzzle.

Construction at Church Landing is off to a Beautiful Start

While the foundations of two new lodges are being placed alongside the existing Lake Shore Cottage on Lake Winnipesaukee, the walkway that will connect all three buildings to Church Landing is well underway.

The Inns and Spa at Mill Falls recently broke ground on the construction of Birch Lodge and Boathouse Lodge as part of its Church Landing expansion project.  The new lodges will feature 13 additional deluxe rooms and suites that will offer spectacular views of Lake Winnipesaukee.  Guests who stay in the lodges and cottage will be able to stay safe and dry in all kinds of weather as they walk to and from Church Landing via a new covered cedar walkway.

Last winter, the Inns purchased over 400 cedar posts and rails from Sharp’s Lumber in the Lakes Region of NH.  The logs were harvested while they were frozen and stored in a temperature-controlled environment for 9 months as a way to keep the logs from shedding most of their bark.  The result is a very organic-looking walkway, where guests will feel as if they are strolling through a cedar grove!

The new buildings are expected to be finished by July of 2012, and we will continue to post updates and photos of the project as it develops.  Check back again soon!

Carrie Reed
The Mill Falls Blogging Team

The Inns & Spa at Mill Falls Breaks Ground for Church Landing Expansion

Artist's rendering of Boathouse Lodge

Last Thursday, this lakeside resort broke ground for its latest project—an expansion that will bring 13 new deluxe lake-view rooms and suites, as well as 186 feet of additional lake frontage, to its most popular destination: Church Landing.

The Inns & Spa at Mill Falls has officially begun construction on Phase II of its Church Landing expansion, which will add two new buildings, The Birch Lodge and The Boathouse Lodge, to the south end of the property.  The new buildings are being constructed on either side of the existing Lake Shore Cottage, which was recently renovated to include two unique suites overlooking Lake Winnipesaukee.  All three buildings will be attached to Church Landing via a covered cedar walkway, and all rooms will offer spectacular lake views, balconies, and screened porches.  In addition, each room will have luxury amenities, including a fieldstone fireplace, wet bar, whirlpool bath, double glass and tile shower, and a bathroom LCD TV.

“We are thrilled to begin construction on this part of our expansion project,” says Rusty McLear, President and CEO of The Inns & Spa at Mill Falls.  “Church Landing at Mill Falls continues to be enjoyed by tourists and residents alike, and these additions will certainly enhance our guests’ experience.”

Breaking ground on Phase II construction at The Inns & Spa at Mill Falls are (left to right): Barry Leonard, Laconia Savings Bank; Tom Samyn, Samyn D’Elia; Rusty McLear, Mill Falls; Ward D’Elia, Samyn D’Elia; Bill Smith, CCI; Ross Currier, CCI; and Tim Marchand, Mill Falls.

Breaking ground on Phase II construction at The Inns & Spa at Mill Falls are (left to right): Barry Leonard, Laconia Savings Bank; Tom Samyn, Samyn D’Elia; Rusty McLear, Mill Falls; Ward D’Elia, Samyn D’Elia; Bill Smith, CCI; Ross Currier, CCI; and Tim Marchand, Mill Falls.

The expansion will also feature a new lobby and game area, a second indoor/outdoor pool with two Jacuzzis, an outdoor fire-pit and grille station for summer BBQs, a large sundeck with food and beverage service, and several new boat docks.

“We have a vast number of guests who regularly stay with us, and it’s exciting that each time they visit, we are adding more facilities and more options to consider, while keeping our focus on our core mission – unforgettable customer service,” says Gail Batstone, General Manager of The Inns & Spa at Mill Falls.  Adds Michelle Brown, Director of Marketing at The Inns, “Church Landing is our most reserved property and on many occasions it is sold out.”

The expansion will be able to accommodate more fans of the Inns as early as next July, when construction on the project is expected to be completed.  Phase I of the project was finished this past May, converting the carport at Church Landing into additional event space and dining areas.  The new facility, called “The Carriage House,” now boasts 1,700 square feet of meeting space, an expanded lobby area with fourteen-foot ceilings, and sweeping views of Lake Winnipesaukee.

The Church Landing expansion promises to enrich the experience of visitors to Meredith as well as locals who enjoy events and spa services at Church Landing.  It’s all part of the Inns’ mission to continually improve its facilities.  As Ms. Batstone explains, “We often hear the comment, ‘so, what are you adding this year?!”  Stay tuned on this new blog for all the renovation news as it develops!

Carrie Reed
The Mill Falls Blogging Team