Vermont isn't exactly short on history. You drive through any town in the Green Mountains and you’re basically hitting a landmark every few feet. But The Equinox Golf Resort & Spa in Manchester Vermont is different. It’s not just an old building where someone famous once slept; it’s a sprawling, white-pillared beast of a property that has survived the Revolution, the Civil War, and the rise of the modern luxury traveler who demands high-speed Wi-Fi and a decent oat milk latte.
It's massive. Honestly, when you pull up to the front of the main hotel, you feel like you’ve accidentally driven onto the set of a period drama.
Most people come here for the "New England vibe." You know the one—flannel shirts, maple syrup, and leaves that look like they’ve been Photoshopped. But if you dig into the actual bones of the Equinox, you find something way more interesting than a postcard. This place has been around since 1769. It started as Marsh's Tavern. Local rebels—the Green Mountain Boys—used to hang out here to plan how they were going to kick the British out. It’s kind of wild to think about that while you're sitting in the Falcon Bar sipping a $20 cocktail, but that’s the reality of Manchester.
The Identity Crisis That Actually Works
There is a weird tension at The Equinox Golf Resort & Spa in Manchester Vermont. It’s trying to be three things at once: a historic landmark, a high-end wellness retreat, and a rugged outdoor playground. Usually, when a hotel tries to do that, it fails. It ends up feeling like a mall.
Somehow, it works here. Maybe it’s because the property is so spread out. You have the main hotel, which feels formal and "old money," but then you have the 1811 House across the street, which is basically a sophisticated inn. If you want to feel like a wealthy 19th-century landowner, you stay there. If you want to be near the indoor pool and the spa, you stay in the main building.
The rooms aren't your typical cookie-cutter Marriott boxes. Because the building is old, the layouts are funky. You might have a massive bathroom but a slightly smaller sleeping area, or a window that looks out over the slopes of Mount Equinox at a specific, perfect angle.
I’ve heard people complain that it’s "too traditional." Sure. If you want minimalist concrete and neon lights, go to Brooklyn. This is where you go when you want heavy drapes, solid wood furniture, and the smell of woodsmoke.
That 1927 Golf Course is a Monster
Let's talk about the golf. The Golf Club at Equinox is a par-71 managed by Troon, and it was designed by Walter Travis back in 1927. Later, Rees Jones did a redesign.
🔗 Read more: Madison WI to Denver: How to Actually Pull Off the Trip Without Losing Your Mind
It is beautiful. It is also exhausting.
The thing about mountain golf is that the views are distracting. You’re standing on the tee box looking at the Battenkill Valley and you completely forget your swing thought. The course isn't incredibly long by modern standards, but it’s tight. If you have a slice, the Vermont forest is going to keep your ball. Forever.
- The greens are undulating.
- The weather can change in about six minutes.
- The elevation changes make club selection a nightmare.
Seriously, if you play here, take an extra club on the uphill shots. The thin mountain air doesn't help as much as you think it will when you're staring at a 40-foot rise to the green.
Why the Spa is the Real Draw
You can’t call yourself The Equinox Golf Resort & Spa in Manchester Vermont and then have a mediocre spa. Thankfully, they don't. The Spa at The Equinox is 13,000 square feet. That’s bigger than most people’s entire houses.
They use a lot of local ingredients. Maple sugar scrubs are a big thing here, which sounds like something that would just make you sticky, but it actually works for exfoliation. They have this 75-foot indoor lap pool that is filtered with ozone instead of heavy chlorine. It’s a small detail, but you notice it because you don’t walk out smelling like a public YMCA.
The "Spirit of Vermont" treatment is usually what people go for. It’s a mix of massage and reiki. Whether you believe in "energy work" or not, laying in a quiet room in the middle of the woods for 80 minutes is going to fix your stress levels regardless.
Land Rover and Longbows
This is the part that surprises people. Most luxury resorts have a "fitness center" with two broken treadmills. The Equinox has the Land Rover Experience Driving School.
💡 You might also like: Food in Kerala India: What Most People Get Wrong About God's Own Kitchen
You can literally take a customized SUV and drive it over rocks and through deep mud pits on the side of a mountain. It’s expensive, but it’s probably the most fun you can have at 5 miles per hour. They also have an Orvis Fly Fishing school nearby and a British School of Falconry.
Yes, falconry.
You can stand there with a leather glove and have a hawk land on your arm. It’s intense. The birds are massive, and their eyes are terrifyingly focused. It’s one of those experiences that makes you realize how disconnected we are from nature until a predator is staring you in the face.
The Food Situation
Eating at the resort is a bit of a mixed bag, mostly because Manchester itself has some incredible food. The Chop House at the resort is your classic high-end steakhouse. It’s good. The service is formal. But the real star is the Falcon Bar.
They have a huge fire pit outside. In the winter, people huddle around it with blankets and bourbon. It’s the quintessential Vermont experience.
If you venture off-property, you have to go to the Silver Fork in town. It’s tucked away in an old library and the food is arguably some of the best in the state. Don't tell the hotel chef I said that.
The "Haunted" Reputation
You can't have a building this old without ghost stories. Mary Todd Lincoln used to visit. She actually had a suite reserved for the summer of 1865, but, well, history happened, and Abraham Lincoln was assassinated before they could make the trip.
📖 Related: Taking the Ferry to Williamsburg Brooklyn: What Most People Get Wrong
She did come back later, though. People claim to see a lady in white wandering the halls of the South Wing. Is it real? Probably not. Is it a great story to tell yourself when the floorboards creak at 2 AM? Absolutely. The hotel leans into it just enough to be charming without being tacky.
Logistics You Actually Need
If you’re driving from NYC, it’s about four hours. From Boston, it’s three.
The best time to go isn't actually autumn. I know, that's heresy. But "Leaf Peepers" season (October) is chaotic. The traffic in Manchester becomes a nightmare.
Try June. The mountains are impossibly green, the fly fishing is peak, and you can actually get a dinner reservation without calling three weeks in advance. Or go in late January for the skiing—Bromley and Stratton are both right there.
What to Actually Do When You Arrive
Don't just sit in the room. Even if the bed is comfortable—and they are, they use high-thread-count linens that make it hard to move—you’re paying for the land.
- Hike Mount Equinox. The trailhead is right behind the resort. It’s a steep climb. Your quads will hate you, but the view of the valley is worth the sweat.
- Visit Northshire Bookstore. It’s one of the best independent bookstores in the country. It’s a short walk from the resort.
- Do the Falconry. Seriously. How often do you get to handle a raptor?
- The Marsh Tavern. Eat the pot pie. It’s heavy, it’s traditional, and it’s exactly what you want when the Vermont air gets chilly.
The Equinox isn't a "hip" hotel. It’s not trying to be the coolest place on Instagram. It’s a place that understands its history and leans into it. It’s comfortable, it’s a little bit formal, and it’s deeply connected to the dirt and trees around it.
If you go, bring a good book and a pair of boots that you don't mind getting muddy. You're in the mountains, after all.
Moving Forward With Your Trip
To get the most out of your stay at The Equinox Golf Resort & Spa in Manchester Vermont, skip the standard "luxury" package and book a specific experience like the Land Rover school or a guided fly-fishing session on the Battenkill. Always request a room in the main house if you want the historical atmosphere, or the 1811 House if you want a quieter, more intimate stay. Check the local events calendar for the Southern Vermont Arts Center, which is nearby and often hosts world-class exhibits that most tourists completely miss.