“Yes, she would be nodding in approval!” said Stephanie Stack, when asked what her grandmother would think of the goings-on at her former home. That home is now Catlin Gardens, a stunning reminder of Victorian architecture off Route 6 in Slate Hill.
If its manicured gardens, quiet ponds and gentle stream aren”™t enough to carry visitors and guests off to another era, the home”™s graceful steeples and stately entry are eye-catching reminders of the architecture 21st century craftsmen strive for. Now, the Stacks have added sleeping accommodations to their unique reception hall.
“Seven years and $7 million in the making,” said Stephanie Stack, looking up at the hotel her father envisioned for the catering facility more than a decade ago.
“Dad always said what we were missing here was a great place to stay overnight,” said Stephanie, “and now we have it.” The Stack family broke ground in January 2009 on the 40-room hotel. Today, it”™s nearing completion, and the Stacks expect to roll out the red carpet by the end of June.
The new hotel is centered on the 19th century Victorian home that has been in the family for three generations. Right down to its turreted roofline, Catlin Gardens”™ new addition will blend in with its catering hall counterpart, but offer much more than grandma could have ever imagined, like flat screen TVs and Wi-Fi.
The new hotel”™s octagonal entry hall will lead to a pub room with an outdoor terrace. Farther down the hall, another banquet room ”“ “Perfect for small parties,” said Stephanie ”“ will be ready for both family gatherings, parties and business conferences. A wine cellar for intimate parties or rehearsal dinners, along with its own private patio, is planned for downstairs. Upstairs, 36 rooms ”“ with four special suites at each corner of the top floor ”“ await overnight guests.
A day spa and fitness center are included in the hotel”™s amenities, offerings Stephanie Stack says will help make it more than just another catering hall: “This will be a destination. There isn”™t a place like ours for miles around; one of the things many our wedding couples have asked for in the past is where out-of-town guests stay. Now, they will be able to tell them they can stay right on the premises in a luxury hotel with all the trimmings. We”™ll have a bridal suite for the wedding party and a honeymoon suite for the bride and groom. We”™ve waited a long time for this and we”™ve worked a long time to make it happen. It”™s wonderful to see it coming to life. The town has been great in making all this happen,” said Stephanie. “We couldn”™t be more pleased with the level of cooperation we”™ve received.”
Outside, workmen prepared for the wrought-iron canopy that will welcome guests to the hotel”™s front doors. Behind the hotel, a weathered rock that once welcomed visitors to the “Inn at Catlin Creek” is a reminder of how far the Stack family has brought the small banquet room from its first wedding more than 20 years ago to full-service catering facility and hotel.
Perhaps it will stay there, a piece of Catlin Gardens history for visitors to enjoy while sipping drinks on the hotel”™s outdoor patio “We can”™t really call this place the Inn at Catlin Creek anymore,” said Stephanie Stack. “But it”™s nice to see it and remember how far we”™ve come since dad first put it out in front and we opened for business.”
