Sherwood Inn

Once upon a time the historic property where Susan and I have lived since 2006 was a popular lakeside destination known as the Sherwood Inn. Nestled along the shoreline in Essex, New York it served as a popular social hub for both locals and vacationers throughout the 1950s and into the 1960s.

The Sherwood Inn offered visitors refined accommodations that combined Rosslyn‘s original dignity and charm with comfortable guest rooms, many with private fireplaces. The property boasted magnificent waterfront views of Vermont’s Green Mountains. Impeccably maintained grounds extending right to Lake Champlain‘s edge included a sandy beach, private dock, and boathouse. Additional amenities included guest cottages, colonial gardens, a clay tennis court, an elegant restaurant, and a colonial taproom.

Many formal events including weddings were hosted at the Sherwood Inn, and one of the most popular summer events hosted by the proprietors, C.W. Sherwood and F.S. Sherwood, was the annual Essex Regatta. Visitors came from far and wide to observe and participate in boat races, watersport exhibitions, and a great deal of festive celebration. To this day some longterm Essex residents remember these waterfront gatherings fondly. Memories and artifacts from those Sherwood Inn days capture the spirit of a bygone era when summer vacations extended for weeks rather than days, when more families took time to slow down and swim, play tennis matches, and enjoy languid conversations overlooking the lake.

Today, while the Sherwood Inn has returned to its origins as a private residence, its legacy lives on through postcards, advertisements, and cherished memories shared by those who experienced its hospitality. Susan and I have embraced Rosslyn’s rich heritage (See also Hyde Gate) as a vacation destination, collecting artifacts and stories that document the property’s fascinating evolution over its 200-year history.