The Inn on the Horse Farm

The furnishings and features are lovely, and you can tell this must once have been a beautiful inn. But it feels neglected now, and it isn’t cheap. The outside looked run down, with the garden, landscaping, and steps apparently untended for a long time. Inside, the room was a good size, with a four-poster bed, two comfortable chairs, fireplace, desk, a small fridge in the closet that was unplugged, and only one bathrobe for two people. The desk and other surfaces were dusty. Two mugs and a wine glass sat on a tray with spilled sugar. There was a kettle but no drinking water, and the tea box was marked with fingerprints. The shower kept leaking and couldn’t be shut off completely. The balcony had a few chairs and a table tossed out haphazardly. Stepping onto it made us hop back inside: as engineers, we didn’t trust the flooring or support, and wondered if it was meant to have a roof. Contactless check-in was an envelope with our name pasted to the door and the room key inside. The squeaky front door opened into a small reception area, then the other doors were closed and we went upstairs. There was no lobby fireplace, despite one website advertising it. The rooms are named after horses, but there were no horses, and there was no breakfast, despite TripAdvisor calling this the “Bed & Breakfast of choice when visiting Sudbury.” We stayed in October after my husband spent hours comparing accommodation options and choosing this place from the photos and reviews. We basically only slept here. The owner should update the website descriptions and outdated photos, and set the price accordingly. Without proper upkeep, a place that was once a source of pride can become derelict quickly.

The farm was beautiful, and I enjoyed most of it, especially seeing the horses and chickens. Meeting the horses and the owners was a lovely experience, and the homemade jam was scrumptious. The house itself was musty and untidy. A tile attached to the hot tub with Velcro fell off and broke. The owners also seemed oblivious when a family member got locked out and couldn’t get back in. I opened the door for them. We told the owners the next morning; one seemed to care, while the other just shrugged. They’re in their 70s now, and personally I think they should retire. Thanks for reading.

Thanks to Rick and Joan for keeping this lovely inn as it is. We loved the old house and how true it feels to its time. It made us happy that it hadn’t been over-renovated. In a world that often erases history, I’m glad this place is still here to enjoy.

We enjoyed feeding the horses and having breakfast, and the room was a peaceful, refreshing place to come back to. The bed was really comfortable, too. We had a great stay.