Sunset Hill House

The quiet, calm atmosphere made for a nice break from the busyness of everyday life. We stayed two nights and three days in March in a king room, and the price felt fair for what we got. The room was clean and well furnished, with a comfortable bed, a jacuzzi, and gorgeous mountain views from both the room and balcony. We also enjoyed the pool table downstairs in the lobby. We only called room service once, and they were polite and efficient. We’re looking forward to coming back next year.

There wasn’t even breakfast available, apparently because we were the only guests. The room also had no fridge or microwave, and there was no elevator, which made getting heavy luggage around difficult. Parking was limited to the street, the bed squeaked constantly, and it had no air conditioning and poor heating. The shower was so cramped it was hard to stand comfortably. The carpet was dusty, and our room was extremely small, barely leaving space for our things. At best, the place felt like an outdated 1.5-star motel, or an old house or office turned into one, rather than a 4-star hotel. A very disappointing stay.

At 5:00 AM, a piercing alarm woke us, and we had to leave the building with a handful of other guests. The place was nearly empty. We stood outside in the dark in our pajamas while the fire department came and shut it off. We asked about breakfast and were told there wouldn’t be any, with no suggestions offered. The listed photos don’t seem to match a $300 nightly rate with breakfast excluded. The website also misrepresents the rooms and the shared indoor and outdoor spaces, and the property seems neglected. When we asked for a refund, staff said we should have told them that night so they could have moved us to a better room. Why not give us a better room in the first place? The owner, Saxton Sharad, lives out of state, and staff wouldn’t share his contact information.

I stayed in the off-season, and the prices were great. The place has been open since the 1880s, and each room is unique and nicely done. Staff were friendly, and the rooms comfortable. The views are absolutely beautiful, with Sunset Hill out front and mountains all around. There’s a lovely porch with yard games and a yard to explore. Polly's pancakes is just down the road, about 1.5 miles away. The stairs and some other areas might be hard to get around for someone with mobility issues. Definitely worth a visit.