More enchanting than an engaging picture book, bibliophiles are not the only ones to fall head over heels in love with the Spencer Hotel. Respite at this literary-themed boutique hotel, located on the grounds of Chautauqua Institution, a gated resort community in the hamlet of Chautauqua, New York, means pleasant encounters at the turn of every page—corner, that is. Even the hallways harbor “color and interest,” says proprietress Helen Edgington. Mimicking the come-hither feeling that each room at the Spencer exudes, hallways invite guests to sit in comfortable chairs under pictures of authors hung on red-padded pallets and delve into each author’s biography.
Vacationing in one of the 28 luxurious guestrooms and suites, such as the Isak Dinesen room where a safari tent bed and wildlife surroundings recreate the African savanna. |
“We are the only literary fantasy hotel in the country. It’s an experience just to be here. No two rooms are alike. They all tell the story of the author. We had people here last weekend, and we had all the rooms open, and it took them about a couple hours to go through the rooms,” Helen explains.
Vacationing in one of the 28 luxurious guestrooms and suites, such as the Isak Dinesen room where a safari tent bed and wildlife surroundings recreate the African savanna, envision the vast determination and finesse required to engineer surroundings that achieve a standing ovation.
Helen recalls the “huge undertaking” of the building’s renovation, which started as a hotel by Mrs. Spencer in 1907. When Helen took over the hotel in 1997, it had basically been unattended to for 90 years. Fortunately, Helen, formerly an artist, designed the interior and along with three other artists, painted some of the murals. “I spent a whole year reading by night and working with the contractors by day,” she says.
Many guests comment about the European look of the building’s gothic façade, a “steamboat structure.” Preparing for its 100-year anniversary, Helen refers to its renovations, saying, “It’s a brand new hotel. Except for the structure, everything has been redone.”
Stimulated by the Chautauqua Institution site, home to the oldest literary society in America, Helen says, “I love literature and like to read, and so I decided what better place to create a literary theme than in Chautauqua?” Emphasizing classic literature, the authors range from Lewis Carroll to Lillian Hellman.
Rachel Briggs, Helen’s assistant, describes the Shakespeare room, complete with king-size bed and neo-angle shower, as “a very romantic type of room with the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet, and there are really pretty colors in there, pink and white.” Cupid is easy to meet on these premises; add the in-room massages and spa treatments, and it’s a sudden trip to nirvana. Although the Spencer Hotel can accommodate families with children, Rachel explains, “A lot of our travelers are the romantic travelers and people looking for some sort of renewal or looking to get away.”
Guests, many repeat clients from around the world, have complete, modern amenities including wireless internet service, air conditioning and an elevator servicing the four floors. “There are whirlpool tubs in a lot of rooms. We have just installed a sauna,” Helen elaborates.
The storybook setting of each guestroom extends to the bathroom. In the Clare Booth Luce room, for instance, Helen says, “It’s called a Roman English bath. You walk in there; it’s like being in Rome at the ruins.”
In the Beatrix Potter room, Peter Rabbit looks over the tub, while the floor has a faux cabbage patch. Portraying E.B. White room’s bathroom, Helen says, “When you close the door, it’s like being in a barn. It’s all blue sky with Charlotte there in the corner and Wilbur doing summersaults, saying, ‘Radiant! Radiant!’”
“These ideas all started here, Hollywood is now just catching up,” Helen exclaims, laughing.
Ideal for intimate weddings, business retreats and groups of up to 50, the magnificence at the Spencer Hotel is nothing short of tinsel town. Common rooms continue the theme of hand-painted murals enhanced by 18th-century furnishings, English lace, Strauss crystal, Oriental carpets and floor-to-ceiling windows. In the winter, guests can recline in front of the fireplace in the Monet Parlor. In the summer, seek solace upon the inviting porches.
“We have our own little library of authors and their works,” Helen further details. In the future, guests can anticipate a “huge” (7 x 7 foot) home theater to view the literary-themed DVD collection.
The Peacock dining room provides a charming nook to sample mid-afternoon tea in tribute to the English authors who “reside” there and the complimentary continental breakfast that includes French toast and cranberry sauce, eggs Benedict and “customized little” quiches.
As if this weren’t enough, both Helen and Rachel have unveiled tempting packages with themes like murder mystery theater (think Agatha Christie), health and wellness, literary, art; winter ski and lake cruise packages are also available.
Additionally, guests can try the indoor pool and amphitheater on the Chautauqua campus or the adjacent golf course and many nearby attractions like wineries, hot-air balloon rides and the Lucy-Desi Museum and Theater. “There are trails all around us; the lake is a hop, skip and a jump, very close,” Rachel, says. Considering all these experiences, travelers shouldn’t be surprised if they start penning an ode in honor of Spencer Hotel.
