This historic 105 year-old, luxuriously renovated stone barn accommodates at least 22 guests comfortably. On the main floor you will find a great room with a double-sided stone fireplace flanked by several couches, several comfortable chairs, a 100+ yr old card table for card games/checkers/chess, large kitchen and dining area complete with rustic pizza oven and dumb waiter, children's play area, library, powder room and two master suites. Climb the spiral stairs inside the silo to the observatory and do some spectacular star gazing or catch the weekly summer fireworks display over Lake Sunapee. On the lower level, enjoy the Rec room with large screen HDTV, foosball table, full wet bar and the remaining 5 bedrooms, including 2 bunk rooms with 10 beds. The property is over 3 acres of meadow, lawn, courtyard and woods. Note: Guests are required to bring sheets and towels unless they request linen service, which has an extra fee.
The kids love to pick flowers in the meadow, climb huge boulders, make forts along the stone walls, build fairy houses in the woods, search for wildlife - and we have plenty! Fox, porcupines, fishers, turkeys, deer, ground hogs, and a rare black bear if outside trash isn't closed! And then there is stargazing from the 360 degree look-out tower at the top of the silo, which also has a small walk-out balcony.
The Barn is less than a half mile from: (a) the John Hay Estate at the Fells (National Wildlife Refuge) with nature trails for hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing, as well as the historic house, gardens, art gallery; and (b) Sunset Hill Trail (moderate 2.4 mile hike). Public beach in Newbury is 3 min away. You can access Lake Sunapee at Newbury Harbor which is 1 mile down the road. There is a dock to jump off and small swimming area perfect for young kids with Bubba's Restaurant and ice cream shop across the street. Mt Sunapee is 6 min, for winter skiing or summer adventure park (mountain biking, zipline, disc golf). 5 min to Baker Hill Golf Club. 13 min to Sargent's Marina (motor boat rentals on Lake Sunapee). 8 min to Mt Sunapee State Park, which has a state beach, concession stand, and kids playground.
Seasonal Activities: During summer you will enjoy the property's views, decks and meadow. There are lots of fun family activities to enjoy in the area - from antique fairs to outdoor concerts, farmers markets to dinner cruises, amusement parks to sandy beaches - there is plenty to do in this pristine area of New England.
Autumn, of course, brings us some of the most beautiful scenery in the states. New England foliage in October is a must-see. We suggest riding the quad up Mount Sunapee and taking in a spectacular display of color and beauty. From there you can hike to peaceful Lake Solitude. Sunapee has opened an exciting adventure park with zip lines, ropes course and Segway tours.
History Buffs: Well Sweep farm was part of the original Estate of John Milton Hay, an American statesman whose career in government stretched over almost half a century. He began as a private secretary and assistant to Abraham Lincoln, later became Ambassador to Great Britain, and his highest office was United States Secretary of State under Presidents William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt. His son Clarence inherited the property in 1905 when John passed away. Clarence and Alice Hay used the farm with their children for the next 40 or so years, commissioning famed NY architect Prentice Sanger to design the fieldstone Barn and Milkhouse, which were built from 1912-1916. Although their farmhouse on the property is gone, some of its stone foundation still exists and frames a sunken, stone-walled courtyard that is perfect for picnics, small events, and lawn games. Cows, goats, oxen, and mules were housed here in the Barn, while orchards supplied fruit, and maple trees provided an annual harvest of syrup. The Barn and Milkhouse were converted to residences from 2005-2008, and from the stones to the soaring scissor trusses, the overwhelming majority of the 100+ year-old structures were retained.
