Discover Vermont
Discover Vermont
At The Cobble House you’ll step off the beaten path far enough to escape but close enough to enjoy local activities and exploration.
Our Story
Our Story
Built in 1864 as a formal country home for a prominent doctor, George E. E. Sparhawk, The Cobble House has retained most of its period details. Its soaring ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows give a feeling of spacious luxury and let in both light and nature. With a unique variety of both large, open areas and small intimate spaces, it offers visitors the options of lounging alone with a great book or having an impromptu cocktail party with friends. We have brought in modern European design sensibility and all the updates necessary for maximum comfort.
The Owner, Kevin Travis, was raised in Texas but fell in love with Vermont spending summers here as a child. He bought his first house here in 2001 and has never lost touch with his Vermont world. The Cobble House has been Kevin’s neighbor for 23 years, so when it closed its doors as a bed-and-breakfast, he wanted to make sure the house lived on.
Kevin has lived and worked in many cities, including Boston, London, Johannesburg, and most recently New York City, before settling full time in Vermont. He has restored The Cobble House with a 21st Century update influenced by his international travels and with the express purpose of sharing it and the best of Vermont with guests.
So, he invites you to make the most of The Cobble House experience. Enjoy the relaxed luxury of this four season house. Meander through our 7.5 acres of woodland on one of our private walking trails. Lounge on the viewing deck over the White River or continue down to 300 feet of private riverfront for a dip or great fly fishing.
At The Cobble House you’ll step off the beaten path far enough to escape but close enough to enjoy local activities and exploration.
George E.E. Sparhawk, MD
Kevin S. Travis, Owner
Visiting Vermont
Visiting Vermont
The Cobble House is a beautiful, peaceful escape from the wilds of city living, with acres to explore and a river running through it. Yet in 20 minutes, you can be in town, on a ski slope, or at one of our favorite local farm markets. There are plentiful outdoor activities in all seasons and there is a vibrant arts and culture scene.
Please join us in exploring the multitude of Vermont experiences you can access from The Cobble House.
A Few of Our Favorite Places
- Toziers on Route 107 for old-school fried fish suppers is a cherished local gem.
- We love the pizza at Cockadoodle Pizza in Bethel (usualy ordering the Mount Hunger) and the best Ceasar salad.
- Third Branch Wines in Bethel stocks some of the best local and international wines.
- Hailbrook’s Broken Stone Bakery in Bethel will help feed your sweet tooth and with notice, Ann fulfills custom orders.
- BarnArts puts on musicals, hosts barn dances, and brings musicians from around the world to Barnard.
- On the Edge Farm in South Pomfret has grass fed beef and pork, eggs from across the road, and preserves, pies and pickles to keep you going for days. Artistree has art classes, a gallery, and has a theatre in the old Grange Hall for plays and music.
- For some of the best deli, veggies and bread, along with coffee, wine and cheese, the Woodstock Farmers Market is our go-to location. While down the road, on Woodstock Main Street, the Yankee Book Shop helps keep our minds engaged. Pentangle Arts hosts films, music and other performances on a regular basis.
- Simon Pearce in Quechee has fabulous glassware, pottery, and wood bowls and board from Andrew Pearce. There’s also a great restaurant and glassblowing to watch at Simon Pearce.
- Crossroad Farm is a little further afield, but definitely has the best tomatoes and other veggies in the State, in our estimation.
Local Events
Just a few of the local events that may pique your interest.
Four Season Living
In Vermont, each season offers guests a plethora of activities to explore.
Spring
Maple Syrup Farm Visits allow you to see where this Vermont staple originates from the trees to sugar house to your table. Tour local farms and sugarbushes, meet the farmers, taste the sweetness.
Open Studio Weekends provide the opportunity to see artists in the area at home in their studios: pottery, glass, painting, art, and sculpture. The area around us here in the valley is filled with artists and studios, so get out there and visit.
Hiking is all around us here, from the Appalachian Trail and the Long Trail to shorter day hikes in the Green Mountain National Forest. From late April through early November, trails are open and dry. The Green Mountain Club can provide information on the best hikes for you.
Fly Fishing in the White River
We have relationships with several fly-fishing guides and others who can take you out on the river to enjoy the fishing in the spring, or throughout the season. The main stem of the White River flows at the foot of the property, and we are located in the middle of what is considered by many to be the best stretch of river for fishing. Ask us about it!
Orvis Fly Fishing School is another way to learn in a group environment. Hosting classes on the Battenkill River in Manchester, it’s about 45 minutes away.
Summer
Mountain Biking is available all around us, notably at Green Mountain Trails and at Killington. Many additional trails can be accessed via clubs all over the state.
For something really special, we love the Bethel Drive-in, open from June through Labor Day, for a drive in movie surrounded by the Vermont summer night.
Bookstock is an early summer book festival in nearby Woodstock, where authors and readers meet.
Music Festivals abound, particularly in later July and August. While there are many to choose from, the one closest to us is the Central Vermont Chamber Music Festival, in early August.
If sitting and swimming at our private river beach isn’t active enough, [White River tubing] and kayaking can take the edge of the heat and provide some exercise at the same time.
Golf is a major local activity and we have several great courses near us, including the Green Mountain National, Killington, Montague Golf Club, and the Woodstock Country Club.
Fall
Leaf Peeping and the spectacle of Autumn fills the hills around us from mid-September until the end of October. Sit on our veranda and watch the colors blaze on our surrounding mountains, or head out and about on Route 100. There will be colors everywhere you look.
The World’s Fair, held every year in September, should not be missed. A short drive away, experience the world of rural Vermont at its finest.
In the spring, maple syrup flows; in the fall, cider is the order of the day. Apple orchards for picking, or cider fermentories beckon across the state.
And what goes better with cider than some sharp, delicious cheese. Numerous cheese makers around the area welcome visitors, and may even let you into the caves.
Wineries and breweries abound, and autumn is a great time to visit, after the harvest is finished and the vines and fields have been put to bed for the winter.
Winter
Alpine skiing, fit for all tastes and skill levels. Try different mountains on different days: Killington and Pico are 20 minutes down the road; Saskadena 6 and the Middlebury Snow Bowl a few minutes further. For those not averse to a morning drive Sugarbush, Mad River Glen, and Okemo are all about 45 minutes away.
Cross-Country Skiing is one of our favorite winter pastimes, although performance is more variable depending on the weather. Woodstock Nordic Center, Ole’s, Rikert, and Blueberry Lake are all withing a short drive, and offer terrain from well-groomed to as nature intended.
Snowshoeing/Fat Biking add some variety to outdoor activities and can be done on mountain bike trails and alongside cross-country ski trails everywhere.
Skating on a real pond. Nothing else comes close. Silver Lake State Park in Barnard has skating whenever the lake freezes over.
Weather
In Vermont, weather is the star of the show. It dictates whether you will pack a picnic lunch and take off for a hike along one of our curated trails or spend the afternoon in The Reading Room along with a favorite book. That’s why The Cobble House includes a weather monitor offering up-to-the minute details to help you plan each day.