Vermont Summer Festival Teams Up with Local Lodging Partners

May 5, 2017 - East Dorset, Vermont

The Reluctant Panther, along with an impressive list of area accommodations, will join the Vermont Summer Festival as an Official Lodging Partner for the 2017 season running July 4 through August 13, 2017, at Harold Beebe Farm in East Dorset, VT.
Photo courtesy of Mike Osean

The Vermont Summer Festival, held from July 4 through August 13, 2017, in East Dorset, VT, offers competitors the opportunity to experience local hospitality thanks to the support of its Manchester-area lodging partners.

The Vermont Summer Festival welcomes thousands of equestrians and their families to the six-week hunter/jumper competition, and its area lodging partners offer all the comforts of home. Accommodation options for the 2017 season include quaint inns such as Barrows House, The Dorset Inn, and Palmer House, as well as full-service resorts like The Equinox Resort and Kimpton Taconic.

“There is so much local flavor to experience, and we consider area lodging one of those attractions,” said Ruth Lacey, Vermont Summer Festival Marketing Director. “Independently-owned and family-run accommodations contribute to the appeal of the Manchester area, and our partners go out of their way to ensure that Vermont Summer Festival exhibitors can bask in the hospitality, beauty, and charm of local communities while in town for competition.”

In 2017, the Vermont Summer Festival has partnered with several new lodging locations, including the relaxing Hill Farm Inn, the romantic Inn at Ormsby Hill, and the luxurious Reluctant Panther Inn.

The Reluctant Panther Inn is a property that offers 20 luxurious rooms and suites in three distinct houses: the Main House, Mary Porter House, and Carriage House. Each location features elegant design with antique furnishings, fireplaces, marble baths, and original, museum-caliber artwork.

“The Vermont Summer Festival has been a special part of summers in Manchester for many years,” said Sean Burpee, General Manager of The Reluctant Panther. “Historically, it has been a pleasure for The Reluctant Panther to partner with the event, and we are very excited to be back in the fold as a lodging partner for the upcoming season.

“The Vermont Summer Festival is great for the local area and brings a lot of returning and new faces to town,” continued Burpee. “As a smaller inn and restaurant, our style is focused on luxury in a garden setting. We love being a part of the Vermont Summer Festival and hope we can help to ensure that the event returns each year.”

In addition to accommodations, The Reluctant Panther Restaurant features contemporary American cuisine in a relaxed and elegantly upscale atmosphere. The menu includes locally-sourced products and an award-winning wine list.

Now entering its 24th year, the Vermont Summer Festival encourages competitors and their families to enjoy the accommodations, as well as dining, outdoor activities, and ever-popular shopping, offered in the Manchester region.

The official Vermont Summer Festival lodging partners for 2017 are:

The Aerie Inn of Vermont - (802) 362-1208
Barnstead Inn - (800) 331-1619
Barrows House - (802) 867-4455
Bromley View Inn - (802) 297-1459
The Dorset Inn - (802) 867-5500
The Equinox Resort - (877) 854-7625
Four Winds Country Motel - (802) 362-1105
Hill Farm Inn - (802) 375-2269
Inn at Ormsby Hill - (802) 362-1163
The INN at Willow Pond - (800) 533-3533
Kimpton Taconic - (800) 546-7866
Manchester View - (800) 548-4141
Marbledge Motel - (802) 362-1418
Olympia Lodge - (802) 362-1700
Palmer House - (802) 362-3600
Reluctant Panther Inn - (800) 822-2331

The Vermont Summer Festival is New England’s largest hunter/jumper competition and the richest sporting event based on purse in the state of Vermont with over $750,000 in prize money. The event is also a proud member of the Show Jumping Hall of Fame, the Marshall & Sterling League, and the North American League (NAL).

For more information on the Vermont Summer Festival, please e-mail or visit www.vt-summerfestival.com.