Historic Inn at Crystal Lake Eaton New Hampshire

In 1884 Nathaniel G. Palmer built his spacious home around the site of a smaller home believed to be the residence of his father. His unique, Greek-Revival home, overlooking Crystal Lake and Eaton's famous Little White Church, was documented in the North Country Council's Historic Buildings Inventory. Nathaniel soon began taking in travelers, as well as the many visitors that came to spend their summers enjoying the mountains and lakes and his house became known as The Palmer House. After Nathaniel's death in 1899, his wife, Mary, continued to take in guests and their son, Frank continued this until the 1940's. In the late 1940's, The Palmer House was purchased by the Buckelew family who started Camp Star Acres. It was later turned into a co-ed boarding school and was incorporated as The Palmer House School in 1961. The school closed in 1974. In 1976 the original building was purchased by Frank and Mary Gospodarek who converted it back to an inn and called it The Palmer House Inn. In 1986, the inn once again changed hands and was purchased by Walter and Jacqueline Spink, who renamed it the Inn at Crystal Lake. There was one more set of owners, Richard and Janice Octeau, before the current innkeepers took over.

Your hosts, Bobby Barker and Tim Ostendorf, have owned the inn since July of 2001 and are extremely honored to be continuing the tradition started by Nathaniel Palmer in 1884.

Some of the many features of the Inn at Crystal Lake include: Comfortable guest rooms - each with a private bath, cable TV/VCR , CD/radio (we have a large video and CD collection for you to borrow during your stay - Tim was a classical voice major in college, so the collection emphasizes opera and classical music), hair dryer and air conditioning. Hearty breakfasts are always included in our rates - whether here at the inn or at the nearby Eaton Village Store - your day is sure to be started off on the right foot. Our central location between the Lakes and White Mountains Regions of New Hampshire makes it very easy to enjoy all the New Hampshire has to offer: tax free shopping, winter and summer sports, historical and natural landmarks... all are close by. And you may not even have to leave Eaton if you don't want to. For example, here are just a few of the many local artisans and cottage industries:
Motomo Studio & Gallery - collection of fine art and gifts
Garden Dreams - products for the bath, body and soul
Becca Van Fleet Pottery - hand-thrown, functional pottery
Foss Mountain Farm - our local Alpaca farm
Griffin Clay Works - another potter specializing in mosaic & pressed tiles

And, of course, there is sparkling Crystal Lake to enjoy all year long.

And with recommendations from The Boston Globe, SKI Magazine, The Boston Herald, New Hampshire Chronicle, Yankee Magazine's Ultimate Guide to Autumn in New England, New Hampshire Magazine, New Hampshire Off the Beaten Path, New Hampshire - An Explorer's Guide and NHToDo Magazine... not to mention our own guests - well, you're almost guaranteed a great stay!

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