Boston Common - Niche Media - A side of Boston that's anything but common.
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photography courtesy of Winvian resort the logs himself. As I pushed open the heavy tim- ber door, the sweet aroma of burning wood wafted over me. The sight of the room was no less stirring. Five hulking tree trunks break through the hardwood f loor, a rich leather sofa circles a handsome stone hearth, and the plush king-size bed inspires not just sleep but hibernation. The history of these grounds is almost as intriguing as the cottages themselves. The year the first shot was fired in the Revolutionary War, Dr. Seth Bird built his home in this bucolic setting. One hundred seventy-three years later, Winthrop Smith and his wife, Vivian, bought Dr. Bird's estate. So it was that Winvian got its name— "Win" for Winthrop, "vian" for Vivian. When her husband passed away, Vivian married Captain Charles McVay, who became famous when his USS Indianapolis was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine in 1945. He survived, and he lived the rest of his days here on this estate. Winvian's most recent iteration came by way of Win Smith and his wife, Maggie, who is now the proprietor of the resort, and the family continues to champion the ideals of imaginative luxury. Whether you're dining on a delectable Berkshire pork loin served with beluga lentils, kale, and mustard sauce at its five-star farm-to- table restaurant, or receiving a restorative facial and hot-stone massage at its spa, or simply holing up in one of its delightful cottages, Winvian takes the weekend getaway far beyond a short drive from Boston. Winvian, 155 Alain White Road, Morris, CT, 860-567-9600; winvian.com BC Cottage Industry Winvian ResoRt Cottages reinvent the luxury retreat with the help of heliCopters and tree houses, a tank away from boston. by robert cocuzzo Two and a half hours from Boston, off a wooded stretch of Connecticut farmland, a simple set of gates gives way to 113 acres of bliss. Since 2006, Winvian Resort in Litchfield Hills has won wide acclaim for its five-star restaurant and luxury spa, but even more notably for 18 extravagantly designed cottages that have rein- vented the romantic retreat. In the realm of luxury resorts, where moving the needle of discerning guests has become increasingly difficult, Winvian's cottages are, quite literally, out of this world. Each cottage transports its guests to an enchanting place crafted in the imagina- tion of one of 15 architects. There's a hobbit's home straight out of The Lord of the Rings and a tree house fit for the Swiss Family Robinson. For the adventurous, there's the Helicopter cottage, complete with a fully restored 1968 Sikorsky Sea K ing aircraft inside, along with a lounge and wet bar. There's the quiet Library, the tranquil Artist, and the regal Connecticut Yankee. From one cottage to the next, Winvian morphs kaleidoscopically, appealing to seemingly every possible taste and imagination. Given my penchant for the outdoors, I selected Beaver Lodge for my stay. Located on the outskirts of the property, the cabin looks like Paul Bunyan chopped In the realm of luxury resorts, wInvIan's cottages are, quIte lIterally, out of thIs world. clockwise from top left: The Beaver Lodge; the Helicopter cottage; the interior of the restored Sikorsky Sea King aircraft that's inside the Helicopter cottage. 130 bostoncommon-magazine.com HAUTE PROPERTY Long Weekend