Our Story

15,000 years ago in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, the receding ice age formed Franconia Notch, a mountain pass, between the Kinsman and Franconia Mountain Ranges. It is a land of 5000 foot mountain peaks, waterfalls, pristine lakes, and rivers. Abundant wildlife including moose, bears, wild turkeys and 70 species of songbirds call Franconia Notch home.

The Old Man of the Mountain geological rock formation was discovered in 1805 followed by the Flume Gorge in 1808. Author Nathaniel Hawthorne published a story called "The Great Stone Face" in 1850 popularizing the area. Travelers came for the summer and stayed in grand hotels such as Profile House, Sunset Hill House and Pecketts on the Hill. Actress Bette Davis was a frequent guest at Pecketts on the Hill, and the Caramat now operating as the Sugar Hill Inn, before building her own dream home in Sugar Hill.

After the Profile House burned down and the Flume's operators failed to make it a commercial success, the area was threatened with destruction by logging interests. A nationwide campaign to save the area raised over $200,000. With matching funds from the State of New Hampshire, Franconia Notch State Park was formed in 1928.

The 6,692 acre Franconia Notch State Park and the even larger adjoining White Mountain National Forest preserves this land for all time and creates a four season destination to celebrate the great outdoors.

With their deep tradition of hospitality, the towns of Franconia, Sugar Hill and Easton on the north side of Franconia Notch have retained their rural small town New England feel. To quote Robert Frost, Franconia's most famous Poet, "it's... restful just to think about New Hampshire."  The air is always mountain fresh and the nightly stars are amazingly bright. Dramatic mountain views are the backdrop to white church steeples, stone walls and wildflowers, rolling farm land, general stores, scenic back roads, pristine rivers and maple sugaring.

In 1929 America's first ski school opened in Sugar Hill. Cannon Mountain opened the first racing trail in America in 1933. The mountain gained lift service in 1938 with the construction of the first aerial tramway in North America.  US Olympic skiers Bode Miller, Joan Hannah and Gordie Eaton grew up skiing at Cannon. Bretton Woods and Loon are also close by. To learn more about the area's rich skiing history, a visit to the New England Ski Museum is a must.

Franconia Notch is the perfect four season destination attracting families, international visitors and couples. Families and their children return for generations to experience the awesomeness of the White Mountains.

Early spring is all about maple syrup. Learn how maple syrup is made at the Rocks Estate and enjoy a maple themed dinner at a country inn, or restaurant.  Wildflowers spring early and are celebrated with festivals followed by the largest  one of all, the annual Lupine Festival.  June is famous for destination weddings and the start of family vacations.

In summer, discover waterfalls, swimming holes, covered bridges, scenic mountain peaks as you bike, hike, kayak or drive your way through the White Mountains.

Autumn is all about color as every shade of green, yellow, orange, red and even hot pink bring a palette of color to the "purple mountains majesty" from late September thru October. Pick pumpkins and apples, drive New Hampshire's scenic byways and sip warm cider by a roaring fire at a country inn.