According to Google, one of the most common questions people ask about the Hazelnut Inn is “are we open?” And the answer is a resounding yes! We opened our first suite this year and we have opened our second suite for bookings starting in June of 2025.

Suite Number 1: The North Star

The North Star Suite evokes the romance of the sea — of pirates and of magic. Staying here is like stepping into the pages of Treasure Island. You even sleep in the Captain’s quarters, guarded by twin mermaids.

Suite Number 2: The Under Hill

The Under Hill Suite will be open in June of 2025. It is literally under a hill and if Beatrix Potter had written The Hobbit then Bilbo “the rabbit” Baggins would have lived in someplace very much like the Under Hill.

Yes, the Hazelnut Inn is open!

We hope you will come for a visit and stay in one of our amazing suites.

Photo Credit: Michael Cox

Like many people, as a teen, I spent a lot of time with my friends. We’d watch movies at my house or I’d visit their homes to play games or listen to music.

And of course, I got to know many of my friends parents; I liked most of them and there were a few I admired, but I always felt that I had the best parents.

Other parents were kind, or intelligent, or passionate but it seemed to me that my parents had these qualities in just the right measure. And importantly (from my perspective) they were interested in me and my dreams.

30 years later I still feel that way. When Hailey and I first started talking about a little hotel that adds an aura of magic to a special occasion, they were right there dreaming with us.

This year my parents are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. And we were so pleased to have them stay at our magical little hotel.

Happy Anniversary to my favourite parents!

When I was a child, my mother had a rather extensive collection of books.

But she didn’t always have a library — or even a bookshelf. In fact, as a young woman, she would buy used books and sell them back to the secondhand bookstore once she’d read them. The difficulty however, was that she read so many books she began to lose track of what she had or hadn’t read. She found herself buying books, taking them home; reading the first few pages only to realize she had already read them.

So she started keeping her books and her collection began to grow.

Now, my mother read science fiction and fantasy novels almost exclusively (and does so to this day). And she is such a prolific reader that by the time I was old enough to read the spines on the shelves we had more speculative fiction than any bookstore I’ve ever visited.

My mother taught me the joy, and the value, of reading and her library has left an indelible mark on my life.

Photo by @thecasualceltic

“There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate’s loot on Treasure Island”

— Walt Disney

This year Hailey and I will celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary.

On our honeymoon, we were lucky enough to stay in a beautifully restored castle just outside Rome. We slept in a tiny tower room, explored the grounds, and drank tea on a rooftop balcony. It was an absolutely magical experience.

Over breakfast, Hailey broached the idea of building our own little castle hotel. I was intrigued and we spent the morning dreaming together; building imaginary castles.

My love and I are still dreaming together, but this weekend a little piece of that particularly crazy dream came true.

I’m looking forward to the next 10 years of dreaming.

Photo by @blushandflora featuring @thecasualceltic

We are still a few years away from finishing construction, but our plan is to open the North Star suite with the Under Hill and Copper Crown suites following close behind.

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According to local legend, the North Star was once the home of Ms. Temperance Longbottom. Best know as the captain of the privateer ship, Avellana (guests will sleep in the captain’s quarters), Ms. Longbottom once discovered pirates’ lair; filled with wonders and relics from every mythical corner of the world. After relieving these rogues of their ill gotten gain, she set off on a series of voyages; intent on returning the artifacts to their various homes. Sadly, Temperance never returned from these travels. As a result, the North Star and its attached private garden are filled with the remnants of the pirates’ trove — ancient statues and arcane paraphernalia. Temperance's ramshackle property is perfect for couples looking for a one-of-a-kind romantic hideaway.