Back to the Good Old Days at the Lynburke Lodge and Motel

Article and photos by Eric H.

There's nothing wrong with staying at a luxury hotel every once in a while, but sometimes a return to yesterday feels best by staying at a no frills, clean motel.

The Lynburke Motel, in Lyndonville, VT, reminds me of the sunny, friendly, reasonably-priced New England motels we used to stay as children like the Springs in Pittsfield, MA, Indian Head in North Woodstock, Vt., and Kimball Terrace in Northeast Harbor, Maine. The spacious, laundry-fresh rooms, a heated outdoor swimming pool, a living-room-like lobby with nice dim lighting, a gift shop with "country treasures and treats," modest but pleasant flowered landscaping, and very friendly owners and staff fills the Lynburke with traditional warmth and hospitality. There's also cable television and free wireless Internet.

The Lynburke also features a unique attraction: the Sanborn covered bridge, an antique, 117 long. structure built in 1867. It's certainly not fully restored, but can be walked across carefully. Crossing the bridge will afford pleasing country views of the Passumpsic River.

Perhaps the best aspect about the Lynburke is its location, close to attractions Lake Willoughby, Burke Mountain Ski Area, Lyndon State College and the vast beautiful mountain scenery of Vermont's Northeast Kingdom. Hiking and biking opportunities abound in this area. In addition, downtown Lyndonville is about a minute's drive and looks like something out of Mayberry RFD with its small town stores, restaurants and leisurely pace of life. The Lynburke is really a fine, basic foundation for your travels across this unspoiled, pristine region of Vermont. There's nothing stiff and snobby about this place, and that just suits our traditional motel souls just fine!

Lynburke Lodge and Motel
791 Main Street,
Lyndonville, VT
Tel. (802) 626-3346