May 6, 2025

Dream stay: Winvian Resort

Luxurious Retreat Offers Timeless Elegance, Hospitality

By Andrea Valluzzo

Nestled into 113 acres bordering woodlands, lakes, and meadows in Morris, Winvian is anything but a bustling resort. The path to serenity literally begins at the gate, where guests are buzzed in. Outside cares fall away on the drive through the hotel’s property.

Past an allée of mature King Maples is the Condé Nast Traveler award-winning spa. Soothing music fills the air, setting the tone as co-manager Lauren Beecher bids arrivals to change into fluffy terry robes and sandals. 

A popular service is the 90-minute Le Grand Classique facial, which begins with lying on a heated bed under a blanket and breathing in botanicals, to promote relaxation. Beecher works her magic with exfoliation, essential oils, and steam hydration, finishing clients off with a hot towel under the neck and a massage.

Some guests follow their service with a visit to the sauna; others decamp to the relaxation lounge to sip tea while enjoying unspoiled views of the farm, courtesy of the tall picture windows.

Seeking post-spa libations, guests often gather in the tavern to sip a Smoked Paloma or a mocktail while awaiting dinner.

Executive chef Chris Eddy, who joined Winvian in 2006, employs a farm-to-fork approach to his seasonal menus, sourcing many ingredients from Winvian’s own organic gardens, greenhouses, apple and peach orchards, and root cellar. Not surprisingly, the four acres of gardens supply about 70% of the vegetables that Eddy uses. Under his direction, the restaurant delights patrons and accrues many accolades, including a Five Diamond rating from AAA. After leaving his native Vermont, Eddy cut his teeth working for renowned chefs Daniel Boulud and Alain Ducasse before joining the Winvian family. 

And family is at the heart of what makes Winvian a magical place to visit. Winvian’s proprietress, Maggie Smith, was a teenager in Waterbury when she first experienced Winvian, while dating the son of then-owners Winthrop and Vivian Smith. The couple bought what was a local doctor’s “gentleman farm” in 1948, creating its portmanteau name. 

After they passed, their family was determined to preserve the property and honor their legacy. “I just felt it was so important to keep it in the family if we possibly could,” she says.

Having already renovated an inn in Vermont before relocating to Connecticut, Smith was up to the challenge of turning Winvian into a destination getaway. Friends joked that she was insane, but she remained undaunted. She worked closely with a dozen-plus architects to add roads, fiber optics, and design 19 buildings on site, including 18 guest cottages. The cottages, which pay homage to Connecticut, delight and surprise guests with themes such as the Helicopter Cottage, which contains an actual Sikorsky helicopter.

“I still pinch myself that we built it and that people come to Winvian,” Smith says. She takes pride in a team that she considers her extended family. “Anybody can build buildings, but it really takes a dedicated team to deliver the heart and soul of what I think is Winvian.” —winvian.com