The Mulburn inn
At bethlehem
Established 1908
About the Inn – Historic charm & Modern amenities distinguish the inn at bethlehem
Originally a private residence known as The Ivie Estate, the Inn was built in 1908 by noted architect-builder Sylvanus D. Morgan, who designed and built the famed Mount Washington Hotel in nearby Bretton Woods, as well as a number of other elegant homes in the Bethlehem area. In 1913, the east and west wings were added, along with additional bedrooms on the second floor.
The Ivie Estate was among the many summer cottages built in Bethlehem during the era of the grand hotels and the burgeoning tourism industry in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The community boasted dozens of grand hotels, summer cottages like The Ivie Estate, and various other lodging facilities that attracted summer visitors who arrived by train from the cities to enjoy the scenic views, sparkling mountain air, wholesome food, leisurely pursuits like lawn tennis and croquet, and dressing for dinner.
Mrs. Ivie was heir to the Woolworth fortune, and the estate, better known locally as the Woolworth cottage, was the Ivie family’s summer residence for many years. During the Depression, the house was renovated along with many other local residences, keeping numerous Bethlehem residents employed throughout those lean years.
Cary Grant and Barbara Hutton (who was a Woolworth) spent their honeymoon at the Ivie cottage. Other notable guests included the Rockefellers, Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe, and inventor Thomas Edison.
Designed in the English Tudor style of architecture, the former summer cottage sits on three acres and remained a private residence during the Ivie years, before its transition to a hospitality venue, first as the Mulburn Inn and since 2022 as The Mulburn Inn at Bethlehem.
The Inn retains many of its original features, including Tiffany stained-glass windows; curved interior walls; butler call buttons in several rooms that, when pressed, raise a flag in the Butler Box in the kitchen; Art Deco light fixtures, which are still operational; tiled fireplaces; wrap-around porches; and the much-admired 1924 Edison Company Hot Point electric stove, a gift to the Ivie family from Thomas Edison.
The interior woodwork is a stunning combination of birds-eye maple, mahogany, oak, and ash, all original to the Inn.
Modern conveniences
The delightful original features found throughout the Inn are complemented by the modern amenities today’s guests appreciate: air conditioning, Wi-Fi, crisp linens in the seven guest suites with private baths, comfy couches and chairs and a big screen TV in the sitting room, a spacious dining room with wrap-around windows, and an expansive living room with seating areas for conversation, enjoying a glass of wine or a sing-along around the piano.
The immaculately landscaped property has on-site parking, a large flat lawn area perfect for a celebratory tent, and a fire pit with seating.
Located a few short blocks from Main Street’s theatre and arts district, downtown Bethlehem includes eclectic shopping, restaurants, a summer theatre featuring movies and Grammy Award-winning performers, an art gallery and a brewery. The Inn is conveniently situated close to two in-town, 18-hole Donald Ross-designed golf courses and is just minutes away from regional shopping and attractions, including the numerous hiking trails and ski areas for which the White Mountains are famous.