When we bought Grasshopper Hill, we discovered an old, abandoned sugarhouse where maple syrup was made. It was built, we were told, in 1912. It had not been used since the 1940s and was deteriorating. In this condition it would not stand much longer and finally be lost like so many other farm buildings in Vermont. Still, we could appreciate the weathered siding, the sturdy hand-hewn beams and the sliding front door with its rusted hardware. The sap pans, the arch that contained the wood fire and other maple sugaring artifacts were there despite not being used for over 50 years. We believed with much hard work and imagination, we could transform the sugarhouse into a unique experience for our guests.

The Sugarhouse at Grasshopper Hill is located in the historic Blood Brook Valley in East Central Vermont. The valley was named after Elijah Blood who settled in the valley in 1779. Since then, cattle, sheep and farm produce have been raised here along with the production of maple syrup. Little has changed. There still are cattle and sheep that graze in the valley, scenic country roads, the remnants of the oldest sawmill in Vermont, homes that date from the 1700s and 1800s and unimaginable beauty and quietness.