In 2019, Travis and Azie Shelhorse first laid eyes on The Inn at Silver Maple Farm and fell in love with the verdant retreat. They recognized its potential as part of their portfolio of lifestyle lodging, many of which are located in the Hudson Valley. Shortly after founding their company {verdigreen} hotels, a brand that revives historic inns to feel intimate and current, the two had already developed an intuitive sense of which properties could prosper under their canon of revitalized accommodations.
Unlike typical hotel brands with homogeneous stylings, {verdigreen} hotels’ approach allows the community and history of each property to inform the redesign. Restoring a building but maintaining its original charm is the guiding principle for the brand’s now-nine properties. The Shelhorses wanted to create modern spaces that feel personal and comfortable but fit seamlessly into their surrounding landscape.
Silver Maple Farm in East Chatham is a scenic country inn and event venue that feels timeless. The property is situated where the lush Hudson Valley farmlands meet the beautiful Berkshire Mountain foothills. The interiors reflect the idyllic landscape, with pastoral colors and wide-plank wood floors. Established in 1996, the inn’s 11 French-inspired guest rooms have original post-and-beam details. While there is a clear shared ambiance, no two rooms are the same.
“The surprise of Silver Maple’s atmosphere is one of the most common reactions I hear from guests—the bucolic setting and inn’s design turns a stay into an escape,” explains Olga Kunakova, director of revenue for {verdigreen} hotels.
Celebrating at Silver Maple
Silver Maple specializes in elopements and intimate weddings with full-service offerings, from lodging to rehearsal dinners and bridal party brunches. The staff brings a deep understanding of the nuances required for a smooth weekend wedding. The innkeepers are locals, thus can offer tried and true recommendations for nearby seasonal attractions, like ski slopes or vineyards.
“Couples can live out romance novel-level weddings. A serene country retreat allows for unplugging and reconnecting in a meaningful way,” Kunakova says.
Couples can have their loved ones nearby, and stay in the charming historic converted two-story farmhouse, which has two bedrooms and sleeps four. Wedding guests can stay in the main house, whose 11 guest rooms accommodate 25. For recharging, the main house’s great room has a roaring wood-burning fireplace in the winter and large windows that overlook the sprawling property and rustic red barn.
Catering to both intimate gatherings and weddings, Silver Maple offers three wedding packages based on the size of a guest list: an elopement package for two-12 guests, a semi-private package for 13-25 guests, and a custom private package for up to 99 guests. Each package includes items like a bridal bouquet, a two-night stay in the farmhouse, hot breakfasts made with local ingredients, like blueberry buttermilk pancakes, and welcome champagne toasts.
Couples can host their wedding in any season they choose and enjoy a beautiful brackdrop—from a snowy winter landscape to the flaming autumnal colors of fall foliage to the electric greenery of springtime or the liquid sunlight of a long summer evening.
Kunakova explains that at The Inn at Silver Maple, the grounds and design induce tranquility, which she says, “makes for charming and connected weddings.”
The spacious post-and-beam inn creates an aura of timelessness as guests enjoy all that a country get-away is meant to be.
