Pecco and Gail Beaufays marked 10 years as owners of the Highland Lake Inn in May. To celebrate, an Open House is planned this summer.
The following is an interview by Myra Mayman with Pecco Beaufays, Co-Proprietor of the Highland Lake Inn, edited by Gail Beaufays, Co-Proprietor.
MM: You’re celebrating the 10th anniversary of owning the Highland Lake Inn in Andover this spring. How did you decide to come to Andover and run the Inn?
PB: Before closing and taking over ownership and operation of the Highland Lake Inn on May 17, 2006, we lived for about 20 years in the village of Bedford, New York. During a college visit in Saratoga Springs, New York, for our youngest son, we became intrigued by the idea of buying a bed-and-breakfast inn (B&B).
Gail finally agreed to let me realize my whim, and I began to look into available B&Bs in New England. We also asked our college-aged sons how we could draw them back home after college, and they said we would need to have a big house near a recreation area, preferably on a lake with a ski mountain so they could invite their friends.
I must have researched and visited about 40 inns from western New York to coastal Maine, and then this particular spot in New Hampshire came up on the Internet. I said to Gail, “Tell me about this state between Vermont and Maine … I have no idea about it!”
I drove up here and crossed over that little wooden bridge on Maple Street, and I saw this wonderful spot and fell in love with it! When I walked through the historic 1767 building, I saw that it had been completely rebuilt from the inside out.
When Gail came up with me another time, she wasn’t thrilled with the main floor’s layout, since it appeared so long, narrow, and dark. The second time we drove up to see it in the summer sunshine, the house and the crystal-clear lake were alluring.
A fellow hotelier, a general manager of the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City, helped us assess the inn’s feasibility from a business angle, and he advised us against this venture; but the lake and environment were so appealing! Against his advice, we decided to invest here because of the charm of this quintessential New England village.
I kept thinking about Maple Street, the wooden bridge, and the lake. I felt an inexplicable connection to this place. I don’t know why; maybe it’s the resident ghost….
MM: Have you been surprised, or have things been different from what you expected, either positive or negative?
PB: The biggest surprise was the connection to Proctor Academy, which had not been on our business radar screen. Life in a village along with Proctor Academy definitely adds vitality to the village, and our involvement with Proctor has been rewarding for us on many different levels, from a welcome threshold for prospective families, current students, alumni, and the school’s trustees, guests, and Gordon Conference attendees.
In particular, we have found Proctor parents to be very engaging people who really care about their children’s welfare. We are grateful for the friendships we have developed over 10 years.
The other surprise about East Andover happened my first evening in Andover – my introduction to the Northern Rail Trail! From that initial entree grew a rich friendship with our Maple Street neighbors Alex Bernhard and Myra Mayman. And how could you go wrong with neighbors like Peter Zak and Mary Lloyd-Evans?
I didn’t expect such openness and friendliness towards us strange folks from metropolitan New York! We have been truly thankful for the support of friends from the community, to mention a few more: Charlie [Darling], Marj Roy and our town administration who support another passion of mine, the New Hampshire Special Olympics.
Also, in our first days here we met Tiny [John Thompson] and his family, who have been supportive of our undertaking from the beginning. There are many friends and stories to relate.
MM: You grew up in a very cosmopolitan environment, in Vienna, Austria, and have worked at high-end hotels in Europe and in the US, and had run a restaurant and catering services for the German mission to the United Nations in New York City. How does running a 10-room inn in a small New Hampshire town compare with those highly urban and high-pressure experiences?
PB: Well, finally that craziness is over. I don’t need to buy any hotels any more. I’m done with the politics [of big business].
MM: Has Andover and/or your business changed over the past 10 years?
PB: Yes. I think Andover has changed. To me, Andover was a quiet and shy town, but over the last 10 years new ideas and inspirations have come alive here with people like Larry and Susan Chase and Vicky Mishcon. Today, you have an Andover energy group, an Andover community association, the Andover coffeehouse. This town is more vital, and residents have come together by applying knowledge and experience gained elsewhere. Diverse community-based projects make Andover a team of residents rather than just individual residents. That’s what I enjoy about this town.
On the inn’s business side, our inn is always a work in progress! We have decorated our homestead with family and acquired “antique” furnishings and paintings, with quality amenities to create a gemutlich [pleasant and cheerful] environment for our guests, family, and friends. We provide the best linens available in the hotel business, and we focus on locally sourced products.
Also, this past year we invested in a needed restoration project of the inn’s 150-year-old barn. It serves as a stunning event space, enhancing the inn’s features and subsequent business plans. In addition to the 10 guest rooms, the Barn provides a large event venue with ample space on the flat land for tents. Hopefully, its use can benefit the village of Andover and bring more people here to enjoy its assets.
MM: What would you like to see in the future, at the inn and in Andover?
PB: We hope the inn will continue to serve Andover residents and their guests! Along with high quality local suppliers such as the newly-opened Tarte Café and Bakery, local caterers, and event planners, we expect to coordinate a variety of service and marketed events to benefit local people.
In the past Highland Lake Inn had not been advertised much; however, during the years of my ownership I have worked to establish memberships in various travel and hospitality organizations as well as the Lakes Region Tourism Association to introduce and advertise our presence in Andover nationally and worldwide.
MM: How are you planning to celebrate your 10th anniversary?
PB: We are planning an Open House during the summer, date to be determined .
MM: Let’s party!