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Actress Bette Davis' former mountain lodge... spacious, enchanting!

Photo gallery for Actress Bette Davis' former mountain lodge... spacious, enchanting!

Butternut front view
View from house_yard
Side house view
Side yard seating and dining area, adjacent to house and barbecue
Back yard with stone fireplace, charcoal grill, picnic table, hammock

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 8371.6 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Fireplace
  • Kitchen
  • Barbecue grill

Explore the area

Map
Sugar Hill, NH
  • Sugar Hill Sampler
    ‪6 min drive‬
  • Franconia Notch State Park
    ‪13 min drive‬
  • Cannon Mountain Ski Area
    ‪15 min drive‬
  • Whitefield, NH (HIE-Mount Washington Regional)
    ‪37 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Double Beds

Bedroom 3

2 Single Beds

3 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Jetted bathtub

Bathroom 3

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Actress Bette Davis' former mountain lodge... spacious, enchanting!

Enjoy cool summers, fall foliage, and winter sports in the White Mounatins of New Hampshire!

Butternut is fabulously located near a picture-perfect New England town amidst all the year-round pleasures that the White Mountains have to offer. But its irresistable magic is the character that perfectly reflects the famous woman who built it... beautiful, elegant, timeless.

Built by actress Bette Davis in 1940, Butternut retains the character of that grand era while accommodating family and friends in contemporary style. Peace and privacy prevail on the 22 acre property overlooking the White Mountains. It is located on a quiet birch-lined road three miles from the villages of Sugar Hill and Franconia, and five miles from Franconia Notch State Park, Echo and Profile Lakes, and Cannon Mountain ski area.

The house is comfortably furnished with country antiques, artworks, and charming accessories. It is fully equipped with kitchen accessories for the gourmet cook, satellite TV and electronics, high speed internet, washer/dryer, and all bed and bath linens. The attached garage with firewood accessible from inside is a delight in bad weather.
There is a standby generator to ensure that full house power is provided during local power outages.

The Sugar Hill / Franconia area is ideal for summer, fall, and winter vacations. Butternut is available throughout the year. Reserve your vacation today and enjoy life as an American icon once did!


New Hampshire M&R Tax License #063699

Property manager

Alyce Stick
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Outdoor space
Parking available
Mountain view

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Similar properties

View of the Butternut Cottage as you arrive.

Historic Butternut Cottage - First home of actress Bette Davis in Sugar Hill, NH

  • Hot tub
  • Kitchen
  • Washer
  • Dryer
9.8 out of 10, (52 reviews)
Historic Butternut Cottage - First home of actress Bette Davis in Sugar Hill, NH

House Rules

Check in after 2:00 PM
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Sugar Hill

Located in Sugar Hill, this holiday home is in the mountains and on a lake. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Franconia Notch State Park and White Mountain National Forest. New England Ski Museum and Chutters are also worth visiting. Enjoy the area's slopes with skiing, and don't miss out on the sledging.
Map
Sugar Hill, NH

What's nearby

  • Sugar Hill Sampler - 6 min drive - 3.1 km
  • Franconia Notch State Park - 13 min drive - 9.7 km
  • Cannon Mountain - 15 min drive - 14.9 km
  • Cannon Mountain Ski Area - 15 min drive - 11.4 km
  • Littleton Coin Company - 21 min drive - 17.8 km

Getting around

  • Whitefield, NH (HIE-Mount Washington Regional) - 37 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬15 min drive
  • ‪Starbucks - ‬15 min drive
  • ‪Taste The Thai & Sushi House - ‬15 min drive
  • ‪Burger King - ‬15 min drive
  • ‪Applebee's Grill + Bar - ‬15 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Actress Bette Davis' former mountain lodge... spacious, enchanting! pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Actress Bette Davis' former mountain lodge... spacious, enchanting!?

Check-in begins at 2:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Actress Bette Davis' former mountain lodge... spacious, enchanting!?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Actress Bette Davis' former mountain lodge... spacious, enchanting! located?

Situated on a lake, this holiday home is 1.6 mi (2.6 km) from Gale River and 1.9 mi (3 km) from Sugar Hill Sampler. Sunset Hill Golf Course and Sugar Hill Historical Museum are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 20 out of 24 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 4 out of 24 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 24 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 24 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 24 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Stephanie T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Warm and cozy

Fabulous stay! We loved all of the NH and Betty Davis themed touches. We had everything we needed for a fun stay. We were very much at home. Excellent proximity to some great skiing! Spacious home with lots of interesting nooks and crannies. Beautiful! Thank you!
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Carol W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

beyond the notch

unique,fun a true getaway. Thanks
Stayed 8 nights in Oct 2024

8/10 Good

Michael D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

New England Getaway

A unique home with lots of nooks and crannies to explore and gorgeous views from every window. In spite of the rain and cloudy weather, we enjoyed exploring the area and spending quiet time reading the memorabilia about Bette Davis. Our least favorite thing was the stuffed raccoon in the Silo!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Richard S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect Getaway

Wonderful place, handsomely maintained, richly atmospheric… most assuredly “not a dump”
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Georgana Z.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

An Antique Charmer in the Rural Mountains

This was a one of a kind stay. This rustic barn house stands as a testament to a bygone era. We love old houses and live in one ourselves so we felt right at home. If you love ultra minimal modern spaces then this would not be a right fit for you. We very much enjoyed all the rustic spaces and opening all the windows and taking in the breezes and beautiful natural scenery that surrounds the property. My husband and I took up permanent residence in the facing wing chairs next to the huge casement windows with our coffee in the morning and our New England IPA in the evening. We took a little ride to the Conway area and were so glad we booked Sugar Hill. Conway was so commercial and Sugar Hill is really quiet and relaxing with little country stores etc. Be sure to stop by Harman's Cheese (best Cheddar!) and try Polly's Pancakes for breakfast! Littleton is just 15 minutes away if you want a slice of a little city life while staying in the country. We loved sleeping with all the windows open and hearing nothing but the birds in the morning. It was truly a special experience that our family will remember fondly. My boys loved the silo observatory in the home. Bette Davis built a true shangri la in the White Mountains here and it was special to experience a little of what she loved.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Rebecca C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful Home and Property

Our stay at Butternut was perfect. The home is even more beautiful than it is in the pictures. It is well stocked with anything you could ever need and provided a central location for many hiking trails. We hope to visit again someday!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Cheryl D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful time!

We had a wonderful time and really enjoyed it! The property is beautiful and historic!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Julie K., Massachusetts

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Heavenly oasis!

This was our second year at Butternut Lodge and again, it was absolutely perfect. The history of the lodge, heavenly location and modern amenities made our second stay just as wonderful as our first. We even saw a baby bear! Thank you to the owners for sharing their beautiful place with us. We want to go back again next year!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Lesley C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Sugar Hill

A very lovely property. Fabulous fireplaces and amazing views. The bedrooms are quirky but the overall experience was great with skiing very close by.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

M Conan F., Washington, DC, USA

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

New England Christmas

A wonderful spot to enjoy the holidays by the fireplace with quintessential New England views.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

Georgianna S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

So amazing!

Words cannot express how amazing and beautiful this home and location was. I also want to add Alyce was just as beautiful. She always responded quickly with warmth and kindness if we had a question. We highly recommend her home if your looking to enjoy the outdoors, or simply relax, and destress, in front of the fireplace. We can't wait to go back!
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2021

8/10 Good

Dave L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great stay

Beautiful place, and convenient to many nice attractions. The house is old and full of a lot of interesting knick-knacks, which make cleaning difficult, I’m sure, but was reasonably clean. Extraordinarily peaceful and beautiful setting. We had a great time! Alyce was helpful above and beyond!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

8/10 Good

Kimber C., Mount Vernon Ohio

Liked: Cleanliness, location, listing accuracy

Gorgeous property

Beautiful setting, very relaxing
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Jeffrey W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Just stay here, you won't be disappointed.

The house is absolutely amazing. Great care has been done to insure that guests won't have to worry about anything. I was here for the Fourth of July with family, but I'm definitely going to want to stay here with friends for a ski weekend. The square footage is probably about 3,000 sq. ft. Plenty of space for people to socialize on the first floor with 2 separate areas, one defined as dining and the other as entertainment divided by a beautiful double sided fireplace. All of the cooking essentials are provided. Great kitchen. Make sure you read the binder that is near the North window sitting area that tells about the story and pictures of Bette Davis and the house. We had a great time and so will you. Thank you Alyce, Jeffrey.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Julie K., Massachusetts

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Butternut

It was a piece of heaven sprinkled with history staying at Butternut. Everything was perfect and better than what we even expected! It was the best vacation for our family. Thank you to the Sticks for sharing their beautiful home and one of Bette Davis' homes with us!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Ed G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Stay at Butternut

Wonderful home and beautiful setting. Alcyce was very responsive and helpful.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Louise M., Madison, WI, USA

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

a lovely stay in a fascinating place

We loved staying here. The view was beautiful, the house was very comfortable, and full of antiques and old prints. It was much more fun than staying in a cookie-cutter, generic house, and there were lots of books and trail guides about the region to help with exploration. The one minor thing is that one of the rooms with beds is a thoroughfare for the other bedrooms but it wasn't a big deal at all. The wifi worked well, the linens and towels were great, wonderful kitchen supplies in terms of pots, pans, dishes, utensils, and some oils and spices and so on. Having several bathrooms was helpful, too! We did a bunch of hiking in the region, enjoyed shopping down at the local grocery store, and would very gladly return to this beautiful place.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2021

10/10 Excellent

Nanette F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Astounding Views!

A charming and cozy Thanksgiving and perfect escape. The wood burning fireplace was amazing and windows to the outdoors offered amazing views. The Sugar Hill location was central to Littleton, Franconia, Bethlehem and Cannon Mountain. We would definitely love to return for a Summer visit.
Stayed 7 nights in Nov 2020

10/10 Excellent

Kurt M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Stunning property with history

We loved our stay at Butternut. The location is quintessentially New England and White Mountains. The view is breathtaking and the property private. The house is precious and is great for spending time with family and friends. Such incredible New Hampshire history throughout the house. The terraces are lovely for early morning and evening quiet moments or laughter with friends. We ate all our meals on the property, the dinning table was great for long dinners with family and friends and the fireplace was magnificent. We watched a New England summer shift to fall. Alyce was superb. She was always attentive to our questions, extremely gracious and gave us great suggestions. The area is terrific to explore with mountains, lakes, farmers markets, small New England towns, etc. We hope to return one day.
Stayed 15 nights in Sep 2020

10/10 Excellent

Miles H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful Escape

Our time at Butternut Lodge was amazing. It was exactly what my wife and I were hoping for and more. The home itself was homey and inviting. It is even better than the photos show it to be. We especially enjoyed relaxing outside both in the mornings, while enjoying our coffee, and the afternoons/sunset sipping on a glass of wine. Our host, Alyce, was accommodating and very easy to get responses from when needed. We will make every effort to come back to Butternut Lodge and we highly recommend staying here. Especially if you are looking for a quiet and beautiful spot to unwind.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2020

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing Stay

Our family had a wonderful weekend!! Highly recommend the location and home . The owners are true gems. We plan to rent It again in the future . Thank you, for an amazing weekend!!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2020

8/10 Good

Kathleen F.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Butternut NH Summer

Loved the location and proximity to Franconia Notch, beautiful gardens, gorgeous mountain & valley views, the absolute quiet, and the wonderful clean air. It was interesting living in Bette Davis’s house and learning about her. We’re certain we enticed more family and friends to come see us as we were staying in her former elegant home. Alyce was very pleasant to deal with at all times and immediately responsive when we were dealing with the aftermath of a storm microburst which took down several trees on the property. We really enjoyed her beautiful gardens.
Stayed 28 nights in Jul 2019

10/10 Excellent

Matt O.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Vacation in New Hampshire

The property was just as advertised. My family enjoyed it very much and the New Hampshire mountains are beautiful. The owner has extremely helpful and courteous.. Highly recommend!!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2019
This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Jodi W.

Wonderful Birthday Surprise!

As a birthday gift for my husband, I surprised him with a week at Butternut! (I told him the day before we left, and even his boss was in on it!) Alyce was quite a help in keeping it under wraps. The house itself is gorgeous, and the views even better! It was a great relaxing place to stay, even with a active 18 month old. (He had a grand time reorganizing the drawer of spices in the kitchen--hope they weren't alphabetized!) :) We enjoyed hot chocolate by the fireplace every night. My husband has already asked when we're going back this fall!

About the host

Hosted by Alyce Stick

Host profile image
Butternut was part of my childhood when my family stayed at a local inn whose owners had sold the property to Bette Davis in 1938 and later bought it back from her in 1958.

Why they chose this property

Butternut is fabulously located near a picture-perfect New England town amidst all the year-round pleasures that the White Mountains have to offer. But its irresistable magic is the character that perfectly reflects the famous woman who built beautiful, elegant, timeless.

What makes this property unique

You will find Butternut far more that a plain house; it has a warm ambience that will make you feel right at home from the moment you walk through the door. The open plan of the first floor is wonderful for sharing time with family and friends, while the private rooms, nooks and crannies provide perfect opportunities for personal time. The lovely grounds of lawns, gardens, meadow,and woodlands offer diverse landscapes to enjoy and a spectacular mountain view as a backdrop.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
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