One of my favorite things about talking with RB is how he casually shares pieces of Fearrington’s history—stories that remind me just how special this place truly is. Recently he told me the story of how The Fearrington House Inn came into existence, and I thought you’d enjoy hearing it.
Before the Inn was ever imagined, RB and Jenny loved traveling throughout Europe and the U.S. On a visit to The Point in Saranac Lake, NY, they noticed it had become part of Relais & Châteaux. At that time, the Fitches had just opened The Fearrington House Restaurant in the old farmhouse, and the idea of being included in a guide recognized around the world was thrilling. They applied, and RB even traveled to Paris to meet the association’s president—only to be told that Relais was not accepting stand-alone restaurants. In classic RB fashion, he simply said: “Well then… let’s build an Inn.”
RB and Jenny took architect Jon Condoret and landscape designer Dan Sears to the U.K., staying at several Relais & Châteaux properties—Gravetye Manor among them. Each evening, they would unroll the Inn’s plans and talk through what they loved from each property: layout, comfort, materials, and the quiet charm of country-house hospitality.
Jenny played a pivotal role in shaping the Inn’s look and feel. She kept a dedicated binder for each individually decorated room with paint chips, fabric swatches, furniture selections, and art notes. When they committed to building the Inn, she and RB imported containers filled with antique pine furniture, artwork, flooring, and architectural pieces from England. Her influence is also felt in the surrounding gardens, which she designed with the same thoughtful attention.
Once the Inn was complete, RB and Jenny reapplied to Relais & Châteaux— and in 1988, they were accepted. More than 38 years later, we remain proud members of this extraordinary global family.
And that is the story of how the Fearrington House Inn came to be: inspired abroad, imagined at home, and brought to life through RB’s vision and Jenny’s impeccable design sensibilities—a perfect blend that continues to welcome guests with warmth and intention.
