My boyfriend and I stayed at this Inn/Motel/Hotel Thanksgiving weekend to go shopping. We made our reservations late and they said they only had a smoking room or a cottage available.
-The price for both was very resonable, but since I am a non smoker I took the cottage, and left the smoking room for another couple who joined us (the woman smokes).
-Well, the cottage was VERY small, smaller than the motel smoking room my friends rented. The bed was unacceptably uncomfortable. On the first night my boyfriend and I didn't get to sleep until 4 a.m. due to the bed and also the heater that shuts on and off during the night (sounds like a tractor trailor driving by).
-The room was not clean, there were a few dead bugs on the floor and the pillow had brown stains on it (yuck) thank god I always bring my own bedding and pillows!!

On the good side, the view from the cottage was the Saco river and it was beautiful. We had our own BBQ that we used on the second night to make ourselves dinner. And, the people who work there are very friendly and offer great dining/entertainment tips. They have a decent continental breakfast w/home made muffins/cereal/coffee/tea. They also have daily cookie time from 3:30-6 and there is nothing like a warm baked chocolate chip cookie after a loooong day of x-mas shopping.

Honestly, for the price, I would go back. The entire weekend cost us only $150 in lodging (that is the rate for one night at surrounding hotels) I would request a room like my friends stayed in except non smoking.


TIP: The Red Fox, located in Jackson-about 1/2 miles past Story Land, has an unbelievable Sunday Jazz Brunch with live entertainment running until 1 p.m.

My friend ended up with bed bugs alll over his body! Apparently someone else who was staying there the same time had gotten them too! But my friend got such a bad reaction to it that he had to go to the doctor to get steroids and cream. Luckily Merrill Farm refunded his money and paid for the doctor's visit, but it was a nightmare! Plus the staff wasn't very friendly during the continental breakfast (muffins, cold coffee, juice, and bagels) especially with the electricity being out! The only plus is the location and building's character. The room decor however was so eerily outdated, it felt too creepy to sleep with the lights off.

I was a little disappointed when we arrived a saw the rooms. I realize that it costs money for upkeep but, I also know that with a little "TLC" things could be better. One of the rooms we were in needed a curtain on the bathroom window. The bathroom was small and looked like the bathtub hadn't been cleaned. The carpet in one room was separating at the seems and the room it self smelled a little musty. The other room wasn't too bad except for the fact that there was no shower liner on the rod which made for a mess with water geting on the floor and the sink wouldn't drain properly. The drain had to be pulled up by hand dfor the water to go down the drain. The bedspreads need to be updated and the bedding smelled of chlorine and was very rough. I also feel that the matresses could be changed, the ones in the room I was in made squeaky noises everytime someone moved, almost like a rubber mattress.Al in all I can't say for sure if we will stay ther again. If we do it willnot be in the carriage house rooms. Maybe the Inn rooms live up to there pictures these rooms didn't.

We have been to Merrill Farm a few times over the years in both winter and summer. We just recently spent a summer weekend in one of the cottages by the river. Perfect- private, quaint, comfy bed, plenty of pillows. You can cook out and eat on your porch or deck. Breakfast in the breakfast room is homey, cookie time in the afternoon is also a nice touch. The outdoor pool is heated. Everything is clean, well maintained. Great place to stay as a base for the White Mountains