Hilltop retreat: An inn fit for royalty

The Castle Inn may not have a storied past of knights and dragons but it does offer a rare glimpse into the era. Built in 1932 as a private residence, the property has since been converted into a boutique inn with 13 suites. It sits atop a tree-covered hilltop – beckoning all from far and wide to visit the 13 acres of royal splendour located in Perth-Andover, New Brunswick.

History in the making

The Castle Inn was previously known as the Lewis Castle, in deference to Bill Lewis – the original owner of the property. The property was left to Lewis’ son upon his death but it came up for sale after the son passed away.

Peter Dunlap purchased the property in the early 2000’s. He subsequently undertook extensive renovations to create five guest suites, officially opening the inn to the public for the first time in 2005.

“There’s no doubt that the Castle continues to attract people,” says Karen Gee, a long-time employee of Castle Inn, who adds that the conversion took a few years to complete. “It’s a unique property.”

Two of the building’s five original guest suites are accessible through the curved staircase in the building’s signature turret – the Royal Suite and the Regency Suite.

In the late 2000’s, Dunlap built an addition to the existing structure, adding eight more rooms, as well as an indoor pool and a spa area, with a steam room, hot tub and sauna.

Each of the rooms are charming, quaint and well appointed – reflecting the legacy of the original residence.

Over the years, the Castle Inn attracted a strong following of guests. Located about 1 ½ hours north of Fredericton, the Inn serves as a popular stop for travellers using the Trans-Canada Highway or for those interested in accessing the nearby Trans-Canada Trail system.

Contributing to community

The Castle Inn operated under Dunlap’s ownership until 2022, when it was purchased by registered charity Elephant Thoughts.

Founded in 2002, Elephant Thoughts has a mandate to “support positive change through education and opportunity in both Canada and abroad”.

The organization’s web site speaks to offering educational programs in the classroom and beyond, and of becoming a force for sustainable change in education in Indigenous communities in Canada and around the world. Its programs are geared to youth (aged 15 to 30), who are facing barriers to education and employment with upward mobility.

The educational campus at the Castle Inn is already up and running, with the first cohorts of youth having completed either their six-week culinary or sustainable agriculture course this past summer. The agriculture students were able to put the ground’s gardens to good use by first planting and then harvesting the vegetables for the culinary students. 

A green building and construction course has already been added to the next round of educational offerings, while a hospitality course will soon follow.

Elephant Thoughts will build on this circular business model to make Castle Inn and its learning campus a true destination place, replete with the opportunity for regular guests, learning, retreats and conferences. The Inn itself will play a critical role in this endeavour.

Work is also well underway on designing and implementing the extensive landscaping and botanical gardens designed for the property, and to expand upon the existing kitchen garden. Renowned landscape designer Andreas Haun of Kingsbrae Horticultural Garden Inc. is overseeing this part of the revamp.

Also, in the works are plans to get the Castle Inn’s restaurant re-opened. It was closed during the pandemic but will soon represent an important role in mentoring the campus’ future culinary and hospitality students. The goal is to open the restaurant in time for this year’s holiday season.

By investing heavily in the property and its offerings, Elephant Thoughts will make it a true destination place. 

A new era beckons

The Castle Inn has undoubtedly established strong roots in the small community and a loyal following among its cliental. The new ownership looks to build on this success by broadening its appeal while, at the same time, paying homage to the Inn’s enchanting history.

- Eastern Hotelier Magazine