WILTON — The back lawn of Wilson Lake Inn, in Wilton, was the setting for a festive Business After Hours, hosted by owners Tom Whalen, and Sue Atwood. The event was jointly coordinated by the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce, the River Valley Chamber, and the Jay, Livermore, and Livermore Chamber of Commerce.
While the forecast was for thunderstorms, and possible windy conditions, the weather held off, and the temperature was perfect for a late June evening. The Inn, which will be hosting a wedding on Saturday, had a large tent set up for that event, which accommodated the Chamber crowd, estimated at around 75. Food was provided by LaFleur’s Restaurant, in Jay.
In addition to their spacious lawn area, perfect for weddings, and other large events, the Inn borders beautiful Wilson Lake, which provides a place for guests and visitors to sit and watch watercraft, fish off the dock, or even take a swim, after a day of local sightseeing.
The former Whispering Pines Motel, originally built in the 1950s, has seen a number of upgrades and additions over the past 50 years. From the original 10 pine-paneled units, the facility now has 30 rooms, including an extended stay, two-bedroom suite that is more like an apartment, as well as other one-bedroom suites. Atwood, who in addition to her obvious people skills, also serves as gardener, landscaper, as well as resident decorator. She’s tastefully remodeled many of the rooms, providing travelers with personalized charm, and a uniqueness that one doesn’t find at chain motels, and hotels.
In order to change perceptions, and also to stay abreast of the growing sophistication of today’s travelers, as well as expectations, Atwood and Whalen recognized the need to rebrand their facility, and institute a new name. Last year, Atwood designed a new logo, launched a well-crafted website, and unveiled a new name. Whispering Pines Motel had become Wilson Lake Inn.
Thursday night’s business after hours provided guests the opportunity to visit, experience the amenities and hospitality of the Inn’s staff, as well as learn about a vibrant locally-owned business, committed to supporting their community.
FOWL, Friends of Wilson Lake, had their new cookbook on sale, with proceeds going towards their various efforts to preserve the pristine beauty of the lake. Members had baked several desserts from recipes in the cookbook, for guests to sample.
Tom Whalen was happy with how the event turned out.
“We wanted to host a Chamber event at some point,” said Whalen. “Sue and I decided that if we were going to do one, we wanted it to be during the summer, and this was a perfect evening for it.”
The Aug. 29 Business After Hours in Franklin County will be at the Wilton Blueberry Farm, 5-7 p.m. FMI about the Chamber, contact Lorna, at 778-4215.
The Wilson Lake Inn website is http://www.wilsonlakeinn.com/.
