Topnotch Resort & Spa Historical Background

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Topnotch Resort and Spa has been a fixture in the community of Stowe, Vermont since 1959. Through its growth from a small, 22-room inn to the world-class, 127-unit resort and spa it is today, the flavor and essence of this family-owned, AAA Four Diamond resort have remained intact. New England charm, gracious service and magnificent mountain vistas combine to create a captivating resort destination and about 60 percent of Topnotch's guests return year after year to enjoy its intimate and friendly atmosphere.

When Topnotch opened its doors, it was the first resort of its kind in Stowe, with an intimate room selection, a 24-seat restaurant and small lounge. In the early 1970s, founders Jack Cummings and Arthur Kreizel recognized that the right mix of competitive services and amenities could transform Topnotch into a year-round country retreat with a loyal following of repeat guests. Thus, in 1977 they added guest rooms and expanded the resort's public spaces and meeting rooms. They also launched Topnotch Tennis Academy with indoor and outdoor courts, earning the resort national renown as one of the finest tennis destinations in the country.

In 1981, after further construction of a 24-room wing, additional meeting rooms and 18 townhouses, Topnotch began to emerge as the spacious and inviting retreat it is today.  Six years later, the resort added a 23,000 square foot, full-service spa and fitness center with 20 treatment rooms, men's and women's locker rooms with whirlpools, saunas and steam rooms, and state-of-the-art fitness studios and equipment. A Solarium with a 60-foot indoor pool, co-ed sauna and 15-foot hydro massage waterfall were also added. When work wrapped up in 1989, Topnotch Resort and Spa was born.

In 2001, the resort's rental program was created with the addition of The Overlook at Topnotch, 34 townhouses that combine the intimacy of ownership with the luxury of a world-class resort.
In 2005, Topnotch completed an ambitious, multi-million-dollar expansion of its spa, enlarging its space to an impressive 35,000 square feet. Today, The Spa at Topnotch is one of Vermont's largest and most comprehensive, with 30 treatment rooms offering a diverse menu of 120 exotic and rejuvenating treatments and services, many with custom signature formulas made from herbs and spices native to Vermont. A full-service beauty salon and fitness center have also been added.

In June 2006, Topnotch announced two exciting additions: its new signature restaurant, Norma’s, and a new outdoor lounge area. Named after the wife of resort founder Jack Cummings, Norma's is a patio-style restaurant set before alluring mountain views and beckoning with a striking atmosphere, an inviting open kitchen, and an innovative menu featuring chic country cuisine created from locally grown organic provisions.  Meanwhile, the alfresco lounge area offers a pair of sparkling new outdoor swimming pools – one heated to remain open year round – as well as a swirling whirlpool bath. Scattered around the area are 86 lounge chairs for guests to kick back and soak up the sun in summer and million dollar mountain views anytime.

In July 2007, the resort was host to the Fed Cup Semi-Final tie, a premier team competition in women’s tennis which pitted the United States against Russia in two days of singles and doubles matches. Although the U.S. women lost the tournament, Topnotch was privileged to have tennis superstars Venus Williams, Lisa Raymond, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Nadia Petrova play on the resort grounds.

The newly expanded spa along with the most recent renovations has brought Topnotch Resort and Spa to a whole new level of sophistication.  The resort is now poised to become not only one of the premier resorts not only in the Northeast U.S., but in the nation – and one that promises to go well beyond the expectations of today’s discerning guests.