The buildings that comprise our historic inn are the product of over a century of adapting to the needs of the Swift and Stewart families who lived here from 1815 until 1981.The original portion of the Main House was built by Samuel Swift in 1814. Shortly after Judge Swift's death in 1875, the house was bought by Governor John W. Stewart. Stewart's political career included eight years in Congress and one term as Governor of Vermont. The house served as home base for the Stewart family, which consisted of Governor Stewart, his wife Emma Battell Stewart, and their children: Philip, Elga, and twins, Jessica and Robert. They lived in the house for only part of the year, using it as a base from which they traveled. In 1915, on the death of Governor Stewart, the house passed to his daughter, Jessica. After a romantic and brief first marriage, she married an older man, Charles M. Swift, grandson of the original owner of the house. After Mrs. Swift's passing in 1981 (at the age of 110), the building and its contents were auctioned off and the property was turned into a inn. Today, the Inn is owned and managed by Matthew Robinson and Serena Kim.

Middlebury is the quintessential small Vermont college town. Home to Middlebury College, an academically outstanding small New England college. Its campus overlooks the town, the Green Mountains, and the Adirondack Mountains. Its beautiful campus blends in with the beauty of Vermont and reflects the college’s commitment to the environment and Vermont. The academics are complemented by their powerhouse Division 3 NESCAC student athletes, and the incredible artistic and performing arts programs. The town of Middlebury also features a number of unique local shops. Danforth Pewter, Geiger, Beau Ties of Vermont, Sweet Cecily, and Middlebury Chocolates are just a few. Vermont is ranked #1 nationally for craft breweries per capita in America. The Vermont Brewers Association has 39 members and grows every year. Middlebury is home to not only Drop In and Otter Creek microbreweries, but also Woodchuck Hard Cider, Stonecutter Spirits, Appalachian Gap Distillery, and Lincoln Peak Vineyard. Our central Vermont location makes the Swift House Inn the best central base for traveling around the area to see sites like Fort Ticonderoga, Lake Champlain, and Shelburne Museum.