Something Old, Something New…
By Scott Bushnell
The sport of foxhunting on horseback dates back to the Roman occupation of the British Isles. Most say the organized sport originated in the rural regions of England although Portugal and Italy also lay claim to using various breeds of dogs to seek out a myriad of predators, including wild boars, stag, and mink as well as foxes.
Close your eyes…here’s the scene. It’s Thanksgiving and the local foxhunt converges on the lawn of the historical St. James Church directly across from the Slades Inn. Imagine the wisps of fog lying in the low areas, the distant cry of the hounds as they chase the scent through the fields of the Manor. George Washington was a known participant in the sport and legend has it Congress would adjourn their early morning session with the ‘music’ of the hounds, jump on their horses to join the hunt.
But this is not England; this is the hunt country of Baltimore County, which borders the northern edge of the Charm City and the Pennsylvania line to the north. Rising out of the rolling hills, like a seasoned field hunter leaping a fenceline, is a new inn, one steeped in old legends and history but as modern as tomorrow.
The Slade’s Inn is the new inn in town…er, I mean…in the bucolic farmlands of the Hunt Country. On 29 acres of this rolling pastoral setting surrounded by the 10,000 acres of “My Lady’s Manor”, the gift of Charles Calvert, the third Lord Baltimore to his lady, Margaret, in 1713, the inn is the fulfillment of the dreams of hosts Philip Tagliaferri and Nancy Wallis. After renovation of the old farmhouse built on the ruins of Slade’s Tavern, the gathering watering hole for colonial locals and horsemen, including Washington, the inn opened its doors in April of this year.
The inn boasts ten of the most opulent and beautifully decorated guest rooms and baths as you will find in any of the 13 original colonies. Each has a fireplace and built in jetted tub. Black marble-lined shower spas, themed décor and bold colors like those of late fall pumpkins and early spring daffodils bring the feelings of the wide open spaces into each room to complement the fresh flowers.
The inn also provides the atmosphere and formal appeal to another kind of ‘something old, something new’ as brides seeking the elegance of silver, stained glass, and inlaid hardwood floors pleasure in the casual elegance of lace tablecloths and beveled crystal chandeliers on their special day.
And those breakfasts! Again, close your eyes and imagine the smells of cranberry-pear clafouti and cinnamon French toast stuffed with apricot-cheese, as you sit in a breakfast nook, gazing across the fields into the woods to catch a glimpse of the sly fox hiding there.
Philip and Nancy offer boarding of traveler’s horses as guests are passing through or as they visit The Maryland Hunt Cup, held annually since the first race of 1894 on the infield of Pimlico, or the Elkridge Harford Hunt Club Point to Point races held from September through April. The Maryland Polo Club matches, held from May to September, are attended by equestrian enthusiasts and spectators alike. The rolling hills of The Manor, biking trails of the Gunpowder State Park and soft adventure thrills of hot air ballooning, as well as shopping Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, offer something for everyone.
Whether to experience the wonders of the regional history and lore, or sipping champagne in your whirlpool tub to finish that novel you’ve started, the Slade’s Inn returns to its history of offering the timeless pleasures of self-indulgence.
The Maryland Hunt Cup http://www.marylandsteeplechasing.com
Elkridge Harford Hunt Club http://www.ehhounds.com/
Maryland Polo Club http://www.us-polo.org/clubs/maryland.htm
Slade’s Inn http://www.sladesinn.com |