Town
Where to Stay in Bethlehem, NH
Bethlehem sits on a ridge at about 1,400 feet in the northern White Mountains. In the late 19th century it was a resort town for hay fever sufferers, who came for the clean air, and grand hotels lined Main Street. Some buildings from that era still stand. Maplewood Golf Resort, on Route 302 east of the village, is built around a 1914 Donald Ross golf course. The original Maplewood hotel opened in 1876 and burned in the 1960s; its 1889 Casino building is now the 20-room Inn at Maplewood, booked mainly for groups and golf packages, and the course is open to day visitors. Littleton is about 5 miles west, and Franconia Notch about 20 minutes south.
Why Stay in Bethlehem
- •Maplewood's 1914 Donald Ross course is open to individual golfers and day visitors as well as inn guests.
- •Main Street still has buildings from Bethlehem's hay fever resort era.
- •Littleton is about 5 miles west, Franconia Notch about 20 minutes south and Bretton Woods about 20 minutes east.
What Makes This Area Interesting
- •Franconia Notch State Park: about 20 minutes south; the Flume Gorge, Echo Lake, Profile Lake and the Cannon Mountain ski area.
- •Littleton: about 5 miles west, with a walkable Main Street of independent shops and restaurants.
- •The Frost Place: about 15 minutes south in Franconia, Robert Frost's former farmhouse, now a museum and poetry center with a short nature trail.
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Frequently Asked
Bethlehem was promoted as a refuge from hay fever: its elevation and winds kept ragweed pollen low compared with valley towns. Doctors prescribed summer stays, and grand hotels followed. The hay fever era lasted from the 1870s into the early 20th century, and some of the commercial buildings on Main Street date from it.
A golf resort built around a 1914 Donald Ross course. The original Maplewood hotel complex opened in 1876 and burned in the 1960s; its 1889 Casino building survives as the 20-room Inn at Maplewood, which books mainly groups (8 rooms minimum) and golf packages. The course is open to individual golfers.
About 20 minutes, via I-93 or via Route 142 through Franconia. The Flume Gorge, Echo Lake beach and the Cannon Mountain tramway are all in the notch, within reach for day trips from Bethlehem.