Getting ready for you!

The 2012 Tyler Place New Additions, Improvements & Purchases List…with more to come. 

One of enduring ethos of the TP is this:  no skimping on summer fun.  And no skimping on fall, winter and spring projects either! Yes, it’s expensive (you can probably imagine the costs), but the outcome? Your family and ours get to enjoy a refreshed, revitalized Tyler Place each year—with its nostalgic flavor intact. 

Arbor at the Pool -  A shady grape vine arbor for hot summer days to supplement the Pool umbrellas--with grape vines a nostalgic nod to the original 1840s “Franklin House” Inn Porch.

Boats & Bikes TLC – new engine for the Mercury wakeboarding and waterski boat; new pontoon boat trailer for more accessibility; and always upgrades to our fleet of bikes.

Caching – TP Caching, our version of Geocaching includes 6 new GPS devices with caches planted for the younger kids to teens for a high-tech scavenger hunt that teaches navigational skills.

Decorating & Refurbishing – So many accommodations, public rooms and recreational spaces…so many “news”:  paint by the truck-load, lighting, couches, curtains, porch furniture, artwork by our favorite local artists, kitchen updates, etc.

Electrical – Some big projects here plus a whole new Inn fire alarm system.

Fans (Paddle) & A/C units & Ice, too  – Paddle fans throughout the place; many new or added air conditioners including a new combination AC/heater for the Sun Room; and a big new ice machine to keep up with the amazing amount guests use (very little at the Bar we assume!)

Gardening & Landscaping (and Hops!) – A 12 x 10 foot trellis for growing our own hops; new tree plantings near the pond and elsewhere—nearly 200 per year!  Inn window boxes, plantings, gardens and Claudia’s ever-growing list of gardening activities; a new array of garden tools for kids.

Housing additions for our Staff, Counselors & Family Housing & Dorms – Our live-in Staff and Counselors (nearly half of our 200 staff) and the Tyler/Hill/Otis family (we’ve lost count!) need living space, too, and that adds 20 buildings requiring maintenance and attention. 

Infants, Toddlers & Junior Midgets play and outdoor equipment added, including large Playhouse Playground Water Table with “Mermaid’s Fountain” and spigots;  2 more sand diggers; 5 additional double strollers & 5 large new wagons (with new Playhouse storage shed); books and bigger-still  bubble toys.

Juniors & Senior Midgets – a brand new Club House Playground Water Table to replace the ever-popular old one—this one with “Waterfall”, bowls, faucets, and other new features; new slide for the Pirate Ship;  more costumes and dress ups, books and play equipment.

Kiddie Pool & the Outdoor Pool – The outdoor Kiddie Pool was removed and replaced with a totally reconstructed, larger walk-in style children’s pool. The Outdoor Pool also saw a lot of work on its deck and coping, plus new poolside equipment.

Local Farm Partners – Chef David and Jeff T. have been creating menus with even more Vermont farm, orchard, berry, brewery and wine partners—with seed orders purchased and nurseries already starting your summer food and drink. 

Maintenance Department’s Big Ticket Equipment - new tractor, furnace and snow blowers to keep Dale and the year-round Maintenance Staff (11 in all plus local contractors) able to build, paint, excavate, etc. all winter long. Also, mega-mower for Pierre as 165 acres means a whole lot of lawns and grass to mow.

*Not Everything is on this list – be sure to check out the February newsletter featuring other news about additions and programming:  Chad & Adult and Family Afternoon Entertainment; Jeff T. and Chef David & Menus; Quint & the Waterfront; and Hector & the Bar.

Older Kids & Teens Centers at the Inn – The Seniors, Pre-Teens and Teens’ rooms all have additional equipment and games; wall hoops and dart boards and brand-new Foosball tables.

Pump House Pressure Tanks = Water -  The final two of the seven  pressure tanks that supply the TP with water were replaced with new fiberglass versions.  (The originals were metal; one rusted and blew sending the tank through the roof, adding still another “P”, as in Pump House Roof Repair.)

Quebec – promise yourselves that this time, you will remember passports for yourselves and children 16 and older (children under 16 need only a copy of their birth certificate).  More vineyards, cafes, bike routes, chocolatiers, fine arts and crafts than ever…and just minutes from the TP.

Rockets, Science & Art projects – Rockets for older kids to send off into the sky; fun, experimental projects for the younger kids from making all-natural sparkling grape water to home-made ice cream; new art projects include resin casting.

Server, Computers & New Phone System  -  While the TP isn’t exactly a haven of technology, Michelle and Gige and the office/reservations staff need to reach you.  New Intel server, computers, and a new phone system help…well, so some say!

Tennis Court in Cedar Meadow– The “hideaway court” (as some who like to play in privacy on one of our 6 tennis courts like to call it) has been completely reconstructed and resurfaced for all-weather play. 

Underground & Out-of-Sight - Various new waste water and septic systems.  Not only out-of-sight in terms of viewing, but cost: literally $$$$$$ “down the drain”!

Vermont – so much going on here, too, from the food and farm movement to art and craft shows, music and dance…and the record-setting, downstate Storm Irene recovery (that helped Quint & Julie Tyler and Chef Dennis re-open our Red Clover Inn in three weeks’ time last fall.)

Worm farming!  More “green” projects added for kids & teens from our own “worm farm” to building and launching their own “model” sailboat creations to Nature Dave’s “water and wilderness” activities. .

(E)Xteriors & Foundations - If we only had the square footage of all those buildings with their foundations (some dating to the early 1800s), porches, siding, shutters, roofs, doors, windows, chimneys, etc.  This year Maintenance took on more of these projects than ever.

Yachts – None…but that fleet of Hobies, canoes, kayaks, ski and wakeboarding boats, Pontoon boats, and paddleboats get renewed and added to each year.

Zillions (ok we’re over the top here) but surely thousands of purchases and renovations small and large, many emanating from your specific Questionnaire comments: massage tables and ping pong tables; dozens of glasses and plate settings; beds and blankets; ever-e-n-d-l-e-s-s towels and kitchen supplies; life jackets and car seats; handicap lift for the pools; life jackets, books, art and exercise equipment; tables and chairs; archery bows, fishing tackle and bath hooks; cribs and baby seats…you get the idea.  Zillions to do (repair, patch, renew, add, remodel, refurnish, etc., etc.) every year….just for 70 families each week!