Our Team!
Committed to making Sugar Hill Inn the most welcoming and enjoyable place to stay in Northern New Hampshire!
Our Story
We are so happy to welcome you to the Sugar Hill Inn! Since taking over in December of 2021 we have had a nonstop adventure and absolutely wonderful experiences with our guests. Our family loves life “North of the Notch” and Sugar Hill is one of those northern New England gems that we feel blessed to be a part of.
Chris retired from a 20 year career as an independent school administrator in 2020. After 18 months of decompressing in the mountains of Colorado, it was time for the next adventure. Before getting involved in education, Chris had spent 10 happy years in the restaurant industry, working every position from server to restaurant manager. While it took a few months to chart a new course, the opportunity to take over the reins of a premier Inn and restaurant in the White Mountains of New Hampshire was a perfect fit!
In June of 2023, our company purchased Lisbon Village Pizza just down the road, thereby deepening our roots in the area and further committing ourselves to investing in the people in the area and strengthening the local economy. In the future, we look forward to finding more ways to invest in the Franconia Notch region and ensuring it remains a sought after destination for people from all over the country and the world.
Elin (11) and Leif (10) are embracing the outdoor life in the mountains. While they spend most of their time skiing, hiking, biking, and playing with friends, they are just starting to show signs of possible “inkeeper” activities so that I can retire at some point!!
Kierstin Lynne Newcombe (January 1984 – December 2023)
Tragically, we lost Kierstin in December of 2023. Her passing was unexpected and changed our family forever. Kierstin was not only a wife and a mother; she was a natural innkeeper and had a personality made for hospitality. If you ever met her at the Sugar Hill Inn, you know that she had a way of connecting with people and making them feel welcome. She never forgot a name or a face and we only hope to welcome future guests with the same spirit and genuine joy that she possessed.
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Culinary Team
The Sugar Hill Inn is proud to have an accomplished culinary team. We could not provide such service without our Chefs – Val, Steve and Dan. Our dynamic trio has worked extensively in the area at venues like the Horse and & Hound, the Adair, Sunset Hill House, The Mount Washington Hotel and just about everywhere in between!
Executive Chef, Val Fortin
Chef Val is back at the Sugar Hill Inn after a six year hiatus. What was old is new again! He brings creative fare to the restaurant, focusing on seasonal ingredients from local farms whenever possible. He is the recipient of the DiRoNA Award (Distinguished Restaurants of North America), has been featured on WMUR’s Cooks Corner & New Hampshire Magazine while competing in numerous American Culinary Federation competitions of which he has been a member since 1992.
Former Owner, Steve Allen (1952 -2020)
Originally from Caldwell, New Jersey Steve has many passions most of which consist of drinking espresso, shopping for wine, and traveling to places that also make wine. When he isn’t shopping for, or traveling to wine, he is watching a DVD about the wine making process. After a 9 day adventure across Kentucky to tour as many distilleries as possible Steve’s newest interest is bourbon.
He is a gourmet and a graduate of the French Culinary Institute in New York City. Steve is also a graduate of the University of Denver, William and Mary, and he holds a certificate in financial planning, and a computer programming certificate circa the Nixon administration.
Steve loves and is a true geek for business books. He has read every single book about hotel management on the shelf at Barnes & Nobles. In the 5th grade, Steve delivered a book report on Conrad Hilton and his future became a little bit clearer. Steve can tell you the complete history of the Ritz Carlton, the Four Seasons, Marriott, and Hilton.
In 2006, Steve purchased the Sugar Hill Inn even though it had holes in the walls, no air conditioning, and his family was slightly concerned. Moving from New Jersey to New Hampshire is no small change. It is his vision that is seen in the refurbished guest suites, public areas, and the restaurant. The Sugar Hill Inn is Steve’s slice of paradise even when that means shoveling snow in a blizzard or getting up at the crack of dawn to make fresh muffins.
Owner, Steve Allen, has written a book about his experiences at the Sugar Hill Inn and it is now available from Amazon and Barnes and Noble. This is a fun read for anyone who enjoys staying at Country Inns, Bed and Breakfasts or Boutique Hotels.
