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The George Brooks House Inn and Spa sits on
over seven acres of land and is located at the northwest end
of St. Michaels, just one-half mile north of the Chesapeake
Maritime Museum.
Designated a historic site by Talbot
County, the Gothic Revival Victorian house on Maryland's
Eastern Shore was built by George Brooks in 1908 to house the
11 children he and Mamie took in when his sister died that
year. The original part of the house dates back to the Civil
War period and was built by freed slaves for Captain Andrew C.
Barkman.
Restored and expanded in 2000 - 2001, the
George Brooks House now provides bed and breakfast lodging in
eight guest bedrooms with private baths along with a parlor,
garden room, dining room, and covered brick patio for guests.
There are also poolside villas with either a king or a queen
bed. The Inn received the prestigious "Heritage Award"
by the Talbot County Historical Society for the best historic
restoration in 2001. The inn also received the State of
Maryland "Preservation Award" in 2003.
The George Brooks House has "raised
the bar" for luxurious accommodations in St. Michaels --
and at a reasonable price. The hand-carved mahogany furniture,
art work, and stuffed furniture are truly exceptional. All of
the guest bedrooms are large -- over 13 by 15 feet, with the
King Jacuzzi rooms over 14 by 22 feet. Waverly bed comforters
and coordinated custom draperies with wood blinds and rich
color schemes provide a dramatic visual statement.
A full gourmet breakfast is served from
8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. each morning for the guests. Guests
can eat inside in either the garden room or formal dining room
or in warmer weather, out on the covered brick patio or by the
pool. Start with orange juice and fresh fruit (in season).
Followed by a hot entre like stuffed French toast, Belgian
Waffles or eggs with bacon or sausage. Please advise the
innkeeper if you have any dietary restrictions or special
requests.
For groups booking the entire Inn, your
hosts can provide full food service including formal dinner or
cookout at additional cost. The spa services include a full
body massage and facials by licensed professionals. |
After breakfast, many guests take the Inn's
new seven-speed bikes to tour St. Michaels or the waterfront
areas. The pool area provides plenty of space to relax and
enjoy a warm sunny day with teak tables and chairs, chaise
lounges, and benches. Or, you can sit in the pool and drift
around in the floating lounge chair, with active swimmers able
to swim laps. The ten-foot hot tub is heated to 102 degrees
and has eight whirlpool jets. On a clear night, you can turn
off the lights and lie back to enjoy the star-filled sky and
the Milky Way.
There is always something going on in St.
Michaels -- at the Chesapeake Maritime Museum, in town, or out
on the water. Many of the Inn's guests go for the two-hour
sail on the historic skipjack Rebecca T. Ruark with
the entertaining Captain Wade Murphy. Many guests also visit
nearby towns, including Oxford via the ferry from Bellevue, or
drive out to Tilghman Island or into Easton (the county seat). |