About Us
Meet your Innkeeper
I'm Audry Burnett - the fourth innkeeper of the Whistling Swan Inn.
Running a bed and breakfast is a dream I've had for as long as I can remember. When the idea finally felt possible, I started looking. The moment I stepped out of my car and saw the Whistling Swan for the first time, it was like the dream I had been forming for as long as I could remember came to life in front of me - from the color to the wraparound porch.
Everything after that led me here.
Every morning I make breakfast from scratch - sourdough, seasonal parfaits, a savory and a sweet that change with what's available. When you arrive - whether I'm here to greet you or you're letting yourself in - everything is ready. Your room is waiting. You were expected."
This inn has been welcoming people since 1905. I intend to keep it that way.
History
in 1905, Daniel L. Best - Justice of he Peace of Stanhope - built this house for his wife Sarah. One hundred and twenty years later, it's still standing, and still welcoming guests from around the world.
He built this spacious, modern residence in Stanhope, New Jersey, on land he acquired from the Cottrell family, who had previously owned the property. Unfortunately, Judge Best passed away in 1911, and the home was later acquired by his son-in-law, William H. Sedgeman, who, along with his wife Viola, became prominent Stanhope socialites, hosting notable guests.
After Viola became a widow, the Salmon family purchased the grand structure in 1941, making it their home until 1968. Over the next two decades, the house saw several owners and unfortunately fell into disrepair and neglect. It remained unoccupied for several years, losing its original grandeur.
In 1986, Joe and Paula Williams lovingly purchased and undertook a meticulous restoration of the mansion, renaming it the Whistling Swan Inn. Today, under the care of its fourth innkeeper, Audry Burnett, the Inn continues to tenderly preserve this piece of New Jersey history, welcoming guests from around the globe to experience its timeless charm.
The Whistling Swan has outlasted a lot. It has been a private home, a social hall, a forgotten building, and a beloved inn. Under its fourth keeper, it is all of those things at once - a house with a long memory and a breakfast table that's set fresh every morning.
