People who walk about the 24-acre estate of Antrim 1844 do not find it difficult imagining a place torn from the pages of a Jane Austen novel. Fountains, lush gardens, outbuildings and birdsong recall the spirit of another place in time.
Once a working plantation, Antrim 1844 (1844 for the date it was built) enjoys as its backdrop the rolling Cactoctin Mountains of Central Maryland. Today, its owners, Dorothy and Richard Mollett, welcome guests to their completely restored mansion and estate buildings.
“[Antrim 1844] is a place to escape the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives, but still [only] an hour and a half from home … not too far, but far enough,” said Barbara Beverungen, manager of Carroll County Tourism. “I could stay on the property for the entire weekend, curled up with a good book, able to find good food and drink, and just enjoy talking with my husband.”
Like a self-contained village, Antrim 1844’s amenities offer something for the contemplative visitor as well as the athletic one. The mansion’s second-floor library contains a large selection of books, magazines and board games.
For the outdoor visitor, the Black Bottomed Swimming Pool is open through September. The property also boasts tennis courts with all-weather surfaces and a putting green.
Championship croquet on the premises comes with a friendly reminder from the innkeepers: “Management is not responsible for any bloodletting or mayhem carried out by guests within the confines of the croquet pitch.”
The aromas of fine dining intoxicate guests of Antrim 1844’s Smokehouse Restaurant. Here, Executive Chef Michael Gettier plans unique menus paired with the finest wines.
“The dining is incredible,” Beverungen continued. “My husband and I have enjoyed the six-course prix fixe dinner [where] they serve hors d’oeuvres on the veranda and throughout the mansion, then a seated dinner [in] a very romantic, lush quiet atmosphere.”
Even those who do not choose an overnight stay make it a point to celebrate at the restaurant.
Jim Johns and his wife, from Columbia, make the visit every Dec. 26 as part of their Christmas and anniversary celebration.
“We’ve dined in fine restaurants all over the world, and none of those meals could top Michael Gettier’s skills,” he said.
Those who do spend a night or two find a wide array of accommodations from which to choose. Nine rooms, decorated in high Victorian style, are located in the mansion, while an additional 31 are part of the outbuildings surrounding the property.
And for that romantic weekend, management suggests a room, dinner and maybe chocolate-covered strawberries with Champagne. Getaway anyone?
