About Seesaw's
“We strive for Seesaw’s Lodge to continue to be a place where individuals, couples and families gather to appreciate the beauty of Southern Vermont throughout the seasons and return year after to year to establish longstanding traditions.“
– Seesaw’s Team
The Prins family had been looking at various inns for a couple of years when the Seesaw’s opportunity presented itself right in their back yard. The Eastmans and DiDomenicos, two families with ties to Peru and a long history as patrons of Seesaw’s, had a desire to help reinvent Johnny Seesaw’s and bring it back to life. There was a common shared vision to preserve the original Seesaw’s and its history, give back to the community that has nurtured Seesaw’s since the 1920’s, and build a business that will thrive for years to come. The three families joined together to create Seesaw’s Lodge, undergoing a 3-year renovation and reopening in 2018.
Is all started with a Spark.
1761
Originally called Brumley, the town is chartered by the Royal Governor of New Hampshire Benning Wentworth.
1804
The town is renamed "Peru" after the gold-rich South American country. The first sawmill is built in the area. Logging becomes the dominant industry for more than a century.
1805
Benjamin Barnard Jr. buys the land where Seesaw's stands today for $400, building a small log house and a barn that reportedly becam a tavern.
1924
After passing through a series of hands, the land is sold to Russian immigrant Ivan Sesow and his wife Vinnie. They built the Wonder View Log Pavilion, a roadside dancehall.
1931
As the Great Depression deepens, Sesow and his wife take out multiple loans to keep the Wonder View afloat. Contrary to local legend, Sesow doesn't lose the property in a poker game, but defaults on a loan.
1932
The federal government establishes the Green Mountain National Forest, laying the groundwork for the local ski industry to thrive.
1933
The Civilian Conservation Corps constructs the first downhill trail on Bromley Mountain.
1938
At the encouragement of his mother, avid skier Lew deSchweinitz along with his broher-in-law Bill Parrish buy the neglected property and turns it into a ski lodge. They open on December 26th and are fully booked within days.
1942
The Parrishes establish the High Mountain Farm on the inn property, enabling Johnny Seesaw's to stay open and attract tourists to the areas on lean times.
1974
The deSchweinitzes retire from the business, while the Parrishes help transition the property to its new owners who fail to attract new guests, and the operation struggles.
1980
Gary Okun and his wife Nancy buy the property and become great stewards of Seesaw's in the modern era, operating seven days per week, always bustling with locals and out-of-towners.
2015
Ryan and Kim Prins see an opportunity to reimagine Seesaw's and embark, with partners, on a three year plan to rebuild the property ensuring the Seesaw's legacy will continue for generations to come.
2018
The newly restored and thoughtfully reimagined Seesaw's Lodge and Johnny Seesaw's open their doors, welcoming back old friends and inviting new ones to celebrate all that Vermont has to offer.
