The Truckles Take On The Tucker Hill Inn—

A Long-Held Dream Realized By Choice And Chance In Vermont

By Nancy K. Crevier

“Dreams and dedication are a powerful combination,” says William Longgood in Voices From the Earth.

It is almost as if he had former Newtowners Alison and Phillip Truckle in mind when he wrote those words. Following their dream of becoming pub owners one day, the original goal when they came to America from England in 1985, they now find themselves innkeepers at The Tucker Hill Inn, Waitsfield, Vt.

Serendipity may have had a hand in it. As young employees of Vicker’s Instruments based in London, England, their yearlong transfer to Boston in 1985 found them frequently visiting that very inn to take advantage of its proximity to Sugarbush and Mad River Glen ski areas. Who would have thought they would one day find themselves on the other side of the reception counter?

When IBM bought Vicker’s new semiconductor product, the Truckles (then Alison Lyon and Phillip Truckle) found themselves on an extended stay in the states — but not in New England. The company transferred them to California in 1987 (after a whirlwind wedding trip back to the old country), where Phill continued to work as head of sales and Alison in human resources.

When Vicker’s ordered them back to England, Alison played her card — her green one, that is, won in a lottery — and they stayed in the United States. Their children (Sarah, 15, and James, 12) were born in California. Alison and Phill continued their corporate lives, but always with an eye to returning to New England.

In 1998, the Truckles decided that they wanted to raise their children on the East Coast. Phill accepted a vice president’s position with Wentworth Labs of Brookfield and they settled into Newtown life.

Alison, a petite Englishwoman with endless energy and an infectious laugh, powered her recruiting business, ETT, by day, and bolstered Sarah and James’s swim and soccer teams by evening. Phill, the quiet one of this couple, spent many days traveling worldwide, giving him plenty of time to think about their future. By 2003, the technology industry was not as strong as it had been prior to September 11. He and Alison began to ponder their options.

Their English pub dream resurfaced, but a trip to England cemented their gut feelings that they wanted to educate Sarah and James in the United States. Determined to pursue their dream, they began to prime their children for an imminent move. They knew that however much they loved Newtown — the families with whom they’d bonded, the annual Christmas tree lighting on Ram Pasture — what they wanted in an inn needed to be year around, offering activities at least three out of the four seasons. They also required a separate living cottage, in order to maintain a family base outside of their work quarters. To their surprise, their searching led them to the Mad River Valley area of Vermont and their beloved Tucker Hill Inn. A ski trip to the inn shortly after their return to the East Coast had found it in sad condition, not that innkeeping was on their minds then. Now they found the Tucker Hill Inn had been partially refurbished and was ready for their unique touch.

“I truly believe,” says Alison, “you have to go with what your dreams are.” This time, they did.

In July 2004, after a crash course in innkeeping, the Truckles left behind Newtown and their corporate lives, and stepped back in time.

In Waitsfield, Vt., population 2,000, the Truckles have discovered a life that is more centered around basic values — a more down-to-earth style of living than Newtown offered.

“There’s less pressure on the kids here to ‘keep up,’” she says. While the move has been monumental for their family, they have begun to settle into their cottage, the running of the 18-room inn, and a more rustic lifestyle.

At the Tucker Hill Inn, Phill and Alison can put to use their skills managing people, as well as utilize their experiences learned on the consumer side. Alison had honed her talent for entertaining large numbers of people as corporate events facilitator for Compression Labs in California. This background has come in extremely handy in training staff and bringing the restaurant at Tucker Hill Inn up to level with the inn itself. From a menu that featured steak, steak, and more steak, the Tucker Hill Inn now serves up California cuisine, Asian dishes and, of course, Yorkshire pudding with prime rib, as part of an international menu reflective of the places they have lived and visited.

Extensive travel experience helps them to know what people are looking for in hospitality. For Phill, it means limitless pillows and a relaxing English-style pub in which to wind down after an active day!

Hard work and long hours are nothing new to either of them, but did their vision include 18-hour work days, filling in for no-show housekeepers and working the line in a busy kitchen? Did Phill picture himself as maintenance man/renovation expert? Was free time grabbed catch-as-catch-can part of the big picture?

Chuckling, Alison advises eager entrepreneurs to be temporary innkeepers for three or four weeks to see what they are getting into. “There are inns around that look for people to fill in for a few weeks, and it’s good experience,” she says. More seriously she adds, “Due diligence is necessary. It’s important to know what you’re taking on. Get all your numbers lined up before you commit.”

With their dream finally a reality, the Truckles look forward to renewing the inn as a wedding and corporate conference destination, as well as welcoming old and new friends from all over the world.

“I miss Newtown tremendously,” says Alison, adding wryly, “especially navigating the flagpole. But you have to live for your dreams.”