If the walls at this Connecticut inn could talk there would be stories about shipbuilding, maritime life, war, the women’s temperance movement, Hallmark movies, romance and even the inside scoop on the set of the 1960s television show Dark Shadows.
The historic Griswold Inn, situated in the village of Essex and affectionately known as the “Gris” (pronounced Griz), will turn 250 in June of 2026, making it a month older than the United States.
Opened in summer of 1776, it’s considered one of the oldest continuously run inns in the nation and didn’t close for war, Prohibition (they had a still; it was later discovered), The Great Depression or even the COVID-19 pandemic.
With 34 rooms for guest stays, all uniquely decorated with antiques, five dining rooms, a Tap Room, wine bar and more, the Griswold Inn has shaped many modern day memories of celebration, romance, family, and lives remembered.
Since walls thankfully don’t talk, the Griswold Inn’s owners are counting on email and social media to collect those modern day memories and anecdotes from guests and former guests throughout 2026. The stories can be put on the inn’s social media or sent to a dedicated email: [email protected] and the hashtag #Gris250shareyourstories.
Photos are encouraged.
The plan is to exhibit the stories on the inn’s website and that could evolve to more.
“We are excited to launch this initiative. The tagline for the Inn is ‘make your history a part of ours’ so now seems the perfect time to share how many of our guests over the years have done just that,” said longtime co-owner Joan Paul.
The Inn has been owned and operated by the Paul family for about 30 years, three brothers and Joan Paul, wife of brother Doug Paul. They don’t have formal titles, so Joan Paul says she’s an “in-keeper” running day to day operations and marketing for the historic inn.
The way they came to own the place is a notable story in itself and so is her deep history with the place. Joan Paul said the brothers grew up in Essex and her family moved to the seaside town when she was in high school.
As a high school and college student she worked there summers.
“It still looks and smells like it did when I was 15,” Joan Paul said.
On July 4, 1978, she and Doug, who knew each other in high school, went on a “friend” date for dinner in the Griswold’s Bridge room and then on to a Ginger Rogers review.
At some point their relationship turned romantic and they would go on to marry and have children.
Fast forward and the opportunity to buy the place came up in an unusual way. One of her brothers in law, while out of state, came across a painting of the Griswold Inn by a well-known artist. The brother-in-law wanting to know more called the longtime owner of the inn to inquire and the owner said something like, “Why buy a painting when you can buy the inn?” Joan Paul said. The owner had had lots of offers to buy the property for development, Paul said, but wanted buyers who would honor the historic inn and keep it running.
Many twists and turns later, the family agreed to buy the inn, even though they were gainfully employed, Joan Paul said. Doug was an attorney and Joan was in marketing, the only one with hospitality experience.
“We decided to take a leap of faith and do it,” she said.
Today they are delighted with that decision.
Joan Paul said that while “The Gris” is such an important place for celebrating life’s “momentous occasions,” they celebrate there every day.
The family takes “stewardship” of the inn seriously and gives itself this simple description: “A place that offers fine food, spirits, lodging, good times to neighbors, seafarers, overland travelers.”
They never closed, not even during the COVID pandemic, because they were considered essential workers.
They never closed during Prohibition either. Later, a hidden still was discovered.
During the British raid in Essex soldiers used the inn for 24 hours as a base.
The website sums up their television and movie history like this: “The Griswold Inn played a role in 2018’s Hallmark’s Christmas movie Christmas at Pemberley Manor. It was used as the ‘Collinsport Inn’ for the cutting edge 1960s daytime drama, ‘Dark Shadows.’ Essex and the ‘Gris’ served as a backdrop for the 1961 film Parish starring Troy Donahue and Claudette Colbert and also for Doris Day’s 1959 ‘It Happened to Jane,’ primarily filmed in nearby Chester.”
“Scenes for 2008’s Indiana Jones and the ‘Kingdom of the Crystal Skull’ were filmed in Essex, The Griswold Inn was mentioned in the 2010 Mad Men series premiere and it was featured in a 2014 episode of abc’s popular romantic-reality show, ‘The Bachelorette.’ Mostly recently, The Griswold Inn stood in as The Maple Falls Inn in the Netflix movie, ‘The Noel Diary,’ starring Justin Hartley.”
Also it notes, “print media continues to write frequently about the ‘Gris’ as a unique and unforgettable destination. Notably, the “Gris” is included in Patricia Schultz’ best-selling travel book, ‘One Thousand Places to See Before You Die.’ Born of American Independence, the ‘Gris’ is a place to make your own history. We look forward to welcoming you.”
Joan Paul said that as one walks through the inn “they can feel the history.”
There is “history” being made everyday at the Griswold Inn, still vibrant and alive with guests, both local and from across the country, while other similar places have quieted in recent years.
Some guests stay every weekend, others have actually moved to Essex and the surrounding area to be closer, many return to celebrate anniversaries. Some come for the live music five days a week or to sing sea chanties on Mondays.
The Tap Room, or bar, described by Joan Paul as ‘soulful’ has often been recognized as one of the best drinking spots in the nation, she said.
It was created from a circa 1735 school house in Essex made from the days when buildings could be picked up and moved.
“It’s funny that it went from a place for kids to learn and now it’s a drinking room,” she said. “It’s a soulful spot.”
A loyal crowd gathers on Mondays to sing sea shanties, or traditional sailors’ work songs.
The Griswold Inn is made up of the iconic classic main building on Main Street, and eight other nearby historic buildings, some housing guest rooms.
No two of the rooms are decorated alike. Some have fireplaces and others glimpses of water or village life. There are no televisions in the rooms, by design, but the Hayden House has a common area with a television in case there’s a tournament or other important event being aired.
There are quaint, unique shops up and down Main street where the inn is located, making it a perfect area for shopping, Joan Paul said.
“On Main Street there’s a Rockwellian vibe,” Paul said, referring to artist Norman Rockwell. “The whole town is pretty magical at this time of year.”
This time of year is the busiest as people come to shop, look at the festive decorations and eat at the inn as the Royal Court Madrigal Singers sing seasonal music table side for each dining party.
The inn has its own store across the street called “Goods & Curiosities,’ and carries items of New England, maritime life, books, limited edition prints of the inn’s extensive art collection displayed throughout the inn.
The Inn is located yards from Essex harbor, close to the Connecticut River Museum and not far from the popular Essex Steam Train attraction.
The celebration of the upcoming 250th is beginning with the collection of stories from people who have made memories at the inn and there will be special events in June the weekend of the inn’s birthday.
“There’s no place like the Gris,” Joan Paul said.