BUILT BY VISION, ROOTED IN LOVE: THE FAMILY STORY BEHIND THE GUEST HOUSE

Before there were guests, there was a dream.

In 1993, my parents, Greg and Christy Marotz, purchased the property that would become Weathervane Farm—a charming piece of land in Hamilton, NY, with sweeping views of Colgate University, its golf course, and limitless potential. Our Colgate ties run deep. My dad (Class of ’67), my husband and I (Class of ’89) are all proud alumni, marking a decades-long connection between our family and the university on the hill. My mom told me recently that they drove past the property when my dad was student, and she remembers saying to him, “Do you think we could live in a place like this someday?” How very Donna Reed of her!

Renovations were a multi-year process. They would drive to Hamilton from Boston on the weekends to work on the place and supervise the work by others. What eventually became The Guest House was renovated first; my Dad recalls it started in 1996, and my parents and youngest sister, Mallory, lived there (during construction!) until 1997, until the farmhouse wing was completed. Overall, major renovations were mostly finished by 2000.

In 1996, when one of my dad’s Colgate classmates heard they were living in Hamilton and were planning to visit their freshman daughter at Colgate, they asked if they could stay at the farm. My parents graciously said, “Sure, if you don’t mind that we’re still working on the place!” Despite the unfinished renovations, they loved their stay. That one weekend set everything in motion, and the concept of an official Bed & Breakfast property - The Guest House - was hatched.

From the very beginning, my parents approached hosting with care, creativity, and an intuitive understanding of what guests needed to feel at ease. They charged $125 a night—double the going rate in Hamilton at the time—because they believed in the value of comfort, good design (and breakfasts), and generosity, welcoming each guest with genuine warmth, local insights, and a deep love for the home they had created.

As we begin the next chapter of The Guest House, I want to thank them for that vision—and for building something so special that it now feels essential to continue. As Colgate alumni, Render and I know firsthand how meaningful it is to return to a place that holds a personal and generational connection.

In renovating Weathervane Farm, we are not starting over—we are simply carrying the story forward. Strengthening the roots, preserving what matters, and shaping something even more beautiful for the future.

We can’t wait to share more as we go.

Follow along @stayweathervane for renovation updates and reopening news.