There is a gravity to checking into a room positioned just steps from where the Lexington Battle Green took place, marking the beginning of the American Revolution.
History is stitched directly into the geography, in the quintessentially New England town of Lexington, Massachusetts. As the Boston area’s only Relais & Châteaux property, The Inn at Hastings Park elevates contemporary American design and luxury by celebrating local heritage.
Honouring America’s 250th anniversary, the hotel has a lineup of special packages, events, and immersive historical tours. Each is designed to bring the spirit of the Revolution to life.
We sat down with the owner, Trisha Pérez Kennealy, during the Forbes Travel Guide Summit in Monaco to find out more about the hotel and its anniversary experiences.
Restoring the narrative of a tripartite history
The estate itself is an architectural triptych. Over a three-year period, restoration brought life back into three distinct 19th-century structures.
Built in 1888, the Main House originally belonged to a descendant of one of Lexington’s first founding families. It later served as a luxury retirement facility for nearly a century. Next door sits the Isaac Mulliken House, constructed in 1841 for a spirited local politician and clockmaker. Finally, The Barn was Muliken’s original carpentry shop. It now houses three of the property’s most private, expansive guest suites.
Spearheaded by local firm Robin Gannon Interiors, the interior design intentionally subverts the dusty, dark-wood clichés of colonial lodging. Each of the 22 rooms feature a bright, contemporary American aesthetic. Guests can expect bold patterns, rich textures, and hand-painted wallpaper.
Look closely, and the respect for the building’s past reveals itself in the subtle details. The living room features the original piano from the building’s retirement home era. Meanwhile a historic portrait of its early benefactor, Ellen Dana, watches over the hearth.
The power of local intent
What makes the property truly remarkable, however, is the philosophy driving its operations. The Inn is owned and run by Trisha Pérez Kennealy, a proud Puerto Rican, Jewish woman and Lexington resident. She purchased the buildings in 2011 with a vision to create a hyper-local culinary and hospitality sanctuary.
“The proximity of the Inn to Lexington Green is the primary reason I embarked on this journey. When I moved to Lex as a child in 1982 I was mesmerised by the history that had transpired here,” shares Kennealy.
Under Kennealy’s leadership, the property acts as an incubator for regional talent. Every single design element, piece of furniture, and in-room amenity is sourced from New England artisans and independent businesses. Crucially, 80% of these partners are female-owned and operated.
This intentional approach extends directly to the hotel’s restaurant, Town Meeting Bistro. It was named as a tribute to America’s Revolutionary era when town meetings were influential in New England. The town’s residents would come together to discuss issues and deliberate collective actions, a form of government that is still popular throughout New England.
The bistro centres its menus on the regional bounty of local farmers and suppliers. Its culinary narrative honours the diverse waves of immigrants who shaped the coast’s maritime foodways, translating centuries of cultural convergence into seasonal plates.
Living history: The 250th Celebrations
As the United States builds toward its monumental 250th anniversary celebrations this July, the Inn is offering curated, sensory-driven historical immersions. While spring reenactments have paved the way, the summer and autumn lineup shifts the focus toward experiential storytelling.
Experiences offered throughout 2026 include the ‘One if by Land, Two if by Sea, Three if by Air’ experience. The private helicopter journey traces Paul Revere’s exact 12.5-mile Midnight Ride path as he warned local militias that the British Redcoats were approaching. It ends directly over Lexington Battle Green. On the ground, the Footsteps of the Revolution is a walking tour that offers a guided journey through Lexington’s most iconic Revolutionary War sites.
On 4th July, the hotel will be serving high tea, the Revolutionary Liber-TEA will feature Bohea, Hyson, and Souchong, three of the exact five tea varieties that were thrown into the harbor during the Boston Tea Party in 1773. The teas are provided by the local J’enwey Tea Company.
Walking through the doors of the Inn at Hastings Park, historic preservation doesn’t feel like a museum. Under Kennealy’s stewardship, it becomes: a living, breathing, and well-designed chapter of the American story.
“To be able to welcome guests from all 50 states and around the globe who share that sense of awe for the democracy that was born that morning is an incredible privilege. It serves as a reminder to me of how lucky I am to live in the United States, despite its imperfections,” adds Kennealy.
