Andrew Belmont’s Story
The Cheshire Inn has always been a very special place for me and my family. As far back as I can remember, my grandparents would take me and my cousin Ryan there. The day would start with a swim in the pool. Ryan and I loved to do “cannonballs” and we secretly tried to get them big enough to get my grandparents wet where they sat by the pool. After swimming, we got ready to eat dinner at the restaurant attached to the inn, where we always had the pepperloin steak. To this day, it is the best meal I have ever eaten! Following dinner we stood outside and waited for the double-decker bus. Ryan and I would always ride on the top and grab tree branches. That bus was so much fun and we always felt special riding it to the Muny. We never really liked to see the plays as kids, but the Cheshire experience made it entirely worth it! After the Muny, we went back to the hotel room with our grandparents to spend the night. Our nights were always memorable– staying awake through the night talking and laughing while my Nana snored in the bed beside us. The Cheshire Inn has always been very special to me and even more so to my grandparents, who have been staying there since the 1960′s. They live in Carbondale, IL, and the staff is always very kind to them and even knows them by name. I am absolutely thrilled that the Inn is being reopened and I am excited to start my own tradition there with my own family.
