Tourist Cabins: Marshfield, Vermont

Former tourist cabin clusters are easy to spot on the roadside, as they have recognizable massing, size, and settings. Unfortunately, defunct tourist cabins tend to be the norm, and now they sit empty, used for storage, or converted to housing. Often these forgotten groupings have a few cabins left, a few missing, remnants of sign post, or a driveway to the cabins. Others have been relocated, and are harder to spot. But, look closely along U.S. or state highways and you’ll spot them. My most recent find is this grouping off U.S. Route 2 westbound in Marshfield, Vermont.

Spotted while traveling on US Route 2 in Marshfield, VT. This is a common arrangement of tourist cabins.

Adjacent to the cabins is a dirt road and farm complex. Perhaps the same property owner?

Tourist cabins in a row. The cabin in the foreground is larger, perhaps for the owner or for a larger family unit.

The cabins are quite similar: corner screen, centered front door, novelty siding, gable roof, former light to the right of the door. 

Cabins, in the woods now. Note the window on the left side of the cabins, next to the corner screened window. 

A telephone pole in front of the cabins, perhaps once supplying electricity to the cabins. A relic of farm equipment sits next to it. No evidence remains of a driveway shape or other elements to this tourist cabin collection.

I am unable to find any information about these Marshfield cabins. If you have the name or any information, please comment below or send me an email. I’m so curious. In the meantime, other tourist cabins in Vermont:

• The Wallinda Cabins (now sold and removed).
• Cabins in Addison, Vermont.
• The Maples in Grand Isle, Vermont.

Happy travels!

Tourist Cabins: Wallinda Cabins

Perched on US Route 2, just west of Marshfield Village are the Wallinda Cabins. For years I’ve seen this sitting quietly on the side of the road, presumably unoccupied but having a neat and tidy appearance. Just last week on my way through Vermont, I decided that I would finally stop and photograph these before they disappeared. Unfortunately, I was just a few days or weeks too late — only three of the five remained!

This sign used to be posted on the roadside for passersby. It was only recently removed.

The view from the driveway. The missing cabins are on the far left and the right.

This one has been removed.

The cabins still have beds in them! Perhaps they were recently occupied.

A key!

Front of a cabin.

  Rear of cabins.

It’s a picturesque spot.

Novelty siding, original doors and windows, interior furnishings: these cabins seem more intact than most. It’s a shame that the land and the cabins are for sale. If you have any information, please share. And here’s my lesson: if you want to photograph something, don’t wait four years!

Tourist cabins have not been easy to photograph, but here’s another one.