Eagle Mountain House Review: A Family-Friendly Hotel Near Story Land & North Conway

North Conway, New Hampshire is one of our favorite summer destinations. With mountains, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, and Story Land just minutes away, it’s an ideal spot for families. On our most recent trip, we stayed somewhere new: Eagle Mountain House in Jackson, NH—and it completely exceeded our expectations.

First Impressions: Historic, But Surprisingly Kid-Friendly

Upon arriving I was a bit nervous. This beautiful historic hotel was set on top of a private road, surrounded by mountains in the distance and a golf course around it. There were antiques and pretty things and all I could think was, “oh no, this is not going to be kid friendly.” My concerns were heightened since Jacob’s current favorite pastime includes breaking all the things.

My concerns were immediately put at ease. Craig, one of the managers approached us in the lobby as we checked in. Speaking directly to Jacob and Anika, he welcomed them and complimented their backpacks. They were each given an Eagle Mountain House carabiner keychain to clip to them, which made him my kids new BFF. The best part was he also gave them the Eagle Mountain House Kids Passport booklet. He explained this booklet contained various complimentary activities going on each day of the week at the hotel. There was also an ongoing scavenger hunt that kids could work on during their stay and turn into the front desk for a prize. This was such an unexpected surprise that made the kids and I both very pleased.

On-Site Amenities for Families

Pool

We dropped off our stuff in the room and then Anika and Jacob immediately wanted to check out the pool. The outdoor pool was heated, private, and conveniently located near the hotel. It was perfect for hot summer days and had plenty of seating (even if parents rarely get to use it).

Another family with young kids arrived shortly after us which was wonderful because it gave Anika someone to play with and always makes me feel a little less uncomfortable. I like knowing that if my kids go into melt down mode there are other people around who totally get it and will be unbothered.

Kids Activities

One standout feature of this hotel was the Kids Passport program we learned about upon check in. Activities like cupcake decorating were flexible and easy to do around our schedule, making it stress-free for parents and fun for kids. We had some time before dinner after swimming so the kids got to work immediately. Not surprisingly, they loved this activity….almost as much as eating the cupcake later.

Game Room

The on-site game room was another great bonus, giving us a low-key evening activity without leaving the property.

Dining at Eagle Mountain House

We loved having an on-site restaurant, especially after busy days with kids. Not having to load everyone back into the car was a huge win. The dining room was welcoming to families, and the staff was attentive and friendly with our children.

Easy Access to Story Land

Eagle Mountain House is just a short drive from Story Land, making it a convenient home base for a park day. Story Land has been a yearly tradition for our family, and this year was extra special—our youngest finally met the height requirement to ride most attractions, including his first roller coaster.

Jacob finally had the opportunity to go on his first roller coaster. He let everyone know how he was “big” and “tall” and was going on the Polar Coaster. After the ride he said he loved it.

We watched the ” Camp Fairy Tales” show this year, which included the children being able to dance in a swarm of bubbles, so really what’s not to love?

The next morning before checkout we spent some time attempting to complete the scavenger hunt. We searched for things like an acorn, leaf, pinecone, rock, golf ball, pen, etc. Although a couple of objects short, we turned it into the front desk anyway. Anika and Jacob each received a sweet little stuffed moose. They got so much joy out of simply searching for the objects on the list that a sticker would have made their day, but this of course was a total hit.

Final Thoughts: A Great Family Hotel Near Story Land

Eagle Mountain House offers a rare combination of historic charm and genuine family-friendly hospitality. Between the kids’ activities, on-site amenities, welcoming staff, and proximity to Story Land and North Conway attractions, it made for a relaxing and memorable stay.

If you’re looking for a family-friendly hotel near North Conway or Story Land, Eagle Mountain House is absolutely worth considering.

Since we have started down the path to learning how to simplify our lives and prioritize what really matters, I’ve heard the phrase “experiences over things” time and time again. I’m happy to say at this point we are truly living it. We had a wonderful mini vacation and can’t wait to get back to the North Conway area, Eagle Mountain House, and of course Storyland.