Mayflower Foreclosure
Published: Thursday, May 20, 2010
By Jack Coraggio
WASHINGTON—The Mayflower Inn & Spa, among the top resorts in Litchfield County, is now in foreclosure, having defaulted on its $21.5 million mortgage.
Papers filed in Connecticut superior court and Associated Press reports show that the Mayflower Inn & Spa is in the midst of true financial difficulties, but details were difficult to obtain at mid-week.
Fairfield County venture capitalist firm J.H. Whitney, the current owner of the Mayflower, could not be reached for comment. But Warren Kanders of MH2009, LLC, the company that holds the mortgage on the massive, highly-distinguished property, verified the reports to The Litchfield County Times.
General Manager John Trevenen is surprisingly upbeat, despite the troubling news. On the ground, he says his business has seen little change.
“We’re very far removed from that,” said Mr. Trevenen. “We’re not in the least bit concerned. It has little bearing on the day-to-day operations of the Mayflower.”
He went on to say the operation is in no danger of closing, staffing is not threatened and that business is up from last year.
However, the inn is behind on its property taxes as well. Washington tax collector Tanya Wescott said the Mayflower currently owes more than $36,000 in back taxes, but she expects the bill to be paid by the end of June.
The Mayflower Inn & Spa technically comprises four taxable properties. Altogether, Washington has them assessed at approximately $16 million, according to Ms. Wescott.