Painted its original Colonial yellow, the sprawling Mountain View Grand Resort and Spa sits on a clearing in Whitefield, N.H., overlooking a panorama of the White Mountains. Opened in 1865, the resort, a 150-mile drive from Boston, was shuttered in 1986.

Massachusetts businessman Kevin Craffey fell in love with the property and bought it in 1998. He restored the hotel to its Gothic Revival — style splendor, and it was reopened in 2002. The original 200 rooms were reconfigured into 145. The 100-year-old, 18-hole golf course was restored, as was the grand ballroom with its one-of-a-kind maple dance floor. Modern amenities were added, including a business center, outdoor pool, fitness center with indoor pool, and the Tower Spa.

The resort has 20,000 square feet of function space in a variety of settings — from the Eisenhower Library (boardroom for 16) to the modern Spangler Conference Center (a 6,500-square-foot facility that accommodates up to 350). Recreational choices range from cross-country skiing and sleigh rides to golf, horseback riding, and bocce.