Where We Work: The Mountain and The Innstead
Bill and Siobhan Kearney are the primary caretakers on the Mountain.
For more than 40 years, the Wolter family has owned land in the White Mountains to serve as a wellness outpost—starting at around 200 acres and growing to around 2,000. Today, the Mountain hosts the Innstead Mountain Getaway, miles of hiking, biking, and ski trails, and the Upper Valley Stewardship Center.
Bill and Siobhan Kearney are the primary caretakers on the Mountain and run the hospitality business. They’re intimately familiar with the land, having lived on-site or nearby for over a decade. Bill taught at the local Oliverian School, where he met Jay Wolter and Will Laughlin. After a few years away, the Kearney family accepted the invitation to return to the White Mountains and expand on the Wolters’ mission of education and wellness.
That meant a lot of hard work. The Kearneys moved onto the Mountain with their family and started renovating existing spaces, while overseeing the construction of new luxury cabins. In 2023, they opened the original guest units, and this year, they fully launched the Innstead Mountain Getaway.
Today the property has six units between the cabins and a guest house, with another cabin slated to open this fall. Visiting guests often arrive from the surrounding big cities to escape the hectic pace of daily life. They can unplug in pristine nature but there’s no roughing it here, only top-notch service and luxurious lodging.
Siobhan’s background is in hospitality, volunteer, and event management. She handles day-to-day operations for The Innstead, with a heavy focus on customer service and housekeeping. Meanwhile, Bill’s landscaping background serves him well as he keeps the spacious grounds and gardens expertly manicured. His in-depth knowledge of the local trail system comes in handy as he helps build new trails and stays on top of maintenance, both for inn guests and visitors to the Upper Valley Stewardship Center.
Apprentices who join The Trade can work alongside Siobhan and Bill to keep the Mountain in top form. They might spend their days renovating and improving one of the local trails, stocking the guest lounge, making homemade granola for breakfasts, or learning to operate one of the mowers in Bill’s fleet. Along the way, they’ll gain valuable skills in customer service that will prepare them for any employment setting.
And as the Mountain properties continue to grow, apprentices may also choose to shadow expert tradesmen in HVAC, carpentry, or plumbing. Another renovation is underway to create a space for small groups, reunions, retreats, and more. The team is building something big—the more hands, the better.
Siobhan and Bill are on a mission to connect more people to the healing power of nature. At The Trade, our apprentices will be part of that mission from Day One, working hard and giving back. This purposeful work gives life meaning, connection, excitement, and more than a little fun.
