The Atlantic Inn

About The Atlantic Inn

Michael Budney built the Atlantic Inn on the Berlin Turnpike in 1954, when the road was Connecticut's great mid-century artery between Hartford and New Haven. Three generations later, the same family still runs it, and a recent restoration has returned the property to its former self rather than reinventing it. The original single-story motor court layout survives intact, along with the neon sign out front, now one of the last classic examples left along a corridor that once bristled with them. Inside, rooms have been remade in a clean mid-century modern style. It sits minutes from downtown Hartford, Trinity College, and the historic riverside village of Old Wethersfield, close enough to the city to be useful and rooted enough in its own history to feel like a genuine survivor.

What The Atlantic Inn Is Known For

The Atlantic Inn is a survivor. The Berlin Turnpike was once lined with motor courts like it, and almost all are gone or unrecognizable. This one is still standing, still family run after seventy years, and now restored with obvious care rather than gutted and rebranded. It is proof that a mid-century motor court does not need reinvention to feel special. It needs owners who understand exactly what they have, and this family clearly does.

Amenities

• Original 1954 neon sign
• Drive-up parking at every room door
• Remodeled mid-century modern bathrooms
• Suites with kitchenettes and sitting areas
• Flower-filled window boxes

The Room

Rooms have been fully remade in a mid-century modern spirit that honors the building's 1954 bones. Expect clean lines, warm neutral tones, and updated finishes throughout: large, modernized bathrooms with strong hot showers, comfortable new beds, and quiet, well-appointed interiors. Some suites add a sitting area with a sofa, a table and chairs, and a kitchenette for longer stays. The overall feel is calm and uncluttered, the kind of room where a good night's sleep is the point.

The Grounds

The inn keeps the classic motor court arrangement: a single low row of rooms with parking directly in front of each door, so you pull up and step inside. The original neon sign anchors the property from the Turnpike. Flower-filled window boxes line the exterior, a small, deliberate touch that signals the care taken with the restoration. It is a tidy, self-contained property built for the drive-up traveler, exactly as it was in 1954.

The Experience

Staying here is a quiet lesson in how good a simple motor court can be when it is loved and well kept. You park at your door, step into a spotless remade room, and sleep well. The family's presence is felt in the details, from the window boxes to the helpful, efficient welcome at check-in. Guests come back, often more than once, drawn by the rare combination of genuine mid-century character, a location that puts Hartford minutes away, and the unfussy pleasure of a place that does the fundamentals extremely well.

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