Two Centuries of Stories
About & History
The first hotel on this corner was built in 1803 by Thomas Wattles — just 27 years after the Declaration of Independence. The current building rose from the ashes in 1913, a Colonial Revival landmark with hand-laid mosaic floors, carved oak details, and the kind of permanence that only brick and ambition can produce. More than a century later, the mosaic still spells 'THE SHERWOOD' in the lobby floor, the columns still frame Genesee Street, and guests still walk through the same arched doorway that has been opening for 113 years.
Our Story
A Timeline of The Sherwood
The Beginning
Thomas Wattles builds the first hotel on this site at the corner of Genesee and Chenango Streets in Greene, New York. The blue New York State historic marker still stands at the entrance today.
Rising From the Ashes
After a devastating fire, the current Colonial Revival structure is built. The new Sherwood Hotel features hand-laid mosaic floors, carved oak woodwork, and a grand front portico with 'THE SHERWOOD' lettered across the facade — details that survive to this day.
The Golden Era
The Sherwood becomes the social center of Greene — a gathering place for dignitaries, travelers, and generations of local residents. Postcards from this era show the lobby's mosaic floor and original furnishings, remarkably similar to what guests see today.
Historic Recognition
The Greene Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Sherwood Hotel stands as a cornerstone of the district, recognized for its architectural and historical significance.
Trial by Fire (Again)
A second fire tests the building's resilience. The community rallies around the hotel, and restoration work preserves the original character while modernizing essential systems.
A New Chapter
Don Dunlap and his son DJ Dunlap purchase the property from NBT Bank after it sat vacant for over a year. They plan a grand reopening for the 100th anniversary in 2013.
The Sherwood Endures
Under owner Alan Trider and the daily care of building manager Gregg Cobb, The Sherwood Hotel operates as a boutique hotel with 19 individually decorated suites and two private event venues. Guests arrive from across Upstate New York — for weddings, for SUNY Cortland visits, for weekend getaways, and sometimes just to walk across that mosaic floor themselves.
113 Years Apart
The Lobby Then and Now
Circa 1913
Today
The mosaic floor, the wooden columns, the arched doorways — some things are built to outlast us all.
The Hosts
The People Behind the Place
Ask anyone who's stayed at The Sherwood and one name comes up again and again: Gregg. Building manager Gregg Cobb is the kind of host who remembers your name, checks on your room, and makes sure every detail of your stay is handled. It's the reason 'Gregg' appears in review after review — and the reason guests come back.
Owner Alan Trider, a California-based real estate investor with over 50 years in the business, fell in love with the building the moment he saw it. 'It's so charming,' he says. Under his stewardship and the daily care of managers Chelsea Eldred and Gregg Cobb, The Sherwood continues its mission as a gathering place for the Greene community and a destination for visitors from across the region.
The Haunted History Trail
Some Guests Never Checked Out
The Sherwood Hotel is listed on the Haunted History Trail of New York State — and the stories are part of the building's charm. Legend has it that a woman named Rebecca haunts rooms 207 and 209, and over the years, paranormal tour groups and ghost hunters have visited to investigate. Whether you believe in spirits or simply enjoy a good story, there's no denying that a 113-year-old hotel with this much history has a few tales to tell.
Rest assured — every guest we know of has checked out on time.
Greene, New York
The Town That Time Forgot (In the Best Way)
