It was the sheer beauty and tranquility of the Quechee landscape that brought New York resident Rich Mauch here over 46 years ago. In fact, as he noted in a recent interview, his blood pressure and stress level took (and continues to take) a significant drop as soon as he exited the highway and entered the picturesque and historic village.

“I’m not sure there are many places like Quechee in the country,” Mauch said. “It is truly a massive playground for “big kids” and little kids with so many things to do for everyone. I often tell friends that the best days are when I complete what I call the Quechee Triathlon, taking part in three activities like downhill skiing, cross country skiing, paddle tennis, golf, tennis or swimming in Lake Pinneo.”

Perhaps, then, it is not surprising that Mauch loves to show It was the sheer beauty and tranquility of the Quechee landscape that brought New York resident Rich Mauch here over 46 years ago. In fact, as he noted in a recent interview, his blood pressure and stress level took (and continues to take) a significant drop as soon as he exited the highway and entered the picturesque and historic village.

“I’m not sure there are many places like Quechee in the country,” Mauch said. “It is truly a massive playground for “big kids” and little kids with so many things to do for everyone. I often tell friends that the best days are when I complete what I call the Quechee Triathlon, taking part in three activities like downhill skiing, cross country skiing, paddle tennis, golf, tennis or swimming in Lake Pinneo.”

Perhaps, then, it is not surprising that Mauch loves to show off the area to family and friends and is passionate about bringing people together, whether for a round of golf, hiking in Section 5 or Hurricane Forest, biking to Woodstock, having sunset drinks at Lake Pinneo or dinner on Dewey’s Deck. As such, some consider Mauch to be an unofficial ambassador to Quechee.

“Many years ago, I bumped into a college fraternity brother of mine at the Quechee pool,” said Mauch. “He was staying in the condo of his boss and visiting Quechee for the first time. After hearing about my longevity in Quechee, he asked me: what is Quechee all about? After explaining to him and his wife why I thought Quechee was the ultimate ‘happy place,’ I discovered a short time later that he bought a house on Main Street the next day.”

Mauch’s infatuation with this quaint village known for its Gorge and covered bridge over the Ottauquechee River has led him to return the favor. For example, he presently serves as a board member on the Dartmouth Place Owners Association whose mission is to oversee the condominium(s) in which he lives with his wife, Helen.

After serving as a committee member on the Men’s Invitational for several years, Mauch is now the 2021 Chair.

“This Member Guest Golf Tournament is one of Quechee Lakes Landowners Association’s flagship events and is a perfect opportunity to showcase our extraordinary club and all that it has to offer,” said Mauch. “I know there are many guests whose first exposure to Quechee was playing in the Men’s Invitational and then, years later, becoming a landowner and/or member themselves.”

For years, Mauch said he was fortunate to play in this event as a guest with his father and now as a member. He has continued to keep the family tradition by hosting both his brother, Chris, and brother-in-law, Billy, over the last few years.

Mauch noted that it is also important for members to engage with the Quechee Club’s employee team. In 2019, he and another fellow member hosted the executive director of Quechee Club Golf and five of his golf professionals for a 36-hole day at Winged Foot Golf Club, home of the recent 2020 U.S. Open.

“The members are vital in providing us the opportunity to experience each and every day,” he said. “I have never felt better about our present leadership and their passionate team members.”

Mauch’s 46 years in Quechee, falling in love with what he calls his “happy place,” searching for ways to experience the Upper Valley, and trying to overcome the challenges presented by the pandemic have all steered him to one of his current business ventures of InjoyVermont.

“I have been so fortunate that Quechee and the Upper Valley have brought so much joy to my family and me over the years,” said Mauch. “Now, InjoyVermont is my great opportunity to create an abundance of joyful memories for new and returning visitors to the Upper Valley.”

Likened to a travel agency, InjoyVermont takes it to the next level, Mauch explained.

“In theory, there’s no difference,” he said. “But we’re looking to one-stop shop planning and booking travel experiences in the Upper Valley of Vermont and New Hampshire. We hold our customers’ hands throughout the process, from the time of their dream to the actual experience. By partnering with many of the amazing local businesses in the Upper Valley, our goal is to plan and book customized itineraries, whether it is for a family of four, a large group visiting the area for a family reunion or a company holding a corporate retreat for its employees. Our goal is to create joyful memories for our customers which benefits everyone, becoming the Injoy family from the customer to the business.”

To kick off the process to what Mauch calls the “perfect, immersive Vermont getaway,” customers are asked to complete a short Injoy Vermont Personal Travel Profile which enables the Injoy team to better understand what type of trip experience is best in addition to whom the customer wants to spend time with, what he/she loves to do, and how busy or relaxed he/she wants to be.

Mauch recalled the time he took his mother-in-law to the Quechee Balloon Festival where she went up in a hot air balloon for the first time.

“She had a smile that I had never been seen before,” said Mauch. “She said it was like being up with God. It’s this sense of pure joy that we want to try to bring to all future InjoyVermont customers.”

A self-appointed, passionate organizer, Mauch is always thinking about how to plan the perfect day in Quechee, whether that is a non-stop day with activities, reading with his feet in the sand at Lake Pinneo or taking long walks with his family.

Mauch’s wife, Helen, is an attorney and, with her law partner, launched her own firm, MintzerMauch, in January 2020 just before the pandemic hit. The firm specializes in environmental and land use law. Her favorite activities in Quechee are taking long walks from her condo over the covered bridge, around the Quechee Green and back. She also enjoys relaxing at Lake Pinneo, gardening around her condo, playing golf or having a meal at Simon Pearce.

Daughters Kelly, Ally and Caroline have all fallen in love with their hometown and love to hike, jog and photograph in and around Quechee when they’re home. Kelly lives in San Francisco, having graduated from Hobart William Smith College, where she works for a startup company called Modern Health; Ally lives in Manhattan, having graduated from Northwestern University, where she works as a reporter for People Magazine; and Caroline is a student at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.

Along with brothers Doug and Chris, Mauch’s parents, Gale and Rich, were 38-year active members of the Quechee community. In addition, Rich’s aunt and uncle were instrumental in introducing him to Quechee in 1975 and have owned a home on Hartness Way for more than 40 years.

“Over the last 46 years, Quechee and the Upper Valley have brought so much joy to my family and me,” said Mauch. “I truly can’t wait to share with others all there is to do here and create for them joyful memories that will last a lifetime.”