Twelve miles north of Lancaster is an inn that stands apart from all other inns in the Pennsylvania Dutch Country, the Historic Smithton Inn.

Located about sixty miles west of Philadelphia, the Inn has been open for 237 years. Innkeeper Dorothy Graybill is Pennsylvania Dutch, and was born just one mile from the inn.

The inn is built of stone, is surrounded by flowers, and stands on a hill overlooking the Ephrata Cloister, a Protestant monastery, which is now a museum dating from 1723.

Oil lamps are lighted in the windows at dusk. The first floor has a Great Room, and a room where breakfast is served. These rooms all have fireplaces that are used from November to April, weather permitting. All rooms can be candle lighted.

Guest rooms are picturesque and provide a romantic setting for visitors. The Inn is furnished with antiques and hand made furniture, that are all appropriate to the period. Each room has an operating fireplace. Most rooms have hand sewn Dutch quilts, reading lamps, stencils, and mini-refrigerators. Some rooms have refrigerators and some have TV all include a full breakfast. Feather beds are stored in antique blanket chests, and must be requested in advance, before the rooms are made up. All rooms have traditional white walls with a dominant color used elsewhere. Most rooms have canopy and four poster beds; some with whirlpool tubs. Numerous decorative influences are the product of Dorothy's architect partner who has used the motifs of the Eighteenth Century Germans, and those of the Ephrata Cloister. People who were members of the Cloister built and operated the Inn. Hand worked timbers with mortise and tenon joints, secured with locust trunnels (large wooden pins), are common place in the building and its restoration. The floors and woodwork are hand worked, as well as some of the ceramics in the bathrooms. The Smithton Dahlia Gardens surround much of the property, blooming from June through October.

Location: 11 miles North of Lancaster, PA, and 5 miles South of Pennsylvania Turnpike Exit 286.

Phone: 717-733-6094. 877-755-4590
Web: www.smithtoninn.com  

Email: Smithtoninn@dejazzd.com 

Address: 900 W. Main St, Ephrata, Pa 17522