When most people think about historic hotels, their first thoughts are of the spooky kind. Paranormal research has put these restful locations at the forefront of the “ghost-hunters” to-visit list. But there is more to the history of hotels and inns then just their suspected ghostly occupants. There is a rich history of community building, war and legacy.
The Buena Vista Springs Hotel was one of Franklin County’s most memorable attractions. Built in 1890, the five-story, 250-room hotel was Victorian style and was once known as the “Alps of America.” Situated on the mountain near Pen-Mar Park in Washington Township, just outside of Waynesboro, Buena Vista Springs Hotel was popular among celebrities, politicians and even foreign dignitaries.
Despite a shaky start in early 1893 when a financial crash nearly ended its short operation, new owners came in to save the hotel, and prosperity grew. In addition to the mountain surroundings and near proximity to the park, there was also a golf course on the grounds and a grand ballroom.
Buena Vista Springs Hotel would see great success and create memories for thousands of families until World War II when the number of visitors took a tremendous decline. Unable to recover from the financial loss, the hotel was sold and would become a community hall until a terrible night in December 1967, when an accidental fire burned the magnificent structure to the ground.
Chambersburg had its own establishment of elegance and grace that was a prominent part of the city’s early legacy. The Indian Queen Hotel was built in 1800 and was located on S. Main Street. The two-story brick building was built by a man named Markle, who knew that the growing city, which had not yet been incorporated into Franklin County, would need a place to lay their heads as they traveled through.
Markle and future owners would fill the hotel with all the modern elegances that travelers would want, such as designer furniture and amenities such as a horse stable and steam heat. It would also be one of the first hotels in the county to use electric lights.
It is also one of the buildings that faced tragedy during the Civil War. In 1864, when the Confederates held Chambersburg for ransom under the threat of being set fire. When the demands were not met, the threat was executed, and the Indian Queen Hotel was one of the building set ablaze. After the war, the building was renovated and was once again in operation, but the ravages of war and the ever-growing businesses in the area, including more competition in the hotel industry, forced the Indian Queen to close its doors in the early 1900s. The building that was once the most elegant hotel in Chambersburg is now long gone, but its legacy continues.
The oldest hotel in Franklin County is located in Letterkenny Township, near Shippensburg and Chambersburg. It boasts not just being the oldest in the county, but to have also been visited by one of the most famous men in history.
Skinner’s Tavern is an inn that was built around 1790 and is located along Upper Strasburg Road. It was built by John Skinner Sr., and it would become a popular stop for travelers en route to Philadelphia. Including the inn’s most famous visitor, the first President of the United States, George Washington. The Revolutionary War hero and co-founder of America mentioned the inn in one of his letters during the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794. Unlike the Buena Vista Springs Hotel and Indian Queen Hotel, Skinner’s Tavern is still standing though no longer in operation. It is a protected historical landmark.
These are but a few of the legendary hotels and inns from the storied history of Franklin County. Many grand homes from the early years of the area have been converted into bed and breakfasts and inns. While not all are haunted by spirits, they are windows to the past and continue to educate on the lives of the men and women who have paved the way to the world we live in today.
