The Inn at Centre Park is located in Reading, Pennsylvania. It is a three-story home, made chiefly of granite in a Gothic-Revival architectural style. There are Three rooms guests may stay in, and on the first floor, there is an events center for weddings, birthdays, reunions, etc. Dennis, the property owner, strives to give visitors a memorable experience and help them relax and feel comfortable during their stay. Breakfast is served at the inn and is a popular part of the stay at the inn. Many people stay in the spring and fall when there are more festivals and better weather. The home was constructed in 1877 and was formerly known as the Wilhelm Mansion. Dennis has owned the property since 2014 and strives to improve and give guests a more enjoyable stay.
The Inn at Centre Park is located in Reading, Pennsylvania, just outside of Philadelphia and Allentown. The property sits on a little over half an acre and has Gothic Revival architectural aesthetics. The home is three stories tall and has many porches for guests to use. There are two porches in the front and one on the side of the estate with tables and chairs for visitors to lounge outside. There is a large patio out back and a small carriage house. Along the sides of the house are small garden areas and trees offering the property shade. The patio and grass areas are set up in the back yard for event use, such as weddings, family reunions, birthdays, and other parties. Across the street is a park with open fields that people are free to use during their stay. The property and surrounding area are in a historic district, and many of the homes have similar architecture. The building itself sits at about 8100 square feet. There are three units on the property located on the second floor of the house. The inside of the home was remodeled by an early owner of the building to have a more Victorian feel. Ornate stain glass windows can be found in parts of the home, along with the flooring and wood paneling which are original to the home's construction. The home's first floor is the events center, with a large dining hall and a ballroom to host weddings and other events. The third floor of the home and carriage house are currently apartments but may be added to the inn in the future.
Each room on the second floor has its own unique name: the Wilhelm Suite, Sarah's suite, and The Parkview room. The rooms have similar aesthetics, but Sarah's suite is said to be the most popular. It has its own balcony with seats outside and is larger in comparison to the others. Each room has its own private bathroom, along with linens, soaps, and shampoos. All units also come with a flat-screen TV, a coffee maker, an iron and ironing board, hairdryers, and a fridge. Inside the Wilhelm suite, there is a red marble fireplace and features a king-sized bed. Sarah's suite has a stained glass entrance archway, along with a queen-sized bed. There is also a sitting area with a day bed to accommodate an extra guest if needed and a private balcony. The Parkview room is slightly larger and has a king-sized bed, and it also has the first shower installed in Reading. There is also a common area in the solarium and an adjacent library on the second floor, where visitors to the property may socialize and relax. In parts of the home, the flooring and wood paneling of the walls are original to the home's construction. On the first floor, where events are held, patrons have access to tables, chairs, table linens, china, stemware, and flatware, along with other small amenities, if given enough notice and discussed with the event coordinator. For general events, the property holds anywhere from forty to seventy people depending on the type of event.
Attractions in the area often include festivals and outdoor activities. There are often concerts and art attractions during the festivals and hiking and biking trails in the area. Allentown, a city nearby, has been known for antiques and has may be one of the more cultural places in the Reading area. Judy's on Cherry, Alconey creek, and Dans are all popular restaurants in the area.
The Inn at Centre Park is known for its food, hospitality, and events center. The owner of the property, Dennis, strives to give his customers a personal and relaxing stay in an effort to help guests feel more comfortable while on the property. Dennis enjoys serving home-cooked food and talking with his patrons during breakfast. Dennis used to cook the food but now has help from a professional chef with the growing demand for events and the inn. The staff and Dennis enjoy "celebrating life's moments" at the inn. The owner tries to make events and stays memorable for all those that stay with him. Patrons have commented on the breakfast while staying at the inn. There is no set time for breakfast, as Dennis strives to accommodate the varying schedules of his guests, often asking in advance when they would like breakfast to make arrangements. At breakfast, omelets, pastries, waffles, fruits, vegetables, bacon, and juices are served on personal plates. Waffles are a popular dish at the inn and have been made gluten-free and vegan for special dietary restrictions. Other dietary restrictions can be met with advanced notice.
At The Inn at Centre Park, Guests tend to be older and more mature. The atmosphere is generally for adults twenty-one and older, but some children have been brought in the past. Often, many of the visitors are repeat guests and have commented on the help received during their events. One patron, in particular, said, "Never before have my wife and I felt so welcome and invited. The inn will get you there; Dennis will make you wish you could stay longer. Dennis is authentic in his hospitality. My wife and I have met friendly and courteous people in our travels; this is not uncommon within the service industry. The uniqueness of our experience at the inn was that Dennis made us feel as though he was personally invested in our stay. Quite simply, Thank you."
The Inn at Centre Park is open year-round, along with the events center. Many people come during the Spring and Fall for the festivals, mild climate, and changing of the season; this is often the busiest time for tourism in the region. Dennis has made some changes to the property and has added many of the amenities to the rooms. He says that "the property can always improve and become better" and strives to find ways to help his guests have a better stay while on the property. While staying at the inn, no pets are allowed, and smoking is not allowed inside the building but is allowed outside in designated areas.
The mansion was constructed in 1877 and the carriage house in 1888. The first occupant was Mark Anthony Dewolfe Howe, a religious leader who was also a scholar and part of the administration of Lehigh University. The mansion became known as the Wilhelm mansion when Charles Wilhelm purchased the mansion for his family home. He and his family lived in the house for the next fifty years. The home was then passed between single-family residences until 1973 when the mansion was converted into a doctor's office on the property's first floor. The carriage house and other floors of the house were left vacant. The Inn at Centre Park opened in 1990 as a bed and breakfast. Major renovations were done to the upper floors, having been neglected for many years, and the first floor was converted back to the dining hall, ballroom, and events center.
After a couple of years, the inn was again put under new ownership, this owner being Adrian Perry. The inn's name changed to Adrian's Inn at Centre Park and was owned by Adrian for almost two decades. Dennis then purchased the property and changed the name back to The Inn at Centre Park, and began to do some small renovations to the property. He has owned the property since 2014 but has been working in the hospitality industry for a few years before purchasing this inn. Dennis continues to make changes, trying to improve the property; however, he would still like to preserve the historic qualities. He wishes that more people knew about the property's history and tells guests about it frequently.
730 Centre Ave
Reading, Pennsylvania
United States
gothic revival
Dennis
