The Railroad House Inn is located in Marietta, Pennsylvania, a town found on the edge of the Susquehanna River. The inn is open year-round, excluding certain holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas, and offers nine units for reservation. The rooms vary slightly in size and amenities. There are two units that can accommodate pets. Those who stay at the business are able to get a discount on the restaurant that is located in the basement of the building. The restaurant is open in the evenings from Wednesday to Saturday and in the afternoon on Sundays. Events such as weddings and anniversaries can be held at the wedding venue on the grounds. Visitors can spend time tubing down the Susquehanna River or hiking along Northwest Lancaster County River Trail. The inn was built in 1823 and has been used as a hotel since it finished construction.
The Railroad House Inn offers a total of nine units to the public for reservation. Each room has a private bathroom, toiletries, access to Wi-Fi, and more. All rooms are double occupancy, only allowing up to two people to sleep per night. A few rooms offer queen-sized beds, while others come with king-sized beds. One of the more popular units is Room 4, which has a king-sized bed, a wall-mounted television, and a private balcony with views of the train and river. The units are all similar in design with a few changes, such as the color of curtains, doors, and other decorations. The inn manager, Lauren, explains that the owners tried to keep the historical aspects of the units while adding modern touches and amenities.
The owner describes the interior as "historical with a mix of industrial." There are several common areas, including the main parlor bar, a dining room, and a broad backroom. Each one has historical aspects with a slight twist. For example, the owner describes the dining room as "a modern steampunk, but it is using all of the parts of train carts, which is the historic portion of the room."
The Railroad House Inn restaurant is closed Mondays and Tuesdays, opening from Wednesday to Saturday at 4:00 P.M. It is open from 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. on Sundays for brunch. Patrons staying at The Railroad House Inn can receive a coupon when eating at the restaurant. Lauren, the manager, says, "The restaurant typically serves modern American comfort food, and it's an upscale eatery." Many dishes are made from scratch, and Chef Taylor is responsible for making the food. The bar serves several locally sourced alcohols as well as drinks from out of town.
Outside, there is a porch that patrons can use at their leisure. A patio for restaurant goers and a summer cottage are also included, the latter of which was the original summer kitchen of the property when it was first built in the 1800s. The dining area, patio, and restaurant have about 16 tables, allowing up to 60 people to sit, and the wedding venue has enough seating for about 50 visitors. Patrons can find the wedding venue near the back of the business, and the restaurant is in the basement. Much lawn space and gardens are maintained. According to the manager, a gazebo is located near the wedding venue that has been around for about 50 years. She also mentions that many people have been married in the pavilion. If no events occur, people can walk around the venue and gazebo.
The surrounding area has many outdoor recreational activities. The Susquehanna River flows south of The Railroad House Inn, and patrons are able to swim, tube, kayak, and more in the river. Lauren, the inn manager, explains that hikers can find The Northwest Lancaster County River Trail, a hiking trail near the river. There are several companies in the town that offer biking and kayaking rentals and tours. Visitors can find antique stores throughout the town as well. There are a variety of restaurants in the vicinity that Lauren and other employees enjoy sharing with guests. A few that Lauren likes to mention by name include Shank's Tavern, Molly's Courtyard Cafe, and McCleary's Pub.
The manager of The Railroad House Inn, Lauren, would like her guests to feel welcome and "like they are part of the family." In an effort to help patrons feel welcome, the manager explains that she and the other staff members try to talk with visitors frequently, and they enjoy getting to know them. One thing that the inn is known for is the ghost stories. According to Lauren, there are rumors that "an old maid and a Colonel supposedly haunt the inn." Lauren mentions that she hasn't seen anything out of the ordinary, though she has heard several stories from previous guests.
The business hosts a few smaller events at the restaurant. According to Lauren, they host "wine dinners and beer dinners. For the most part, they are private events." She also remarks that they occasionally open their restaurant for events called "pub crawls." A pub crawl is where patrons visit different pubs across the town.
There are several policies that the inn enforces. Smoking is prohibited on the property. Quiet hours begin at 11:00 P.M. each night. Regarding the inn and the decorations and furniture therein, the manager remarks jokingly, "please don't break our stuff." The business has two pet-friendly units, and the rest cannot accommodate animals. The suites that allow for pets are Room 8 and Room 9.
There have been many patrons that have left reviews of their stay. One person states, "The room was beautiful, and the staff was friendly and accommodating. The setup was perfect, and everything was ready for us when we arrived." Someone who ate at the restaurant left a review that says, "The waitress was personable and attentive, the food looked and tasted great, the atmosphere was cool, and everyone enjoyed their meals." Many people learn about the inn through online internet searches, word of mouth, or attending an event hosted at the business. The Railroad House Inn is open year-round, though it closes for certain holidays such as Christmas and Thanksgiving. The busiest season of operation tends to be during the spring, summer, and fall. The manager explains that the winters are slow because "Pennsylvania winters are kind of icky." They often see couples between the ages of 35 to 55.
The Railroad House Inn was built in 1823 with the purpose of being a hotel. The manager says, "It was built to be a canal house for canal and ferry workers." The first owner was Colonel Christian Keasley and his stepson. It was eventually purchased by another man named Colonel James Duffy in the 1950s. While it was built to be an inn from its conception, the building also operated as a train station for a short period of time until a more official station was constructed nearby.
The current owners of the business, Joey Bowden and Freddy States, were led into the lodging industry because they were interested in the property. Joey and Freddy met and worked in a different restaurant several years ago. They purchased the restaurant portion of the building in 2015 and bought the rest at the beginning of 2020. The business manager, Lauren, started as the event manager but eventually became the manager of the rest of the establishment. She says she "enjoys the atmosphere and everyone [she] works with." The event venue was built on the original Carriage House foundation, which was another living space in the 1800s, and is one of the more recent additions to the company. The owners also added a variety of new and updated amenities to the rooms. In the future, they plan on creating another venue to hold crowds of up to 200 people.
280 West Front Street
Marietta, Pennsylvania 17547
United States
Bed and Breakfast
Joey Bowden and Freddy States
