The Logan Inn- New Hope, PA

Quaint and cozy, The Logan Inn looks like an English tavern. Which is fitting, as that’s basically how it started life, almost three hundred years ago. Predating the Revolutionary War, its history and hospitality are legendary. George Washington himself stayed at the inn five times, perhaps even prior to his famous crossing of the Delaware.

The history of the inn starts with a proposed highway in the early 1700s. As Philadelphia grew in size and importance, a more direct route was needed to connect the city to New York. Unfortunately, in an era before suspension bridges, the Delaware River presented a problem. In 1717, after learning of the proposed route, enterprising businessman John Wells purchased a tract of riverfront property at the halfway point between the cities, for the purpose of operating a ferry. He appealed to the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly, and in 1722, after a protracted battle with another ferry operator, was granted exclusive rights to provide York Road ferry service across the Delaware.

Wells’ enterprise thrived, the town assumed his name, and in 1727 he opened the Ferry Tavern to accommodate the needs of weary travelers, also by order of the Provincial Assembly. A simple stone structure with a basement, this constitutes the oldest portion of today’s inn. A popular stage coach stop and way station, Wells operated the public house for over thirty years, until his death in 1748. Under new ownership, the inn remained open throughout the Revolutionary War, hosting several notable figures, such as George Washington and Aaron Burr. Wounded soldiers were also housed in the space, which acted as a field hospital.

A century after the tavern’s opening, on February 22, 1828, it was renamed The Logan Inn, purportedly after a local Native American, who himself took the name of William Penn’s secretary James Logan, as a sign of admiration. Legend holds his friendship prevented attacks upon the town, therefore the inn was named in his honor. This story seems suspect, but I was not there, and can’t refute it.

By 1850, the inn was virtually unrecognizable, transformed by several additions into a five bay, three story stucco building, with a wooden Italianate cornice. In the manner popular at the time, newer construction enveloped older portions of the building. This is most apparent on the first floor, where the dining space wraps around the exterior of the building.

Over the years, Wells Ferry, now known as New Hope, slowly transformed from an industrial mill town to a tourist destination. Crowds were drawn to the quaint riverfront town by its classic architecture and quaint shops, keeping The Logan Inn busy. Some periods were more prosperous than others, but the inn remained open, making it the fifth-oldest operating inn in the country, with the second oldest bar.

In 2016, the inn sold for the substantial sum of $5.6 million. It has recently undergone a complete renovation, with each of the inn’s 16 rooms receiving a major makeover, no doubt making it too modern for some. While I typically dislike modern decor in historic spaces, I find the updates work at The Logan. The first floor retains the feel of an old inn, thanks to its wood paneled walls and classic tavern.

Upstairs the decor get a bit funky, but for the most part, the architecture remains classic. The rooms are a bit small, but they are comfortable and clean. Future plans call for a major expansion, including a new building with more guest rooms, and a new street front restaurant. Considering the history of additions at the inn, John Wells would likely approve.

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