The Cashtown Inn: A Legendary Landmark To Visit In 2023
If you stand in front of the historic Cashtown Inn Gettysburg and close your eyes, you might be able to imagine the faint sound of gunfire.
Well, that’s what General Robert E. Lee and General A.P. Hill heard on the morning of July 1, 1863, anyway, when they stood in that exact spot.
Today the historic building is a charming bed and breakfast inn, with a rich history (and a few haunting tales) that has captured the imagination of visitors from around the world.
Want to take a peek inside and hear about the history from a local? Let’s go!
Did You Know?
The Cashtown Inn Restaurant is re-opening October 25, 2023!
Serving dinner Wednesday through Saturday 5-9 p.m.
Reservations are required. 717-334-9722
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Table of Contents
FAQ
Is The Cashtown Inn Open?
Yes, the Cashtown Inn is open as a Bed and Breakfast and serves breakfast to the public on most Sundays. The Cashtown Inn restaurant is open Wednesday through Saturday 5-9 p.m.
About Cashtown
Cashtown is a small village located about eight miles northwest of Gettysburg along the Chambersburg Pike. Modern U.S. 30 runs a bit to the north and bypasses the historic village center.
There are a variety of historic Bed and Breakfasts in Gettysburg and the surrounding area, but the Cashtown Inn PA is one of the most popular due to the significant role it played in the Gettysburg Campaign.
Cashtown’s strategic location made it, not just a witness, but a participant, in one of the most significant conflicts in American history—the Battle of Gettysburg.
Opened more than 200 years ago as a place for travelers to rest for the night, the Cashtown Inn continues to serve as a modern-day haven for visitors who seek a taste of history and hospitality.
Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a lover of ghostly tales, or simply a traveler looking for a unique getaway, this charming bed and breakfast has something to offer.
Did You Know?
Historians have claimed that more Confederates passed through the front door of the Cashtown Inn than any other building north of Richmond.
Where Did Cashtown PA Get Its Name?
It is said that the first innkeeper, Peter Marck, had a stiff policy of only accepting cash from his patrons and thus his inn soon became known as Cashtown.
The earliest known reference to Cashtown was made in 1821, when someone wrote that the tavern keeper demanded cash.
The name was so popular that it became the name of the town.
Step Inside This Historic Tavern
It’s not hard to imagine the events that took place inside — and right outside — this Inn. As soon as you step through the front door and into the parlor, you are transported back in time.
The front parlor is stunning and decorated with period furniture. The walls are covered with Civil War paintings and old maps, and the original wood floors are worn, giving you a sense of the history this house has witnessed.
This is a beautiful room where guests can relax or read on cold, rainy days.
I say on rainy days, because on nice days, you’ll want to sit on the porch!
Who Owns The Cashtown Inn?
The Cashtown Inn has new owners that are slowly bringing the historic Inn back to life.
Jeremy and Danielle Davis, who bought the Inn in 2021, have a deep interest in history and in preserving the original character of the house.
The bed and breakfast offers three suites and three rooms for guests, each with its own unique history and story. They are all named after Confederate generals and have private baths.
What a treat to sleep in the same room as a Confederate general slept!
The Cashtown Inn Rooms
1: Brigadier General James Pettigrew Room is one of the four original guest rooms dating back to 1797. This room features a queen size iron rail bed and period vanity. You might try to solve one of the two secrets of this charming room. ($160)
2: Brigadier General John Imboden Room is another original guest room. It was used by General Imboden on July 4, 1863 as his personal office while in charge of the Confederate evacuation. The Imboden Room has a queen size four poster bed and a view of the surrounding orchard and South Mountain Pass, virtually unchanged from when Imboden was there. ($160)
3: General A.P. Hill Room is an original guest room, which was occupied by General A. P. Hill when the Inn was used as Confederate Headquarters. The A.P. Hill room has a queen size canopy bed, a replica Victorian vanity and original dated signatures of visitors and stage coach operators from the 1800’s still visible on the walls. Guests have a view of the town, the orchard and the route the Confederate army took on their approach to and evacuation from Gettysburg.
This is the room Grant Wilson occupied when TAPS investigated the Inn for the Sci Fi Channel’s series “Ghost Hunters.” ($160)
4. The Major General Henry Heth Room is an original room that has housed weary travelers since 1797 when the Inn was the first stagecoach stop west of Gettysburg. This room offers a antique double bed and a large comfortable chair for relaxing and reading the guest journals or the history of the Inn. ($145)
5: Robert E. Lee is a two-room suite on the top floor where one of the original Innkeepers, Mary Mickley and her family, tried to hide when the Confederate Army invaded Cashtown.
This is the Inn’s most popular room!
Under the tin roof on the third floor, this suite still showcases the well preserved original wood beams of the house. The Suite was occupied by Sam Elliott during the filming of the movie, “Gettysburg.” ($200)
6: The Major General William Pender Suite is a two-room suite to the rear of the Inn situated above the area used as a field hospital after the Battle of Gettysburg. The Pender Suite has a private entrance and shares a private porch with the Anderson Suite, overlooking the back garden and the butterfly bushes. This Suite features a Queen size bed and marble Victorian bed tables in the bedroom and a couch, wifi & Netflix television in the sitting room.
This was the room chosen by Jason Hawes to stay in when TAPS investigated the Inn for the Sci Fi Channel’s series “Ghost Hunters.” ($185)
7. Major General R. H. Anderson is a two-room room suite to the rear of the Inn situated above the area used as a field hospital after the Battle of Gettysburg. This Suite has a private entrance and shares a private porch with the Pender Suite, overlooking the back garden and the butterfly bushes. The Anderson Suite has a Queen Size elevated Victorian bed and a full size sofa bed in the sitting area, wifi & Netflix television. ($185)
The Cashtown Inn Print
Renowned artist Dale Gallon has signed prints of his painting “Serious Work Ahead” available at the Cashtown Inn. Both framed and unframed prints are available.
The new owners opened a Cashtown Inn General Store in the dining room, but have since returned tables and chairs to the space for Sunday morning dining.
Cashtown Inn History
Built in 1797 as a stagecoach stop, the historic Cashtown Inn Gettysburg PA was a resting point for travelers heading west.
After the Chambersburg Turnpike was built in 1813, the Inn became the first stage coach stop west of Gettysburg.
Peter Marck acquired his tavern license in 1815 and offered room and board, with four rooms available.
Marck continued to operate the Inn for three decades before selling it to Henry Mickley in 1854.
Mickley and his son Jacob Mickley ran the Tavern during most of the Civil War, before selling it to Daniel and Mary Heintzelman in 1864. They operated the Inn until 1890.
Cashtown Inn During The Civil War
Nearing the end of June in 1863, General Lee and his army made their way into southern Pennsylvania. Cashtown was strategically located for a supply line to Virginia, so the small village was soon occupied by Confederates.
Cashtown Inn’s innkeeper, Jacob Mickley, witnessed the incoming military unit, saying, “The entire force under Lee passed within twenty feet of my barroom.”
General Hill was suffering from a chronic disease and was likely happy to secure a place like the Cashtown Inn to rest.
Also helpful to the soldiers were the inn’s two large firebrick ovens down in its cellar. The Confederates could bake massive amounts of bread daily, helping to provide the necessary supply of food for their troops.
Cashtown was transformed into an army camp within days. Unfortunately, neither army knew the other was just eight miles away.
On The Eve Of The Battle
Confederate officers, including General Robert E. Lee and General A.P. Hill, listened to the sounds of a growing battle in the distance from the Cashtown Inn.
What they didn’t known at the time was that two Confederate infantry brigades had clashed unexpectedly with two Union cavalry brigades about halfway to Gettysburg.
Fighting intensified as additional troops arrived, and soon the rest of Hill’s corps hurried forward to join the fray.
The result of that initial clash was a bloody three-day battle that resulted in more than 51,000 casualties, some of whom ended up being treated in the Cashtown Inn’s basement.
Used As A Hospital
After the Battle of Gettysburg, thousands of severely injured soldiers traveled back through Cashtown. The once peaceful town that had been shattered by gunfire, now faced treating the wounded soldiers.
Surgeons used the basement of the tavern as a make-shift field hospital. Many wounded soldiers would enter to seek medical treatment, with some never returning to battle.
Thousands of hungry and thirsty Confederates also marched by on their way back to Virginia.
The tavern owner lost a wagon, a horse, a steer, 50 chickens, 100 apple trees, and 480 gallons of whiskey and brandy, combining for more than $2,000 in damages.
Cashtown Inn Ghosts: Is The Cashtown Inn haunted?
Yes, the Cashtown Inn is reported to be haunted.
There is no limit to the ghost stories that surround haunted Gettysburg, and the Cashtown Inn is no exception.
Like the Daniel Lady farm (and every other existing house, church and barn), the Cashtown Inn was used as a hospital. As a result, many amputations were performed there, and that is where the Cashtown Inn gets its haunted lore.
Severed limbs were said to be so abundant that they piled high enough to cover the basement’s windows, blocking the sunlight from entering.
In recent years, the Inn has gained attention from paranormal investigators and ghost-hunters, and was even featured on Ghost Hunters episode “The Fear Cage.”
The Travel Channel also did a piece about finding a “paranormal portal.”
Other Cashtown Inn Ghost Stories
There are also stories of people seeing a lady in white — believed to be the daughter of Jacob Mickley, the owner at the time of the famous battle.
Others have experienced unexplained flickering lights and closing doors, and cigar smoke in the basement.
A collection of photographs exists that show strange orbs of light and frightening skeletal figures that appear to be evidence of paranormal entities at play.
Guests who have stayed at the inn over the years have noted banging on their doors at night, lights turning on and off without explanation, and even doors locking on their own.
The room where General A.P Hill lodged is said to be especially haunted. Visitors have reported that the rocking chair in the room will start to move on its own. In other cases, knocking and other unexplained sounds have been experienced in the room.
Cashtown Inn On The Big Screen
Most history buffs know that the Cashtown Inn was featured in the Ron Maxwell movie Gettysburg.
In fact, during filming, the old Route 30 that runs by the tavern was covered in dirt.
Since 2023 is the 30th anniversary of the release of the movie, it will be shown again at the Majestic Theater and many of the actors will return to town.
Gettysburg was also featured in another movie, A Gettysburg Christmas, which will be shown every year in December as part of the Gettysburg Christmas Festival.
The Historic Inn Today
The innkeepers offer tours to guests, which includes the cellar. Though it’s not a ghost tour, the cellar is where a lot of paranormal activity has been reported.
In addition to serving as a bed and breakfast inn, The Cashtown Inn also services breakfast to the public on Sunday mornings.
The dining room is spacious and cozy, and the food gets rave reviews.
Is The Cashtown Inn A Good Place To Stay?
According to the Cashtown Inn reviews on TripAdvisor, the Inn is a good place to stay. The reviews that are listed since the Inn came under new management are almost all five stars.
People often comment on the cleanliness of the rooms, the quiet location and the excellent made-to-order Cashtown Inn breakfast.
There is no full Cashtown Inn menu at the moment, but the owners have plans to open a restaurant soon.
Another highlight that is often mentioned in Cashtown Inn reviews is the history tour given by the owner, Jeremy. One review from 2023 says: “Jeremy is a great source of information about both the Inn’s history and the local history of Cashtown.”
Many other Cashtown Inn reviews state that the Inn “feels like home.” For those who don’t want to stay in a hotel, this historic Inn is a good choice.
JEB Stuart’s Great Horse Raid To Cashtown
The Confederate troops that arrived in 1863 weren’t the first ones to make it to Cashtown.
General Jeb Stuart and his cavalry command of 1,800 crossed the Potomac River and made their way to Mercersburg PA in 1862. They then rode on to Chambersburg before bedding down for the night.
The next morning, Stuart’s forces traveled east on the Chambersburg Turnpike and reached Cashtown by noon. They didn’t stay long.
Stuart turned south and went through historic Carroll’s Tract, reaching the village of Fairfield in the evening, where he and his men robbed stores, destroyed public buildings and captured citizens.
The Confederate troopers then rode to Emmitsburg, Md, and to Nolan’s Ferry where they forded the Potomac into Virginia. During this raid, Stuart managed to cover 120 miles in 50 hours and captured as many as 900 horses.
What’s Close By The Cashtown Inn?
If you want to plan a visit to the Inn, here are a few attractions closeby.
✔️ Land of Little Horses (You might see a unicorn!)
✔️ Mr. Ed’s Elephant Museum (Candy and gifts galore)
Wrap-Up Of Cashtown Inn
The Cashtown Inn is certainly one of the most historic inns in Pennsylvania, but it is also significant because of the role in played before and after the Battle of Gettysburg.
Located just eight miles west of Gettysburg, the Inn makes a great place to stay if you planning to visit one of the many Civil War museums, explore downtown Gettysburg, or tour the Battlefield.
The short drive to the quiet setting in Cashtown is worth it.