The Conewago Inn in Manchester, York County, is serving its final meals on November 14, with owners asking longtime patrons to stop in one more time before the doors close for good. The restaurant, housed in a building that traces back to the early 19th century as a stagecoach stop, has become a fixture at 3480 York Haven Road for generations of area diners.
“our last day is Sat November 14!” the inn announced, adding “please stop down to see us before then!!” according to PennLive. The closing caps more than two decades under the same ownership: Local21News reports that Tom and Sharon Roberts will retire after operating the inn for over 23 years.
Property Hit the Market Months Before the Announcement
The move toward closure had been in motion since September, when the property was first listed for sale at an asking price of $1.25 million, per the same Local21News account. The listing, as described in Central Penn Business Journal, bundles the real estate, the established restaurant business, the “R” liquor license, and other business assets into a single offering.
Reports differ slightly on the size of the parcel. PennLive described it as a 3.5-acre property, while Central Penn Business Journal put it at approximately 3.56 acres, including an additional 0.56-acre parking parcel.
A Stagecoach Stop That Hosted Lafayette and Dickens
Long before it was a neighborhood bar and grill, the building served as a stagecoach stop. PennLive's report notes the inn was initially built in the early 19th century as a stagecoach stop, and that it later played host to historical visitors including the Marquis de Lafayette and Charles Dickens.
The inn's Civil War-era history carries some discrepancy between accounts. PennLive reports that the inn reportedly served as a stop on the Underground Railroad prior to the Civil War, while Central Penn Business Journal describes it as having provided sanctuary for people escaping slavery during the Civil War. Neither detail is independently verified in available records, and the exact nature of that history remains unsettled between the two accounts.
From Turtle Soup to Lakeside Picnics
The inn's roots in local recreation run deep. According to a York Daily Record history, the inn drew business from picnickers and swimmers at nearby Cold Springs Park and Elm Beach during the first half of the 20th century. Turtle soup, the same account notes, was one of the longtime specialties attached to the inn's menu.
News of the closing has stirred a wave of nostalgia online. Commenters on the inn's Facebook page praised the restaurant's food, staff, memories, celebrations, and friendships built over the years, with one writing that they would miss the servers and food, and another simply saying they would miss the restaurant itself.
For now, the inn remains open for its final days, with the Roberts family inviting the community to share one more meal before November 14 closes the book on nearly two centuries of history along York Haven Road.
