I feel badly that I never reviewed the Cameron Estate Inn years ago because my husband and I have had many delightful stays there over the years when it was owned by two gentleman whose names escape me now. I would have given it five stars every visit. As a B&B, it was top rate: a lovely old mansion, well kept, beautiful antique furniture, wall coverings, etc., books to read, public spaces to relax, and gourmet made-to-order breakfast and dinner on an enclosed porch overlooking the expansive grounds. Each room had a booklet describing the history of the house. The owners had an enviable collection of antique sterling silver that was fun just to look at. All of this nestled among some Pennsylvania farm fields and old growth trees -- it even has a stream! It was well worth the top-rate room-rates.
Sadly, that is no longer the case. Whether that is due to a change of ownership or economic necessity, I can no longer recommend this venue as a B&B. We will never return.
Without clearly stating this on their website, the mansion is now used almost exclusively as a wedding venue. Unfortunately, the "renovations" have completely changed the character of the old building. What was once a light-filled brick-paved dining porch for breakfast and dinner overlooking the grounds, is now a ballroom, decorated in a way not-at-all in keeping with the age of the building. The dining room, once covered in the original (or very old) wallpaper, has been renovated as a window-less room better suited to a chain motel, with modern gilt sconces and booths. The enormous old fireplace has had its original mantel discarded and its firebox replaced by a faux "flickering light" "fire." Such appears to be the fate of the other original fireplaces in the building.
Gone are the gourmet breakfasts. Though our breakfast probably would have been fine in a chain motel that has a self-serve bar, it was not what we had come to expect from the Cameron Estate Inn. The hash-browns were clearly frozen. Fruit and toast were unavailable. The scrambled eggs were just plain old scrambled eggs. I think the waffles were frozen too.
Our room, described on the website as in an outbuilding, was a vinyl-clad converted garage. The furniture in our room was new and, not sure how else to say this, cheesy -- unlike the antiques that appear to remain in some of the other rooms. There was no rug on the cold floor; no dresser in which to put our clothes. Within our room were two small rooms: one for a shower and one for a sink; the sink room had no place to hang towels. Though the room boasted a gas fireplace, there were no instructions on how to use it. One of the staff got it going for us, after a considerable amount of effort. Lots of little inconveniences: there were no cups in the room; the linens were not changed during our stay. The wifi network that we were instructed, in the room guidelines, to use did not exist. This is very picky, but the bedspread did not match the rest of the furnishings in the room -- this would not have been the case in the Inn's earlier incarnation -- that was the level of attention to detail that prevailed.
Finally, I should be clear that I cannot review this Inn from the vantage point of someone shopping for a wedding venue. However, my husband and I are veteran B&B hoppers all over the mid-Atlantic region. The Cameron Estate Inn was one of our favorites, especially when we wanted to go antique-hunting in Adamstown, PA, about 40 minutes away. And the Inn is a quick drive to Mount Joy and Bube's Brewery, an historic 19th century brewery and museum -- also a pub and restaurant. What was once a treasure is now a huge disappointment, and definitely not worth the five-star prices they charge for their rooms. We have stayed there for the last time. read more