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Penn Wells Hotel

3.5 (29 reviews)
ModerateHotels
Open Open 24 hours

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Gerald S.

We stayed at the Penn Wells Hotel in Wellsboro, PA, while exploring Leonard Harrison State Park and its central attraction, the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania, about ten miles outside of town. I enjoy historic hotels and have visited many of them around the country. This one was of a late 19th Century style, built in 1869 just after the Civil War, and a major stop on the road between New York and Chicago. While nothing like the Waldorf Astoria, on a smaller scale it has a charm and aged vitality that is palpable. The lobby is classical with stately sitting rooms with large hearth and fireplace, and large American flag constructed of red, white and blue glass bulbs. A much larger dining room is in the rear, where elite dinners and receptions were its stock and trade. Still a significant parlor and kitchen for this community; and for us, the place to have a decent breakfast as guests of the house. The upstairs rooms were a mixed bag. We were in two of them, and found that their somewhat worn expressions were appropriate for their true age, but still offering a degree of comfort that reflected their origins. Plaster walls with long windows overlooking either Main Street, the inner courtyard or back parking lot, kept the noise from adjoining rooms to a minimum, while allowing good views of streetlife or the surrounding mountains. We ended up in Room 316. It had a bedroom, sitting room and two bathrooms, making it very easy for us to settle in. The porcelain sinks were older vintage with separate hot and cold faucets. The hot water was scalding (only made that mistake once), so I learned to wash with cold water to avoid burns. No stopper to allow mixing. The shower was a tight squeeze, but manageable with a little patience. The queen bed was less comfortable that hoped, but we were able to sleep well enough to recharge overnight. The carpet was passed its prime, and really should have been replaced with wood floor rather than more carpeting to provide a reality of a floor that was safe to walk on with bare feet. Although not mentioned by the other reviews, I found the dim hallways spooky, and actually had chills down my back on occasion. This is definitely a lodging where ghost stories could be told. Friendly spirits from a Victorian Age, but perhaps brighter lights and open windows would alleviate the sense of dark heaviness about the place. Nonetheless, a worthy stop on your road to wherever life is taking you.

Historic Main Entrance
Dan A.

A Simply Wonderful Experience! Arrived in this wonderful small town in north-central Pennsylvania to meet up with family from the Lehigh Valley. A great experience getting there on Friday Afternoon just in time to experience the high school homecoming parade. Kids were supporting the Wellsboro Hornets; tossing candy and even handing out Pigs in a Blanket wrapped in foil! Had an awesome time with the family over the weekend and will definitely return here again. The Penn Wells Hotel is located right in the center of town across the street from the local department store. Yes, on Main Street! Upon arrival, most of us had rooms on the top floor and had great views of the nearby mountains. The hotel was clean and well appointed. Although a bit dated, as with any historic hotel, management worked hard to make sure the facility was in great shape and had modern amenities. The rooms were clean and spacious, however, some of the bathrooms can be quite small. Remember, this place is well over 150 years old. The hotel dining room serves a nice selection of cuisine (albeit a bit pricey, but costs have gone up everywhere,) and has a good wine list. They also have a nice bar with a rustic six foot wide fireplace and mantel that looks like it would be awesome in the wintertime. A real nice perk is the all you can eat breakfast included each morning. Eggs, sausage, bacon, the whole spread. Be sure to check this wonderful place out if you are ever traveling in this area of the country and especially during the fall leaf peeping season.

Sunday Brunch
Pat B.

The Penn Wells was a grand hotel during its time. If you want to step back in time this is the hotel for you. It still has all the original features. The tiny room was musty with no closet to hang clothes or hooks and a small bathroom that is dated. The street traffic is constant all night long. No coffee maker or fridge. There were rusty roofing nails on the floor on our room when we checked in. The pool is actually down the street so bring a cover up. The continental breakfast has the best coffee otherwise very very basic.

Loved their bathroom wallpaper.
Janet L.

If you like staying in places with history and character, this is the place for you. As you enter the lobby there is a hint of the history that this place has. Smoke free facility that still uses old fashioned room keys. Our room was small but well laid out. The bathroom has antique wallpaper which I loved. The dining room was filled with old time photos. They are numbered and a sheet is provided with info on each picture. We had an amazing dinner at a decent price. Their dill salmon and crusted haddock was delicious and well prepared. Continental breakfast gave you hot and cold choices. Their muffins are baked at the hotel and were so good that I ate two with my eggs and sausage.

Keith J.

Great place to stay and relatively cheap . Great food great service. I can't wait to come back

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Ask the Community - Penn Wells Hotel

Are the rooms in the hotel (historic) air conditioned? If so, by what means? Thanks

Yes. Very comfortable. Window Air Conditioners. Watch the hot water radiators, they get hot.

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Review Highlights - Penn Wells Hotel

Although a bit dated, as with any historic hotel, management worked hard to make sure the facility was in great shape and had modern amenities.

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Penn Wells Lodge - Stairway to 2nd floor rooms. Grungy red carpet.

Penn Wells Lodge

(32 reviews)

$$

The room was a decent size. However, the beds were tiny. In fact, way too small for adults to fit…read morein. The staff at the pool and front desk were rude multiple times. The breakfast was great. The view outside of the room on the porch was a great feature as well

On Wednesday, July 30, my wife and I traveled to Wellsboro to celebrate our anniversary and explore…read morethe Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. After researching options, my wife selected Penn Wells due to its reputation and small-town charm. We initially attempted to book online but ultimately called for more information. The staff member we spoke with was pleasant and helpful, recommending the Lodge over the Hotel for its larger rooms and more modern features. Based on this, we booked a room with double beds. We arrived around 4 PM to check in. The front desk staff was polite, though not particularly informative when we inquired about local attractions or restaurants. One of the staff members admitted to being new and unfamiliar with the area, and the other, the manager, offered limited suggestions only speaking about the Diner and Steakhouse, when I specifically asked about burgers/chicken. Fortunately, a fellow guest provided helpful recommendations, including a band performance in the town park--an event not mentioned by staff. After settling into our room, we walked to town for dinner and enjoyed the concert. We returned to the room around 9 PM, only to find the double beds were too small for us to share comfortably. We ultimately slept in separate beds. The next morning, Thursday, July 31, we were pleased with the quality of the breakfast and the warm, attentive staff member managing it. She stood out as a highlight of our stay. Later in the day, I attempted to use the pool area. Unfortunately, the staff member present was unhelpful--unable or unwilling to answer basic questions about the pool and jacuzzi, likely due to wearing loud AirPods. I returned after dinner and inquired at the front desk about the size of the beds, as I had measured them to be 54" x 60"--significantly shorter than the standard Double Bed size of 54" x 75". As someone 5'10", my feet extended past the edge of the bed. I asked how best to address this, and the manager informed me to speak to the owner who would be available at 9 AM the next morning. On Friday, August 1, we again had a pleasant breakfast experience thanks to the same staff member. However, while sitting near the front desk due to limited dining space, we observed a supervisor publicly reprimanding this employee. While we understand the need for accountability, we felt the tone and setting were inappropriate, especially given the employee's positive attitude and the presence of guests. Before checking out, I asked if the owner had arrived but was told they had not. Due to a prior reservation at 9:30 AM, we chose to depart without further discussion. As we exited, I noticed the same bottle I had discarded in the entrance trash can on Wednesday had still not been emptied--something that speaks to a lack of attention to detail. Positive Experiences: *Modern lodge with balconies ideal for relaxing and enjoying the views *Excellent location in a charming town *Fresh, well-prepared breakfast with a good variety *Exceptional service from the breakfast attendant *Clean, refreshed rooms *Well-maintained pool and jacuzzi *Reasonable pricing Areas for Improvement: *Front desk staff lacked local knowledge and initiative in assisting guests *Pool staff appeared disengaged and unresponsive to basic questions *Public reprimanding of staff in front of guests was uncomfortable and unprofessional *Bed sizes were significantly smaller than expected, making for an uncomfortable sleeping arrangement *Main Entrance trash was not emptied over the course of multiple days *Pool closing time of 8 PM is early, especially for families returning from dinner or evening activities While we enjoyed parts of our stay, especially the breakfast service and the town itself, several aspects detracted from our overall experience. As we consider a return trip in the fall, we may explore other lodging options to ensure both comfort and quality service.

Penn Wells Hotel - hotels - Updated May 2026

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