The Lightner Farmhouse Bed & Breakfast

On nineteen acres of beautiful Gettysburg countryside, rests the Lightner Farmhouse. A graceful
Federal-style brick home built ca.1862 by Isaac Lightner, an Adams County sheriff and farmer.

 

Used as a Federal hospital for wounded soldiers following the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg, today the Farmhouse offers the feel of history with modern comforts and extraordinary hospitality. Two suites are offered for family accommodations, and group events are a specialty at the Lightner.

Please rely on our expertise to help you plan your stay in the Gettysburg area. We can recommend the best way to tour the Battlefield, favorite restaurants for your dining pleasure and day trips using us as your home base. Our Victorian parlor offers quiet space for reading and visiting or listening to the history of the Farm as presented by Mrs. Lightner a.k.a. Miss Eileen.

Wireless internet throughout the farmhouse gives you the ability to check your email. Or you may enjoy livelier gatherings with new friends in the Common Room where games, a cable television, and videos are available for your entertainment. Bring your own bottle of wine for a quiet gathering. With advance notice the Hoovers will be glad to have champagne or wine waiting for you. Sit on the porch and enjoy the company of our outdoor cat, Jake, or enjoy the view of the gardens and fields. Outdoor enthusiasts can walk our 15 acre Nature Trail. Even better bring your bikes and we can provide a biking map of the Battlefield for your tour. Since we are a small bed and breakfast, the Lightner Farmhouse is the perfect setting for family gatherings such as reunions, anniversaries, birthdays, graduations and other special events. Custom gift certificates are available upon request. Please feel free to contact us about any special arrangements you may have in mind.

We are committed to making our guests as comfortable and relaxed as possible during their stay at the Lightner Farmhouse Bed and Breakfast. Therefore, we would be happy to make arrangements for the following upon request:

• We sell discounted CD audio tours of the Battlefield produced by Travel Brains.
• Guided tours of the Gettysburg National Military Park can be arranged
• Dinner reservations at local restaurants.
• Surprises for birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions
• Information on Bicycle rentals, horseback riding, ghost walks, etc.

Mornings at the Lightner Farmhouse begin in our lovely dining room where guests may sit by a window and watch the wildlife outside, or they may spend quiet time prior to enjoying our full course breakfast. Coffee and tea are on by 7:00 a.m., and breakfast is served between 8:00 and 9:00 a.m. Breakfast consists of several courses served with coffee, tea, and fruit juice. The meal begins with sweet bread or muffins followed by a fruit dish. Our main entrees alternate daily between waffles or pancakes and savory egg dishes, often served with a side of sausage or bacon.

Even though we are conveniently located within a five-minute drive to Gettysburg and only two miles from the new Visitors Center at the Gettysburg National Military Park, we are surrounded by 19 acres of beautiful, historic land. We encourage all our guests to take a relaxing stroll on the trails that cross our grounds while following our complimentary "Lightner Farmhouse History and Nature Trail". The grounds are the home to many animals including chipmunks, squirrels, rabbits, and the occasional red fox. Our woods also have a variety of trees and wildflowers, as well as quite a few white-tail deer which are often spotted at dusk grazing in the field nearby.

 

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Travelers are always looking for memorable and relaxing experiences. Let’s discover more through the words of our innkeepers. Many thanks to Eileen Hoover for sharing her own secrets with BBOnline.com!

Why do most travelers stay at your inn? We are a historic property - a Civil War field hospital following the Battle of Gettysburg. Therefore history is the biggest draw. We also own 26 acres and have a 15 acre Nature Trail for walking. Our location three miles south of Gettysburg offers close proximity to town but lots of quiet space for relaxation away from the activity of town. Thirdly many ghost hunters prefer a historic property that could be haunted. Fourth we offer the type of hospitality that makes visitors want to return frequently. We become a home away from home for them. Our repeat and referral business are very important to us.

What are you best known for? What makes your inn unique? What do you love most about your inn? We are famous for our hospitality, our attention to detail (guests will say we have thought of everything), our food (home made jam, home made cookies, great breakfasts). We are unique in that the house which served as a Civil War hospital is outfitted with all 21th century amenities such as central air conditioning, private baths, snacks and beverages all day and plenty of concierge service. We love the architecture of the house, the fact that its' integrity remains even though it has been updated. We also love the property and the gardens we have created. It is a peaceful and happy place.

If someone has never been to your city, what is the #1 reason to come visit? The Gettysburg Battlefield is the #1 reason that people visot and 2013 is the 150th Anniversary of the battle.

What’s the best compliment you have ever received about the inn? The best compliment we've received is that It feels just like home or we've had guests ask "May I move in?"

What’s the best kept secret about the area? The best kept secrets of the area include our agricultural tours and wineries plus the antique malls that are in abundance.

If a traveler is staying at your inn for 4 nights, what should he/she do in the area? For travelers staying more than just a weekend we suggest the following itinerary: Day #1 - Tour the Gettysburg National Military Park Visitors Center Museum and take a tour of the Battlefield. Day #2 - Tour the Eisenhower Farm in the morning and the Shriver House in the afternoon. Day #3 - Either shop the antique shops and malls or tour the 3 local wineries. Day#4 - Hike the battlefield or the Michaux State Forest west of town OR do a horse back ride on the battlefield or a Segway ride of the battlefield..

Is there anything within walking distance of your inn? We are not within walking distance of anything.

What is your favorite restaurant/food in the area? Our favorite restaurant is the historic Dobbin House.

Any good area guides/websites that travelers could reference? www.gettysburg.travel/

How many rooms does your inn have? We have a 7 rooms.

Do you accept pets? We do not accept pets.

 

In 1862, Gettysburg Sheriff Isaac Lightner and his wife moved into their new home on the Baltimore Turnpike. Solidly built of brick, the house combined the simple elegance of the Federal style with elements of the Victorian age.

On July 1, 1863, the Lightner home became part of history, when Union Army Surgeon New established his Hospital Headquarters at the nearby White Church and annexed the Sheriff's farm. The Lightner Farmhouse served as a Field Hospital, providing shelter for battle-weary men of the First Corps. Tall trees shaded the soldiers camped on the grounds, water from White Run quenched their thirst, and bread baked in the beehive oven provided food. Now only memories linger, like ghosts of those eventful days.

From Gettysburg -
take Baltimore Pike South, two miles from Cemetery Hill. Cross over Route 15. The Lightner Farmhouse is .8 mile ahead on the left.

From Harrisburg -
from Route 15 South take the exit for Baltimore Street (Route 97). Turn left onto Baltimore Street. The Lightner Farmhouse is .8 mile ahead on the left.

From Frederick, MD -
from Route 15 North take the exit for Baltimore Street (Route 97). Turn right onto Baltimore Street. The Lightner Farmhouse is .7 mile ahead on the left.

From Baltimore -
take Route 97 North through Littlestown. The Lightner Farmhouse is 6 miles ahead on the right.