What to Expect at the Historic Gettysburg Hotel :
Surrounded by historic buildings — including the one where President Abraham Lincoln polished his Gettysburg Address — the stately Gettysburg Hotel at One Lincoln Square has since 1797 held the best location in town with its imposing physical presence.
Unfortunately, its level of hospitality and interior design do not match the elegant outer shell. Yet the many bus travelers it attracts do not seem to mind.
Guest Rooms at the Historic Gettysburg Hotel :
Room 601, where we stayed on the sixth (top) floor of the hotel, is large, clean, and drab. In-room Internet dial-up service is available, and there is free lobby wi-fi.
TV features 65 non-premium channels (mostly shopping, sports, and religious programs). In-room movies are unavailable, but guests can have a VCR delivered to the room and choose from outdated VHS titles.
Bathroom wallpaper was a-peeling and the toilet leaked. No turndown service was proffered.
Dining at the Historic Gettysburg Hotel :
The hotel's lobby-level Centuries on the Square serves a complimentary institutional-style buffet breakfast complete with microwaved eggs and cold, greasy bacon. It is also open for dinner. At night an unappetizing slab of raw beef was displayed on a table beside the dining room. If this was intended to tantalize, it did not — especially since it looked as if it the same piece of meat was used two nights in a row. The adjoining McClellan's Tavern is an English-style, circa-19th-century pub.
Honeymoon at the Historic Gettysburg Hotel :
The Historic Gettysburg Hotel contains bridal suites that have a Jacuzzi for two and a fireplace.
Couples attentive to decor may be disappointed by furnishings that are outmoded rather than authentically historic or charmingly reproduced. Rooms that don't overlook pretty Lincoln Square face the parking garage.
Weddings at the Historic Gettysburg Hotel :
Weddings are held in the circa-1811 Gettysburg National Bank, which has been converted to the hotel's Grand Ballroom. High ceilings are inlaid with gold, burgundy, and green. The room is lit by 19th-century chandeliers. For information on wedding packages, contact the hotel's sales director. Weddings held at the hotel during January, February, and March are significantly less expensive than other seasons.
Nearby the Historic Gettysburg Hotel :
Antiques stores, book and curio shops, and pubs are within walking distance of the Gettysburg Hotel. There is a dearth of quality restaurants in the immediate area.
However, most people come to town to experience Gettysburg National Military Park, about 10-15 minutes by car from the hotel. Gettysburg is an hour or so from Hershey, Harrisburg, Antietam, and Harpers Ferry. Washington, DC is an hour and a half away.
Is the Historic Gettysburg Hotel Right for You?:
If you like being in the middle of town, where you can walk to shops, you'll appreciate the hotel's location.
But if you like well-designed and aesthetically appealing quarters, appreciate gracious service, require a swimming pool, valet parking, wi-fi in your room, and a wide choice of channels and current movies to watch, you may not fully appreciate the Historic Gettysburg Hotel.
Note:
The hotel charges motorists $7.95 daily to self-park in a garage two blocks away. Guests parking late at night have to walk through a dark alley to reach the street.
Where to Find More Information About the Historic Gettysburg Hotel :
