Since 1745, the Historic General Warren Inne has been center stage for American history and a premier carriage stop for hungry travelers.

During The French & Indian War
The story of the Historic General Warren Inne can be followed through its name changes. First named in 1745 as The Admiral Vernon Inne in honor of the naval commander Admiral Edward Vernon who led the 1739 attack and capture of Portobello, Panama. In 1758, the name was changed from the Admiral Vernon to the Admiral Warren after the famed Admiral Peter Warren, a hero in defense of the American colony that year at Louisburg, (Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia.) during the French and Indian War.

American Revolution
During the revolution, the Inne was owned by John Penn of Philadelphia, loyalist and grandson of William Penn. Its key location on the main highway between Philadelphia and Lancaster had helped the Admiral Warren become a popular stage stop and a Tory stronghold. It was here that the Loyalists met, drew maps and plotted against the revolutionaries. Howe and Cornwallis use these maps to negotiate the great valley, the route to capture Philadelphia.

Paoli Massacre
The infamous Paoli Massacre, was planned and launched from The Admiral Warren Inne. Local folklore has it that on the night of September 20, 1777, the British, led by Lord Grey, captured the local blacksmith and tortured him on the third floor of the inn.

Upon receiving the information that General "Mad Anthony" Wayne was camped 1 mile South of the inn, the British attacked with bayonettes after midnight.

The Lancaster Turnpike Era
In 1786, John Penn sold the property to Casper Fahnestock, a German Seventh Day Adventist from Ephrata. During Fahnestock's long ownership, the Inne once again thrived, attracting many Lancaster County Germans and other travelers along The Lancaster Turnpike because of its reputation for clean lodging and excellent food.

The Early 19th Century
In 1825 an effort was made to make amends with the new nation, the Admiral Warren was renamed the General Warren, to honor the American hero of Bunker Hill. During the 1820's, the height of turnpike travel was reached, and the General Warren became a relay stop for mail stages and a post office. Then in April of 1831, the Philadelphia and Columbia Railway opened for travel, and in May of 1834, the last regular stage went through. The new, faster and cheaper means of travel via the rails doomed the inn as traffic by-passed the property.

The Inn's Dormant Period
In the 1830's the great grandson of the first Fahnestock turned the Inne into a Temperance Hotel, cutting down his apple orchard to prevent cider from being made. The lack of spirits doomed the hotel, and it closed within a few years. From that point into the early 20th Century, The General Warren Inne changed hands often, occasionally becoming a private residence. In the 1920's, the inn reopened as a restaurant, with limited success over the next 60 years.

The Modern Era
As area population and business grew in the mid 1980's, the current owners made great strides to return the Inne to its 18th Century elegance. The upper floors were renovated into 8 suites, the addition of a private dining room and all-weather heated patio for cocktail parties, outdoor dining and weddings. In 2005, the latest improvements included the new Admiral Vernon Dining Room and the return of The Warren Tavern, a spacious bar for dining and spirits, relocated to the original spot of the old tavern from the 19th Century.

Today At The General Warren Inne
Today's guest at The Historic General Warren Inne will find the perfect blend of old world charm, excellence in continental cuisine, fine wines and delightful overnight accommodations.