The Story of Allenberry Resort Inn & Playhouse

In America the unusual often becomes ordinary, but every now and then one finds an enterprise so rare that it stands out from the crowd. Allenberry is such a place. Allenberry is located in the Cumberland Valley near the quaint village of Boiling Springs - named from the underground springs that feed the lake and "boil" in the winter months. Allenberry was transformed from a private estate into a year round resort and playhouse by its founder, the late Charles A. B. Heinze.

Charles A. B. Heinze began to study law at Penn State College. To pay his way through college he sold Wearever Aluminum from door to door. Cooking demonstrations whetted his appetite for the food business, so he enrolled in the hotel administration course at Penn State. Charles Heinze worked at the State College Hotel following his graduation, as the assistant manager, and he learned the food business and how it can be operated in a small hotel. He gave credit to Matty Mateer, who owned and operated the State College Hotel, for his encouragement and guidance. In 1935, Charles purchased the Carlisle Inn, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and operated it until 1950.

Along with his father, John W. Heinze, he bought a summer estate from the Sadler family who had owned and operated a large farm near Boiling Springs. The property had been in the Sadler family since 1872 and had been farmed until 1929. But as families change, grow and move to other areas, the farm was gradually sold, bit-by-bit, until only 57 acres were left. Mr. Heinze bought the property and the buildings, which includes all present buildings except a few guest houses, a personal dwelling and the theatre. The estate was known as Allenberry, having received its name from the fields of berries surrounding the Allen Township property.

The main building, Fairfield Hall, built in 1785, which houses dining areas and kitchens, was formerly the barn. A limestone barn built in 1812 now houses the Stone Lodge and Carriage Room. Transformations started to take place in 1944 when Mr. Heinze bought the estate from Dr. Sadler. The solid stone buildings constructed in sturdy Pennsylvania Dutch manner, proved to be ideally suited for remodeling. Not all of the work was done immediately - rather, a building at a time was tackled and sometimes only a portion of the job that was planned for it was completed. Cleason Cromer, a local contractor, did a lot of the original work remodeling Allenberry's limestone barns.

Mr. Heinze created a year round retreat and it operated as a commercial enterprise where good food, comfortable rooms and a beautiful countryside combine to make guests feel they are "King of all they survey."

In 1949 a summer theatre was started. A playhouse was constructed with modern theatre seats for 420 persons and equipped with all lighting and stage facilities. This has become a leading activity at Allenberry and the original run of 10 weeks in the summer has been extended to a season of more than 40 weeks, which starts in March and runs through December. Professional casts perform Broadway productions. Charles Heinze was the founder of the Allenberry Players and Richard North Gage was the original managing director, operating the theatre for more than 25 years.

Fairfield Hall contains four dining rooms, most with high ceilings, chandeliers and original painted murals on the walls depicting life as it was in the early part of the century. The rooms were named after former owners of Allenberry. The Bosler Room contains a full wall pictorial map of Cumberland County painted in 1934 by Paul A. Bosler. The Crockett Room has a mural of Dr. Sadler hunting with his dogs. In this mural, Dr. Sadler originally had a friend and his dog hunting with him, but their relationship ended one day and, alas, the hunter and his dog were painted out of the mural. An attractive lounge area and a gift shop have been added to the front entrance of Fairfield Hall. Built on a hillside, the lower level of Fairfield Hall remains only partially in the nature of a basement. It has modern kitchen equipment where a surprisingly large amount of food can be prepared for service to dining rooms, large picnic groups, or off property catering. In one corner of the lower level is a room originally known as the Players Club. Created as a place where members of the cast could relax and enjoy themselves, it was fitted with a soda fountain and a snack bar. The Players Club was later remodeled and changed into a cocktail lounge and dining room. It was renamed RNG Lounge after the founding director of the theatre - Richard North Gage. The Endrizzi Room and Brubaker Room were added in 1998 and the area was reopened as the main ala carte dining room at Allenberry in 1999, known again as the Players Club.

In an effort to call attention to the historical background of Fairfield Hall, former proprietors' names and dates of ownership are posted. Eight windows on one side of the building carry the following names and dates: Crockett - 1785; Beltzhoover - 1798; J. Lehman - 1863; J. Bosler - 1872; Clinton Bosler - 1898; Sadler - 1904; J. W. Heinze - 1944; C. A. B. Heinze - 1944.

J. W. Heinze, Charles' father, was an active participant in the enterprise and contributed greatly to the improvements. Known affectionately as Uncle John, he injected a delightful atmosphere of cordiality in his contacts with guests. Uncle John loved the grounds and trees at Allenberry, using the apples from the property to make his own homemade apple butter and mince meat pies.

Another major activity is catering - to groups of 15 to 15,000. It is a fact; at one time the Allenberry staff handled a barbecued chicken luncheon for 15,000. This was an event sponsored by the Ralston Purina Company, which had just completed a large new plant near Carlisle. Kitchens at Allenberry, in Harrisburg and at a bakery in nearby Lemoyne were pressed into service to produce the food required. The function was held at the Ralston plant. A staff of 150 people, representing 2,500 man-hours, handled the job of preparation and service. Food consumed included: eight tons of fried chicken; a half ton of potato chips; 450 gallons of baked beans; one ton of cabbage for coleslaw; 15,000 home made cinnamon rolls; 925 gallons of ice cream; 466 gallons of coffee; 40 gallons of cream; and "a sea" of milk served from bulk dispensers. On another occasion Mr. Heinze catered for a Republican Committee function where President and Mrs. Eisenhower were guests of honor, at Hershey, Pennsylvania. This was a box lunch project for 2,000. Hot chicken and other foods were packed at the Shrine Temple kitchen in Harrisburg and transported to the picnic area in Hershey. The 100th Anniversary of Masland Carpet found the Allenberry staff serving a sit-down Cornish game hen dinner for 1800 persons in Masland's main carpet plant in Carlisle. Allenberry has been honored to serve functions at the Governor's Mansion in Harrisburg for more than two decades.

An historic trout stream, the Yellow Breeches Creek, in recent years has developed a national reputation for professional fly-fishing. Long before the American Revolution, British soldiers named the stream "Yellow Breeches" when their white breeches came out yellow after washing them in the creek. Four Har-Tru tennis courts located beside the creek and the beautiful swimming pool above the courts round out Allenberry activities.

Allenberry Club was started in 1958 by Charles Heinze in order to make these unique facilities available to a membership of active and social-minded people in the Central Pennsylvania area. To be a member of the Allenberry Club is to enjoy all the services that a charming and gracious resort inn can offer. As a hotel guest at Allenberry, you are welcome to share the tennis courts, pool and all other facilities at Allenberry with members of the Club.

These are just a few things "Country Squire Charles A. B. Heinze" did to make his unusual place enduringly unique. And lest anyone get the impression that being a "country squire" at Allenberry is a life of ease, a visit to this place will dispel any such notion. The business Charles Heinze created in a relatively short span of years required a plan, a program and a dedicated attention to duty. It has required tireless effort in promoting business and making certain that once it is secured, business is well taken care of. These things he accomplished. They are unusual because Charles Heinze was, himself, unusual.

In 1986 Allenberry began producing Murder Mystery Weekends. During these interactive weekends, murder and mayhem mixed with an equal dose of comedy, music and fine food. Many guests return to see a new original production each year. What was initially a two weekends season has grown to twenty weekends of entertaining guests from October to April.

In the fall of 1992, Allenberry enclosed the popular South Mountain Patio beside the pool and created the beautiful, glass enclosed, 3,000 square foot Beltzhoover Terrace. The BT has quickly become a favorite area for wedding receptions and special functions.

The Pine Lodge was unveiled in 1995. Built next to Allenberry Playhouse and nestled among 100 year old pines; Pine Lodge contains 10 guest rooms and a grand lobby with a two story limestone fireplace.

In 1998, the Mansion House (the original homestead of the Heinze family) and the Still House (a building used by early settlers to transform grain into spirits) were converted into overnight suites filled with country elegance.

2003 saw the renovation of two vintage cottages into luxurious, private guest accommodations. Myers Cottage #1 and Young Cottage #2 have become popular choices for honeymooners and anniversary getaways alike.

Many groups choose Allenberry for their business meetings, seminars, banquets, and parties. Allenberry has space to accommodate any function including the beautiful Addison Room, which was recently added to Fairfield Hall.

Today the third and fourth generation Heinzes own and operate Allenberry in the fine tradition passed on to them by Charles A. B. Heinze. His three children John J. Heinze, Mary Jane Heinze, Jere Heinze and their families are actively involved in the operation of Allenberry. All are here to serve you and to welcome you to Allenberry - the Heinze family home.