Thornwald Mansion

The owners have done a phenomenal job bringing this property back from abandoned. They are also attentive, kind, and wonderful hosts. The breakfasts are delicious. With that said, the property is unfinished. Most rooms are off limits, including those pictured in the overview. You can access the entry, your suite, and the breakfast room, nothing else. The entry courtyard is all dry loose gravel on top of plastic, and the fountains are not operating. There is no outdoor seating or patios. The a/c in the guest room couldn't keep up, and there is no ceiling fan to help. The house itself, except for the breakfast room, is pretty dark, and they keep most of the lights off including in the guest hallways. There is no hot water in the bathroom, just slightly warm. No shampoo, just a budget brand travel size conditioner for color-treated hair (?) and one small bar of soap. For the price, I would expect decent toiletries. For the two of us, we received 2 bath towels, and 2 washcloths. No hand towels, and no additional towels. WiFi is decent, but no streaming available on the TV, only a bare bones cable package. The house is locked 24/7, and guests do not receive a key, having to be let in and out every time which can feel a little oppressive. I have done historic rehab, understand its difficulties, but there is no excuse for missing grout and haphazardly cut tiles when the materials are mostly new from Lowes. The building is very quiet. Which can be nice...but it is also like staying in a mortuary. Although the private gated parking is a nice amenity, the gate is locked from 10 pm to 6 am, and there is no opener or gate code if you had to leave for any reason during that time, without waking up the hosts. There are cameras throughout the inside of the house, along with motion sensors that chime every step you take outside of your room. They seem very nice, we liked them personally, but it's overall creepy. I imagine this is how exiled dictators under house arrest live. It may work well for an event, the location is convenient, and is very interesting to see - but the fact that most of it is closed off, and the price is very high considering its eccentricities, like no hot water and limited AC, it is not a great choice for couples looking for a getaway.

Absolutely loved our stay at the mansion! What an amazing place with beautiful restoration and grand architecture. The rooms are beautiful and equipped with everything a traveler needs such as nice towels and bathrobes and great amenities. The building is quiet at night so I had a great night’s sleep. The bed was comfortable with luxurious soft sheets. The breakfast was delicious and the staff was fantastic with exceptional service. The Innkeeper was extremely knowledgeable about the property restoration and its history. We enjoyed our conversation. The trees of the park surrounding the garden give it a unique atmosphere. There's a nice backyard to hang out in and patio with lounging chairs for reading a book or just getting sun. We most definitely will be back and staying here again!

In the resting property that owners are working to restore and upgrade. Storied building with historical connections to the community. Good breakfast. Rooms were very large. Definitely will stay here again as more parts of the building open up and their proposed spa goes into operation.

Wonderful stay. Hosts are very welcoming. Mansion has been meticulously restored. The grounds and surrounding park are beautiful. Breakfast was two courses and delicious.. Great location for visiting Carlisle and Dickinson College.

Beautiful mansion that is close to downtown but feels tucked away and secluded. This is an excellent choice for a visit to Carlisle. The owner is an excellent cook and could not have done more to make sure our visit was comfortable and delightful.