Some places you stay. This one you settle into. The E.J. Bowman House has stood on Lititz Pike since 1860, an Italianate home restored with everything worth keeping — the high ceilings, the deep windows, the sense that a good many people have fallen in love here.
Evenings are why people come back. You light the gas fireplace, pour a glass of something, and the world goes quiet. There are five guest rooms at the E.J. Bowman House, each with a private bath, heated floors underfoot, and a door nobody is going to knock on. Five rooms is the point. The inn stays intimate, quiet, and romantic. Rates start at $170 for two, breakfast included.
By day, Lancaster County is right outside. Lititz is four miles up the road, one of the prettiest small towns in Pennsylvania. Downtown Lancaster and Central Market sit about five miles the other way. Past that, it's Amish farmland in every direction, back roads, covered bridges, and the sort of afternoon that doesn't need a plan. Hershey is half an hour out, Gettysburg about an hour, if you'd rather make a week of it.
The house introduces itself before we do. Fourteen hand-painted murals by the Lancaster Mural Company climb the foyer and formal staircase, depicting Lancaster County as it looked in the 1800s, with the seasons turning as you go up. The parlor holds an 1890 pump organ and a fireplace big enough to sit beside. The den is where afternoons disappear. When the light goes, lamps come on along the garden paths and walk you down to the pond.
Then there's breakfast, which is a genuine event. Scott cooks it — multiple courses, sweet and savory both, built around whatever the local growers have that week, and he doesn't repeat himself, so a second morning is its own occasion. Gluten-free, vegan, and dairy-free are all easy with a little notice.
The E.J. Bowman House suits couples best: anniversaries, quiet weekends, the getaway you've been meaning to take since spring.
Still have questions? Call us at (717) 519-0808 or visit our FAQ.
Plan your multi-venue trip with our bed & breakfast as your home base. Stay with us and enjoy savings! Book 5 consecutive nights online (same room) and automatically receive the fifth night free. Conveniently located, you'll be within 30 minutes of Hershey and roughly an hour from Gettysburg, PA. This B&B Discount offer is available at any time but cannot be combined with other specials, third-party bookings, or gift certificates/cards.
