Ironmaster's Mansion Hostel

[IronmastersMansion]

1212 Pine Grove Road, PA 17324
(717)486-7575
[email protected] OR [email protected]
Price - $22 & $25
Day Use Rooms, include shower- $6
Shuttle Service Available - $1/mile & $5/additional persons
Free Internet
Free Nationwide Long Distance
Laundry
Television

[Marta]

I wasn't quite sure what to say. My stay almost didn't happen. I got there on a very cold, very wet day in the late fall, only to be told that a group had reserved the entire place and I couldn't stay. I whined a bit; thank goodness Donna showed some mercy. I was in a pretty bad state--had I known the hostel was not open to hikers that day I would never have gotten soaked to the skin on such a cold day.

Once in, however, I had a great stay.

[Appalachian Tater]

I didn't actually stay there but I used the phone and took a shower in the afternoon when the place was pretty empty. The lady there was very nice. The bathroom did not seem to be adequate for a facility of that type, that accommodates groups, and it was not very clean. I guess had it been at a rustic hostel I wouldn't have thought twice about it, but it was incongruent with the expectations of such a nice building. There may also be other bathrooms I don't know about. If there aren't, then perhaps you should consider that as a possible project.

[rafe]

It's a decent hostel; has all the needed amenities. It has a hard "fee" ($20 or so, as I recall) rather than being "honor system." A large, full kitchen that you can use... "free" coffee and tea. Nice porch, a store next door where you can buy munchies and grille food. The dorms are dorm-ish. Clean but very spartan. As Tater mentioned -- the bathrooms are nice but probably too small for a "full house." When I was at Ironmaster's late last summer, I was the only hiking guest. (A non-hiking family was there for the night, but not staying in the dorms.)

[the goat]

i have enjoyed all my stays at ironmasters hostel.

it has everything you could want and more for about $20.

[IronmastersMansion]

Thanks to those who have responded to the poll. Keep them coming. We're trying to do all we can to accommodate everyone. As for the bathrooms...we agree but we can't make changes like that without a lot of red tape and even then, it probably won't be allowed. We have a total of 4 bathrooms that so far have handled the max of 46 guests. People just learn to wait their turn. The Day Use Area only has 2 open bathrooms but it's better than waiting on the porch with none. We hope we can continue the Day Use, but so far things have not been going well...we'll just have to wait and see. P.S. There is a dumpster in the parking lot where you can empty your trash...PLEASE use it. Thank you.

[Caveman of Ohio]

Is the same lady from 07 still taking care of the place. I forgot her name but she is good people.

[IronmastersMansion]

Donna retired. Ray & Lori Burt (us) are the new managers. Stop by and see the changes. Hope you like them.

[Caveman of Ohio]

I am doing a little section hike from Harpers Ferry to Boiling Springs starting on Friday. I plan on staying there one evening.

[weary]

I stayed here on the trail, enjoyed it greatly. And when my inlaws -- now deceased -- lived in North cAROLINA My wife and I stopped at the Iron Masters many times in our multiple journeys south, as a more pleasant stop from motels.

I heartedly recommend this wonderful historic site! I've stayed there while camping at the nearby state park, while on the trail, during the annual Ruck, while attempting 2000-mile- status and many times before and since. It's truly one of the great AT sites.

Weary

[IronmastersMansion]

Great! Can't wait to meet you. Hopefully the weather clears up. We'll be keeping a look out for you. Have fun...

[grumpypickle]

The Ironmasters Mansion is no longer offering a thru hiker discount. The general and I were charged full rate of $25. The gentleman checking us in advised they are specifically not honoring the discount.

JukeBox

[Lone Wolf]

thru-hikers should never get a discount on anything. it's their choice to be out there and use lodging.

[rafe]

thru-hikers should never get a discount on anything. it's their choice to be out there and use lodging.

Well, it's up the individual business owner, I'd think. But in the case of Ironmasters, as I recall, it's an official AYH hostel so their rates are probably set that way. (The only AYH hostel I know of on the AT, in fact -- are there others?)

[Appalachian Tater]

Well, it's up the individual business owner, I'd think. But in the case of Ironmasters, as I recall, it's an official AYH hostel so their rates are probably set that way. (The only AYH hostel I know of on the AT, in fact -- are there others?)

There is one in Knoxville, MD across from Harper's Ferry. The one on the C&O is not American Youth Hostels but Hosteling International USA.

[Panzer1]

Donna retired. Ray & Lori Burt (us) are the new managers. Stop by and see the changes. Hope you like them.

Looking forward to meeting you.

Panzer
ps I love the place

[weary]

thru-hikers should never get a discount on anything. it's their choice to be out there and use lodging.

Thru hikers are given discounts mostly because businesses along the trail want their money. It's called competition.

I don't object to discounts by people seeking customers. I do find the hordes of people who swarm around the trail, offering food and stuff to people lucky enough to be able to take a six month vacation a bit silly.

Of all the ills that face this world, gifts to the relatively affluent strike me as a bit misguided. Next thing will be tax breaks and subsidies to help industries move their jobs overseas. Oh, I forgot. We do that already.

Weary

[bfitz]

I love it! Even though I've never actually stayed in the hostel. The Rucks have all been a blast there but I've always camped just down the road.

Of all the ills that face this world, gifts to the relatively affluent strike me as a bit misguided. Next thing will be tax breaks and subsidies to help industries move their jobs overseas. Oh, I forgot. We do that already.

Weary

Yer just jealous. Gifts are the the prerogative of the giver.

[Panzer1]

thru-hikers should never get a discount on anything. it's their choice to be out there and use lodging.

What about if the thru-hiker had a coupon. Would it be OK if they got a discount then?

Panzer

[camojack]

Well, it's up the individual business owner, I'd think. But in the case of Ironmasters, as I recall, it's an official AYH hostel so their rates are probably set that way. (The only AYH hostel I know of on the AT, in fact -- are there others?)

I'm pretty sure that the hostel along the section where the A.T. runs along the C & O for a few miles is an AYH one, too.