Fallen Tree to Honor Vets with Free Rooms on Veterans Day

(Carlisle, PA) –  Fallen Tree, a member of the Cumberland Valley Bed and Breakfast Association will join hundreds of inns and B&Bs throughout the U.S. and Canada in honoring active and retired veterans with free rooms in recognition of Veteran’s Day. In a campaign called B&Bs for Vets, Fallen Tree Farm and other  members of the Cumberland Valley Bed and Breakfast Association will join inns and B&Bs across North America in opening their doors with complimentary stays for vets on November 10, 2011 so they can wake up on Veteran’s Day to a wonderful breakfast after a great night’s sleep in a B&B. At last count over 700 Inns were participating.


This is the second year that Fallen Tree Farm has participated in this campaign. In addition, this year we offered additional discounts on other stays to veterans who couldnt' stay with us over the holiday.


“We are proud to join innkeepers across the USA and Canada in honoring active and retired military and veterans by offering a complimentary room(s),” said Kim Hanlin, innkeeper at the Fallen Tree Farm and President of the Cumberland Valley Bed and Breakfast Association. “We are thrilled that thousands of vets and their families will wake up on 11-11-11 in a B&B, like ours. It’s one small way we can thank those serving in the military and their families for the important work they do” finished Kim Hanlin


" We salute and thank the members of our Cumberland Valley Bed and Breakfast Association who are veterans, Mary Duxbury (The Carlisle House), Lee Gelinas (Gelinas Manor), Bill Hawver (Red Cardinal Bed and Breakfast).Although they will not get the opportunity to enjoy a complimentary room for the service they have performed, they will be participating in the program by proudly sharing this day with the dedicated men and women who have given so much to us and to our country".


The B&Bs for Vets program started in 2008 when Kathleen Penek, co-owner of the Gillum House and a handful of other innkeepers in West Virginia opened their doors to veterans in honor of Veteran’s Day. The program grew in popularity among innkeepers, and last year more than 900 inns in the US and Canada participated by offering free rooms to vets. This year, the Professional Association of Innkeepers International will coordinate the B&Bs for Vets program as a way to help veterans learn about today’s B&B experience.



The Cumberland Valley Bed & Breakfast Association is a collection of authentic Pennsylvania lodging treasures, giving you a choice of unique and delightful Bed and Breakfast Inns. From Victorian homes and historic taverns to country manors and rural farmhouses, these B&Bs mirror the diverse times of life in Pennsylvania's beautiful rolling hills and quaint towns.

Mercersburg Inn getaway

I'm sure its not often that an Innkeeper blogs about another Inn, but I have to. The place is just too wonderful to go without mention, plus I have the time to, as Brent and I have snuck away from Fallen Tree to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary and do some long range planning for the B&B. Since the last 6 of those years have been spent purchasing, renovating and running Fallen Tree, staying married is no small accomplishment. As any Innkeeper might tell you, there can be some friction when two people open up their home and lives to guests.

For a quick getaway we decided on the Mercersburg Inn, A lovely 22,000 sq ft mansion in Mercersburg, about an hour from Fallen Tree. This place is A-mazing. Gorgeous, beautifully maintained, spic and span, each room with fabulous historical character and personality ( we were here on a Sunday in which many of the rooms were empty so I couldn't resist peaking into the open, unoccopied rooms-I've made a list of the ones I want to stay in next)

Of course because we are busy busy innkeepers our night of choice to get away is always Sunday, after our guests have left and we've saddled our parents with the girls, horses and dogs. I believe we are the only guests here.  I apologized to Lisa, the innkeeper, for keeping their Fabulous Chef, Dan Nowalk, on a Sunday. She said not to be silly... but we truly appreciated the care with which we were treated... the food, wow, the food.. so so good. Sweet potato Shrimp Bisque = heaven. My only regret was that I was so full I couldn't even conceive of dessert since I dearly love Creme' Brulee.

This morning, after a great nights sleep on a cozy nest of down, I enjoyed the spectacular views from our balcony of the Tuscarora mountains and am excited for breakfast. But I have to give huge kudos to the Mercersburg Inn staff that we've met and at least one we didn't( Shirley, their clearly meticulous housekeeper) Melissa, Nicole, Lisa, Jim and Chef Dan, you are doing wonderful things here and the Fallen Tree Innkeepers are looking forward to a return stay!