While the Innkeepers are away.....

Its been ages since I've found time to blog... but I've found some today since Brent and the girls and I snuck down to Cape May Point for a week's vacation! We've left the Inn in the trusty hands of our Guest Innkeeper ( and big sister) Donna, and our housekeeper, Meta.  I'm certain our guests will keep them on their toes, but they are excited to meet and take care of all of you.

If you've never been to Cape May, you're missing something... amazing sunsets, beautiful ocean views, antique stores,!, Duty free shopping just a ferry ride away in Delaware, plenty of sand and sun and amazing eateries. The point is especially wonderful. A quiet little beach community, with a general store, a gorgeous park with nature trails and the lighthouse. We've been getting in lots of jogs and bike rides with the girls and dreaming about someday owning our own beachhouse.  Not suprisingly, Brent is most interested in the condemned bldgs that he is sure he "Can fix right up". 

This week the lighthouse had an artisan festival where I indulged in my new love, jewelry! Ever since I cut my hair short, I can't stop buying this stuff. Lucky for all of us, my taste leans toward the pretty pebbles rather than the shiny rocks.  The girls frequently dig in my jewelry box.. no point in putting something to terribly precious in there.

While down here we've begun working on our cookbook Many of you have asked for recipes time and again. I always print them out and say 'someday" I'll get to a cookbook. This winter's plan is to GET TO IT. We'll be photographing the food like crazy this fall as the weather turns and there's a bit more time after wedding season..

Wedding Season yikes! There is a fair lot of you getting married this fall... We so look forward to making Nicole, Amanda, Lucy and Theresa feel like the most special women in the world on their nupital days. I've very much enjoyed the planning with all of you.

There's a ton happening at the Inn in the next couple of weeks...  Corvettes at Carlisle and school starting for the little kids at South Middleton School District and big kids at Dickinson and Messiah. The end of the summer season with Labor Day Weekend but we'll still be hosting any of you who want to join us for smores near the fireplace well into November.

Check back with us again for the Breast Cancer Awareness special the Cumberland Valley Bed and Breakfast Association will be doing in October.. Think Pink!

We'll be participating in B&B's for vets again this year in November running our Girls Getaway Weekend Specials in December.

I've jumped ahead a bit but only because I'm so excited at all the great things headed our way. Fall Foliage should be fabulous this year with the amount of rain we've had. The farm is never prettier.

Looking forward to turning guests into friends

Kim and Brent

Spring Projects

Brent and I have the week off from our "regular " jobs to work on some new projects and some touch ups around the farm. The weather is to be wonderful, which is great because I've promised Magic, my 25 year old quarterhorse a couple of gallops this week. We'll be putting the finishing touches on the first part of the new quarantine barn for traveling equine visitors and working on the flagstone patio that will be used for dancing and cocktail hour during our weddings. Of course there are the regular jobs that always need done in the spring, painting the porches, and fencing. Plenty of white fencing to paint. Our new parking area has been seeded and graveled and will be ready for our Fall weddings.

Carlisle Events present Spring Carlisle April 25-29. We still have one room left for that event. If  you coming for the swap meet or auction why not stay with us as an alternative to local hotels? A fabulous breakfast is always included in the room rate and we'll be happy to help you find a great dinner spot with one our unique Carlisle Eateries.

We look forward to greeting new and return guests!-Kim and Brent

Keeping Busy During the Crazy Weather

If you've driven down the driveway recently or are planning to you'll notice that there's some significant work being done in the woods that border the drive. Right now with the crazy warm wet weather it looks as if we've asked people to make mud but in reality, a crew is taking out the old dead trees that continually fall down with each good wind, blazing nice wide trails for walking and riding and giving us some additional special event parking. Our apologies while this is going on. The plan is to have it completed by spring. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

Inside there's some good stuff going on as well. We're refreshing the master bedroom in the Grey Mare's Quarters, with new bedding and a fresh coat of paint( goodbye pink, hello lovely neutrals!). In March a new spa shower will be installed in Graham's Retreat which will feature a luxurious rain shower head and body sprays inside new terrazo marble tiles.

The first section of the quarantine barn is nearly complete with plans to put an addtional two stalls in this summer. This will be for our traveling equines to stay in comfort, provided our daughters don't find a new pony in the meantime.. Its quite hard to keep stalls empty here, I've discovered and is there anything more fun than pony shopping?

Speaking of ponies... Ours are ready to make your child's birthday special. We've begun taking reservations for pony parties starting in April. Contact us via email if you are interested in how we can make your child's special day no stress for you and memorable for them.

Stay Warm and Dry!

2012 PA Farm Show!

Its that time again, time for the largest agricultural exposition in the country, the 96th annual Farm Show. As a kid this was huge for my family. We'd take the day off from school to go see the butter sculptures, watch the "Garden Tractor Pull" and of course all the horse events, my favorite being the 6 Horse Hitch.

They have something for everyone from Culinary School Demos to Logging Horse Demos to  Square Dance Parades. The Mini Pony Pull will be popular with your kids while the Skid Loader Showdown will make husbands laugh.

The Show runs from January 7th- 14th and is something worth coming into the area for.  Fallen Tree is just 20 minute away from the Farm Show arena and has a great special for a two night stay for this event. Call us today for reservations.

Time to get Snowed Inn with Us!

As the excitement of the holidays fade you might find yourself exhausted by all the clamor of family, friends, gifts, parties etc. Or you might find yourself energized by the opening of a New Year. Either way Fallen Tree is a great place to find respite in the month of January. While there are several events going on in the area, perhaps having an UNEVENTFUL weekend is the way to do it. Three of the four rooms at Fallen Tree have fireplaces and the dining room is stocked with coffee/tea, hot chocolate, cookies and popcorn. Pick a movie from our stocked DVD cupboard and never leave your room.... Ok.. maybe leave to visit us in the Dining Room for breakfast. Its three courses of gourmet scrumptiousness. But if you REALLY don't want to leave your room... We'll bring it to you on a tray with a carafe of piping hot coffee.

But if you really need to go out... Check out  the 10th Annual Ice Fest in Chambersburg PA January 26-29, 2012. See live ice carving, take a run down an ice slide and check out the Chili Cook off. Its a unique event that has grown each year.

Come get "Snowed Inn with Us"

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!