Mountain Springs Hotel
Why it's listed
Begun in 1848 by Joseph Konigmacher on a tract near Ephrata, the Mt. Springs Hotel grew through a series of additions into one of the best-known watering places in eastern Pennsylvania. The complex combines an 1812 sandstone farmhouse, a stone house traditionally dated to 1753, and a main hotel built in four stages around 1848 to 1853, with later frame outbuildings. By 1860 it was said to accommodate 400 guests, drawing visitors from Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington each summer from June to September. Its register is reported to include James Buchanan, Abraham Lincoln, Gen. George B. McClellan and Gen. U.S. Grant. The property passed to Daniel S. Von Neida in 1882 and stayed in his family until 1935. It is significant as a representative Victorian resort complex and as a record of how spa hotels expanded in the nineteenth century.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the hotel is an excellent example of a mid-19th century Victorian hotel complex and a leading watering place in eastern Pennsylvania. Its register is said to include many prominent national figures. The complex also reflects the Victorian fashion for vacationing at health spas and resorts, and its growth by successive additions.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 82003791, listed March 2, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 320 E. Main St., Ephrata |
|---|---|
| County | Lancaster County |
| Listed | March 2, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82003791 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1848-1935 |
| Architect / builder | Builder: Joseph Konigmacher |
| Architectural style | Victorian |
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still owned by a corporation and operated as a hotel; the document also notes a later hospital use in part of the complex. |
| Acreage | 8 |
| Coordinates | 40.17528, -76.17208 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 82003791.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6925227
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.