The required payment for the land use was a single red rose, once per year.
We at Journey Moore Often like history. We’ve written about places like The Ancient Spanish Monastery, Stonehenge in WA State (it’s really there!), our Andes Tour and Carrickfergus Castle.
We also like Local Gems. Places to experience like the Chrome Barren Serpentine Trails and the Snowflake Christmas Lights are highly recommended.
When we saw the Red Rose Inn had a bit of local history similar to Longwood Gardens that we could highlight, it seemed appropriate to write it up!
The Red Rose Inn
Originally built sometime in the 1730s, the building has a lot of history. Even though the building has its origins that far back, it’s still not on the Historic Register.
Renovated in 2019-2020, the main building (built in the 1860s) was restored and the structures on the side were removed. If you look at the picture from that side, you can see the difference in the brick depicting where there used to be doorways that interconnected the two structures.
In its heyday, the Red Rose Inn was one of the biggest restaurants in the area.
Ironically though, through document research it was determined that it was not likely a tavern like most people think. There were Mercantile records found that show it was more likely used as a General Store.
The township has added some relative historic facts regarding the location’s role in local history.
Some of the research indicated that the upstairs was used for boarding local workers. The upstairs remains empty for now, with no immediate plans for use.
The downstairs has three main rooms. They are each set up like a museum with a focus on local history.
Sunset Park Room
Sunset Park was a major concert festival event for country and blue grass musicians and singers for over 50 years. The park even has its own road marker.
The day we were there, Larry Waltman, grandson of founder “Uncle” Roy Waltman, was stationed in the Sunset Park Room. He was able to explain all the memorabilia in the room and provide some great stories.
The list of country music stars that were featured at nearby Sunset Park is staggering. Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Randy Travis, Rascal Flats, George Jones, Kitty Wells, Patsy Cline, Hank Williams, and Waylon Jennings performed there, to name drop a bit. Even Channel 6 TV personalities Chief Halftown and Sally Starr appeared on stage there. It was the veritable Who’s Who of country. Not to mention a 21 year old Jerry Garcia came to pick his banjo.
A season playbill with artists signatures is framed and hanging on the wall. There’s also a Golden Record from when the Roy Waltman participated on a recording.
Red Rose Room
The Sunset Park Entrance sign that a lot of us remember is actually in the Red Rose Room. It was rescued during the stage demolition. As the bulldozer was ready to tear it down, someone insisted on looking under the stage just to see if there was anything there. The found the original Sunset Park Entrance sign!
Above the Sunset Park Entrance sign is the classic red rose payment mural. The mural was carefully removed prior to the restoration, and then carefully reinstalled.
On the table set with dishes with a single red rose, there’s a list showing the history of the payments made.
There is a cooking fireplace located in this room.
The wall encasing the second set of stairs has some history of Conard-Pyle Company and their participation in the red rose payments.
Local History Room
This room had wall sections dedicated to important local influences. Each wall was dedicated to a theme, including rail stations in the area, schools, transportation, farms, businesses and nearby towns such as Elkview, Kelton, and Jennersville.
It’s fascinating to read the depth of the local history in the surrounding parts of the county. Especially the section about colonial times, with William Penn describing his interaction with Native Americans in a letter he wrote in 1682.
Seeing the number of available pictures that went so far back in history was surprising. And there’s a display case with local artifacts, plus some chairs that were manufactured in Jennersville.
Practical Stuff
For the foreseeable future, entrance is free as is parking. Discussion is being held to open to the public every second Saturday and Sunday of each month from 12pm-3pm.
If you live in the area, it’s worth a quick trip to browse the local history. You can spend 15-20 minutes or a couple of hours depending on your goal for that day. If you get the opportunity to talk to those who are volunteering, you’ll gain even more knowledge! We certainly plan to go back and fill in things we may have missed.
We’ve deliberately left out some detail so that you’ll be able to experience all of what’s there on your own! Additional reading can be found by clicking this link from Penn Township, this link from Chester County, and this link about Sunset Park.