The area surrounding and including Hotel du Village was part of a large tract of land granted to the Ely family, a notable Bucks County Family among the earliest settlers of Bucks County in the 1600’s. This land was given by William Penn, an English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, early Quaker and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania in the seventeenth century. In 1895 Dr. George Morley Marshall of Ohio bought a parcel of the Penn Grant from Ely descendants to establish a country residence for his family in Bucks County. Dr. Marshalls’ sister, Caroline Wood, chose the site of our present event spaces as a prime location for a country estate, and at the turn of the century, she began the construction of White Oaks, close to her brother’s home across Phillips Mill Road. Morgan Colt was the architect for the building, and the name inspiration for our Colt Ballroom. Karline Holmquist founded the Holmquist School for Girls in 1917 in a converted barn. The success of her school required expansion, so she acquired White Oaks and adjacent Appledore (our current hotel), a converted stable, from Mrs. Wood in 1925.
The restaurant which is now our Historic Ballroom, the smaller of the two Event Spaces, is in White Oaks, formerly the setting for the academic and social preparation of young ladies. In 1925 Solebury School was founded as a preparatory school for boys at the present “Upper Campus” on Phillips Mill Road. The two schools merged in 1949 with White Oaks, Appledore and Stone Cottage on River Road constituting the “Lower Campus”.
Much of the original woodwork has been restored and incorporated into its renovated design; the old Restaurant Flooring has been restored into the high chapel ceilings of the Historic Ballroom’s Pre-function Space & Bar Area. Solebury School maintained the two campuses until 1976, when Omar and Barbara Arbani purchased the “Lower Campus.” Lodging became available in Appledore during the summer of 1978. Since the late 70′s until 2012, Hotel Du Village was owned and operated by the Arbani family.
Frank and Jeanne Cretella of Landmark Hospitality had spent summers staying at Hotel du Village with their family and had always dreamed of owning property as special as this. Their daughter even learned to ride her bike up and down the long driveway! In 2013, their dream became reality as they purchased this beautiful historic site and transform it into a premiere destination for events, weddings and corporate retreats.
The Landmark Touch
Hotel du Village has two newly refurbished event spaces and boasts twenty-two gorgeous guest rooms as well as a 7-bedroom owner’s house; all with modern amenities and charming details. Our dedicated Event Stylists cater to your every need to tailor your next special event to your individual taste, be it a wedding, social, or corporate event.
The larger of the Event Spaces, the Colt Ballroom, features stately 10-foot ceilings with the capacity to hold up to 200 guests. With gleaming hardwood floors and a large stone fireplace, the ballroom opens to a pre-function room with a full view of the river and our manicured gardens. Our second event space, the Historic Ballroom, can host intimate events of up to 140 guests. With a full wall of glass windows overlooking the courtyard and riverside, the Historic Ballroom is the ideal destination for special events in New Hope. For the Ultimate Chateau experience we encompass both spaces and can accommodate up to 250 guests.
Guests staying at our newly constructed hotel can bike ride or follow our walking trail to visit the center of town. Bustling with people going to antique shops, artisanal boutiques and quaint restaurants, the town of New Hope is a go-to destination for those wishing to escape the crowds and fast pace of the city. Join us for your next event and discover all that Hotel du Village has to offer!