Hearthstone Inn Reviews
We invite you to read what other guests are saying about us or read through the articles below for featured professional reviews. Or come stay with us and experience for yourself the hospitality of Hearthstone Inn & Suites.
History Makes Itself at Home in Cedarville
CEDARVILLE, Ohio—On the former site of a grain silo, in a town where the "Father of Labor Day" was born, Stuart and Ruth Zaharek envisioned a country inn hotel where guests could relax amid the "casual elegance" of a Victorian bed-and-breakfast and the "rustic natural appeal" of a mountain lodge.
Their visual masterpiece was brought to life with the newly-built, 20-room Hearthstone Inn & Suites, where the amazing interior resembles the Thomas Kinkade painting that is displayed above the fireplace mantel.
In the lounge, an American flag hangs from a 19th century-replica chandelier. Inviting English-style sofas and armchairs face a stone fireplace that stretches from the floor to the 22-foot-high ceiling. Civil War artifacts occupy the shelves of display cases.
In the dining area, which adjoins the lounge, professionally hand-painted murals depict the surrounding pastoral countryside. Guests drink their freshly-ground morning coffee and spread cream cheese on their bagels, or enjoy a delightful, expanded continental breakfast beneath hand-cut wooden beams that once supported a nearby 19th-century barn.
Wood from the same barn is used on the room's floor and walls. The inn's gift shop features mid-19th-century windows and is reminiscent of a one-room country cottage.
Adjacent to the Ohio-to-Erie Trail, popular with hikers and bikers, Hearthstone is the only hotel in Cedarville, which is in eastern Greene County about 60 miles northeast of Cincinnati. Home to Cedarville University, a private Christian liberal arts college, the town is the birthplace of U.S. Sen. Mike DeWine. Other well-known native sons include Whitelaw Reid, (Civil War journalist, 1892 vice-presidential candidate on the Harrison-Reid ticket, and U.S. Ambassador), and James H. Kyle, who introduced the bill that established Labor Day as a national holiday in 1893 when he was a U.S. senator from South Dakota.
"This is a hotel with a historical ambiance, in its architectural appearance and with the way it is decorated," said Mr. Zaharek, a Civil War enthusiast who collects memorabilia and participates in battle re-enactments. "When you walk through the front door, you see a building that has the charm and aura of an old inn that has stood here for years." (Managers note: Property decor and breakfast items described in this 2001 article are subject to change)
Though an expanded continental breakfast is served every morning in the dining area, the 12,000-square-foot Hearthstone is designed, according to Mr. Zaharek, as an independent "country inn which blends four-star hotel elegance with a bed-and-breakfast flavor." Each of the hotel's 20 rooms, as with regular "franchise" hotels, has a private bath, and there are two Jacuzzi King Suites. Standard rooms are tastefully appointed with Thomasville furniture, king- or queen-size beds, ceiling fans, refrigerators, coffeemakers, cable TV, two sinks, and personal amenities from Bath and Body Works.
Wanting to share their love for history, the Zahareks decorated both floors of the inn with display cases containing Civil War relics related to Cedarville and Greene County. On the second-story balcony, which overlooks the sitting lounge and the dining area, exhibits include a Civil War sword and other relics of that time period. In the Heritage Lounge sitting area, an entire display case is dedicated to Whitelaw Reid, who lived in Cedarville as a child and later covered the Civil War for the New York Tribune. Mr. Reid became editor of the newspaper and later served as U.S. ambassador to England and France.
Guests who look closely at the wooden beams over the dining area can see a faded inscription on one that reads: "Built by Tom Wharton 1885."
"We've learned that the oak trees these beams are made from were about 300 years old when they were originally harvested. That means they were likely here before the Pilgrims arrived in the New World," Mr. Zaharek said.
Before moving to Cedarville in 1992, the couple worked at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. Mr. Zaharek worked in admissions while Mrs. Zaharek operated the front desks of four residence halls. The Zahareks expect that their core customer base will include parents of college students at Cedarville University as well as other area colleges (including Antioch, Central State, Wilberforce, and Wittenberg), bike trail users, antiquers, tourists visiting Blue Jacket Outdoor Drama, historic Clifton Mill, the village of Yellow Springs, and other Greene County/Miami Valley attractions.
Where: Along the Ohio-to-Erie Trail near downtown Cedarville, about 60 miles northeast of Cincinnati in eastern Greene County. From Cincinnati, take Interstate 71 north to exit 58 (Ohio 72 north), which leads through Jamestown to Cedarville. Driving time: 1½ hours or less.
Nearby Attractions: Clifton Mill; Yellow Springs; Young’s Jersey Dairy; Ohio-to-Erie Bicycle Trail; National Museum of the U.S. Air Force; Xenia Bike Station, the hub for 40-plus miles of paved multiuse trails in Greene County. Serving Springfield, Xenia, Yellow Springs, Jamestown, South Charleston, Waynesville, and the greater Dayton, Ohio region.
Area Colleges/Universities: Cedarville, Central State, Wilberforce, Antioch, Wittenberg.
Fodor's® Where to Weekend Around Ohio®
Dayton (Ohio) is a city at the crossroads of America. Incorporated 1803, it was a thriving town by 1812, complete with a new brick courthouse, five new taverns, grist and sawmills, and frame houses springing up to replace log cabins. Though you could easily spend a day (or two) getting your aviation thrills and following the paths of Orville and Wilbur, the city has much more to offer.
If staring at the Little Miami River makes you yearn for the sight of an old river town, consider a short drive to neighboring Yellow Springs. There are hundreds of places to hike, bike, canoe, and explore between the Glen Helen Preserve and (the nearby) Clifton Gorge/John Bryan State Park.
Don't expect to find a macho hideaway, though, as Yellow Springs also offers plenty of diversions for couples looking for a romantic getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life as well as lots of outdoor activities for families. Yellow Springs (is) a great place to find that special something for mom or your favorite college-bound hipster.
If primitive camping isn't your thing, you can try the cozy, family-fun Hearthstone Inn in nearby Cedarville, a nice place to cool your dogs after a long day of hiking and pedaling on the (town's) bike trails. Or, start your day with a breakfast of three-inch (or giant) pancakes at the rustic Clifton Mill, the largest water-powered grist mill in the United States, take a stroll at the (Clifton) Gorge, then tempt your taste buds with the creative cuisine at the Winds Café for dinner.
WHERE TO STAY
You get a little taste of B&B living in nearby Cedarville at this old-fashioned, family-owned inn, which prides itself on chain-type accommodations with a personal touch. 1885 barn-beams frame the spacious lobby, with its large stone fireplace. Ohio and Civil War memorabilia, antiques, Tiffany lighting, Thomas Kinkade paintings, and locally-made custom stained glass windows decorate the public spaces, and nice touches like coffeemakers and Bath & Body Works products personalize the rooms. There's an adjacent playground with a softball-baseball diamond, jogging track, and tennis courts. The "Supreme Continental Breakfast" goes beyond cold cereal and toast with fresh pecan rolls and oversize cinnamon rolls, as well as seasonal specials. The Hearthstone is near (adjacent to) the Ohio-to-Erie bike path and children under 12 stay free.
Long Weekends® Magazine Review
Sometimes country inns are too remote, leaving visitors with beautiful country views, but not much to do. But the Hearthstone Inn & Suites in southwest Ohio, located at the confluence of bike trails, outdoor attractions, and beautiful countryside, offers both quiet ambiance and a choice of activities.
Owners Stuart and Ruth Zaharek built the inn to reflect modern-day tastes while capturing the spirit of local history and country lore. The Zahareks made sure that the rooms have ample space and amenities. The decor is highlighted by Queen Anne-style furniture in plum and sage hues. The lobby features hand-hewn wooden beams harvested from a century-old barn. Glass-encased exhibits on the first and second floors feature displays of local history dating to the Civil War.
It would be relaxing to stay in the Hearthstone Inn for an entire weekend, but visitors should venture outside to see the countryside that inspired the Zahareks. The inn is next to a popular bicycle path, the Ohio-to-Erie Trail, which stretches 70 miles from Milford to South Charleston. The Indian Mound Reserve, featuring a striking waterfall and rugged trails, is only two minutes away by car. A few more minutes down the road is Clifton Gorge, a spectacular natural limestone formation, as well as the Historic Clifton Mill, built in 1802. It's one of the largest water-powered gristmills still in existence.
For those accompanied by young children, nearby Young's Jersey Dairy is a working farm that caters to families. Play miniature golf and pet barnyard animals at the petting zoo, then eat a homemade meal at the Golden Jersey Inn --the homemade ice cream is the big draw here, even in the winter months.
Back at the inn, take a walk around the grounds to work off the ice cream, or sit quietly on the inn's front porch and rock away the calories.
Innkeepers Footnote: Hearthstone is also a most fabulous place to stay during the week when the pace is slower, the crowds are fewer, and the Inn is even quieter!