Mount Hope Estate

Mount Hope Estate is a 32-room mansion built of red sandstone situated on 35 acres in Lancaster County with formal gardens and vineyard plantings across the grounds. The structure began as a Federal-style residence and was extensively renovated in Victorian fashion during the 1890s.

The property was founded in 1779 by the Grubb family, prominent iron producers who built the original residence in Federal style. A major renovation in the 1890s transformed the structure into a Victorian mansion, creating the building visitors see today.

The Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire transforms the property into a living celebration of historical culture from August through October, with performers, artisans, and visitors dressed in period clothing. This event has become a gathering place where people experience historical traditions through performance and hands-on participation.

The estate operates year-round with wine tastings, performances, festivals, and guided tours available depending on the season and events scheduled. Planning ahead is recommended since major events like the Renaissance Faire run during specific months and may draw larger crowds.

The property maintains one of the few surviving American formal gardens from before 1840, laid out according to traditional English landscaping principles from that era. The garden design and plantings reflect original composition methods rarely seen in such well-preserved form today.