House in Columbia, PA
8 guests · 3 bedrooms · 2 baths
Reasons to book
Guests love it hereGuests give this property a top rating
Great for petsBring all your friends and family, even the furry ones
High-end valueWell priced for this area
About this house rental
Welcome to the Historic Distillery House - a refined retreat with deep Lancaster County roots. Once a working whiskey distillery, the home now blends storied architecture with magazine-worthy interiors and top-tier amenities. Every corner has been thoughtfully curated by the owners (your hosts!), who manage the property personally to ensure a one-of-a-kind guest experience. The showstopper is the dramatic two-story sunroom with stone walls, artwork, and natural light. Enjoy a chef’s kitchen, Peloton bike, and beautifully furnished living spaces. Outdoors, relax in the BRAND NEW top-of-the-line sauna (installed Fall 2025). 15 min to Lancaster, 40 min to Hershey, and easy drives from Baltimore, Philly, DC, and NYC.
Inside the Home
Kitchen & Dining – The chef’s kitchen features quartzite countertops, Moen fixtures, and a Thor gas stove. A Restoration Hardware table seats 10, with a large island and bar stools for casual bites. The kitchen is fully stocked and beautifully integrated into the home’s historic character.
Sunroom – This light-filled, two-story space is the heart of the home. A wood stove adds ambiance in winter; in warmer months, ceiling fans and energy-tinted windows keep it comfortable. A daybed and TV make it a great spot to read or relax.
Second-Floor Living Room – Cathedral ceilings, a Pottery Barn sleeper sofa, a 70” Roku TV, a game table, and a Peloton Bike+ make this a guest favorite.
Bedrooms & Bathrooms
All bedrooms feature high-end foam mattresses, plush linens, and distinctive design.
Primary Bedroom (1st floor): Restoration Hardware canopy king bed, antique dresser, smart TV, and barnwood paneling sourced from the original on-site tobacco barn. Modern ensuite bathroom included.
Guest Room 1 (2nd floor): Crate & Barrel king bed in a cozy, artful setting
Guest Room 2 (2nd floor): Two antique twin beds + desk, ideal for kids or solo travelers
Outdoor Living
BRAND NEW Harbor Sauna with views of the spring-fed pond (went live Fall 2025)
Private patio with string lights and gas grill
Surrounded by mature walnut, cherry, oak, and locust trees
Nature lovers will love the regular visits from owls, turkeys, hummingbirds, and deer
Blooming perennials: lilies, daisies, dahlias, peonies, butterfly bush, coral bells, and more
Enjoy the peaceful sounds of the spring-fed pond
Sustainability
Geothermal heating & cooling system powered by a spring
Artesian spring supplies the home’s fresh water
Thoughtful use of historic, reclaimed, and local materials throughout
Connectivity & Audio
High-speed Comcast internet + Eero mesh WiFi
Whole-home Sonos sound system
Historic Significance
This home has played host to some of Lancaster’s most influential residents, including:
Capt. Jacob Krug – Co-founder and first treasurer of Franklin College (now Franklin & Marshall)
Abraham Hershey Herr – Descendant of Bishop Hans Herr, early Mennonite leader
Lt. Col. Jacob Shirk Strickler – State Assembly member, builder, and distiller who operated the on-site whiskey distillery starting in 1802. In 1811, he traded 471 gallons of whiskey for 2.5 tons of plaster.
Samuel J. Atlee Jr. – Grandson of Revolutionary War hero Col. Atlee and Lady Jane Alcock, lady-in-waiting to King George II's wife
Let us know if you’d like to rent our adjacent General Store property for larger gatherings or multi-family stays.
Inside the Home
Kitchen & Dining – The chef’s kitchen features quartzite countertops, Moen fixtures, and a Thor gas stove. A Restoration Hardware table seats 10, with a large island and bar stools for casual bites. The kitchen is fully stocked and beautifully integrated into the home’s historic character.
Sunroom – This light-filled, two-story space is the heart of the home. A wood stove adds ambiance in winter; in warmer months, ceiling fans and energy-tinted windows keep it comfortable. A daybed and TV make it a great spot to read or relax.
Second-Floor Living Room – Cathedral ceilings, a Pottery Barn sleeper sofa, a 70” Roku TV, a game table, and a Peloton Bike+ make this a guest favorite.
Bedrooms & Bathrooms
All bedrooms feature high-end foam mattresses, plush linens, and distinctive design.
Primary Bedroom (1st floor): Restoration Hardware canopy king bed, antique dresser, smart TV, and barnwood paneling sourced from the original on-site tobacco barn. Modern ensuite bathroom included.
Guest Room 1 (2nd floor): Crate & Barrel king bed in a cozy, artful setting
Guest Room 2 (2nd floor): Two antique twin beds + desk, ideal for kids or solo travelers
Outdoor Living
BRAND NEW Harbor Sauna with views of the spring-fed pond (went live Fall 2025)
Private patio with string lights and gas grill
Surrounded by mature walnut, cherry, oak, and locust trees
Nature lovers will love the regular visits from owls, turkeys, hummingbirds, and deer
Blooming perennials: lilies, daisies, dahlias, peonies, butterfly bush, coral bells, and more
Enjoy the peaceful sounds of the spring-fed pond
Sustainability
Geothermal heating & cooling system powered by a spring
Artesian spring supplies the home’s fresh water
Thoughtful use of historic, reclaimed, and local materials throughout
Connectivity & Audio
High-speed Comcast internet + Eero mesh WiFi
Whole-home Sonos sound system
Historic Significance
This home has played host to some of Lancaster’s most influential residents, including:
Capt. Jacob Krug – Co-founder and first treasurer of Franklin College (now Franklin & Marshall)
Abraham Hershey Herr – Descendant of Bishop Hans Herr, early Mennonite leader
Lt. Col. Jacob Shirk Strickler – State Assembly member, builder, and distiller who operated the on-site whiskey distillery starting in 1802. In 1811, he traded 471 gallons of whiskey for 2.5 tons of plaster.
Samuel J. Atlee Jr. – Grandson of Revolutionary War hero Col. Atlee and Lady Jane Alcock, lady-in-waiting to King George II's wife
Let us know if you’d like to rent our adjacent General Store property for larger gatherings or multi-family stays.
Amenities at Restored Distillery, Sunroom + Sauna
Non-smoking
Pets allowed
Family friendly
Map of Columbia, PA
Ratings and reviews
10 / 10Outstanding·Aug 2025
So much has already been written about this house, but it still does not prepare you for what you experience when you arrive. The inside and outside of the house are both gorgeous and the decorations are a beautiful. The hosts are super responsive, even for small questions. Everything you need is there, from high quality toiletries to kitchen equipment and a Weber BBQ. We stayed for 2 weeks and wish we could have stayed longer. The area is very tranquil, and at the same time Lancaster, with lots of restaurants and coffee shops, small theaters, concerts in the parks, is only 15 minutes away. A little longer drive brings you to Mt. Gretna beach for a nice swim, Strasburg rail, birds-in-hand to learn more about the Amish lifestyle or Sight & Sound for a visual theater spectacle. Highly recommended for anyone who likes a luxury home base while exploring the interesting area.
10 / 10Outstanding·Jul 2025
The property and the house was extremely well maintained and comfortable. Beautifully decorated. We all agreed it is well worth a return visit.
10 / 10Outstanding·Jun 2025
If you would like to stay in an amazing property with tons of character I’d recommend this place for you. The home brims with old world charm with its thick stone walls which continue on the interior of the house. We have stayed in stone farm houses in Tuscany, Italy and this home gave us that sort of vibe but mixed with the American elements you’d expect while in Lancaster. It is about a 30-35 minute drive from the main attractions in Lancaster but I would not let that detract from your choosing this property. It’s only minutes from a full and modern supermarket and the drive to Lancaster from the house is easy. We would definitely stay there again and would not hesitate to recommend this property to our friends. As nothing is ever perfect, if I had to give one criticism, that would be the smell in the attached sunroom. There was a bit of a musty smell in there but we opened the windows esche day and allowed the beautiful cross breeze to air out that room and as the days passed the smell lessened. It did not permeate the rest of the home and it didn’t affect our ability to enjoy the property. Early on in our stay we had an issue in which the electricity went out in the upstairs of the home. We messaged the home owner and he responded quickly and fixed the problem in no time. This is a unique property with an interesting history, lovely location, and tons of charm; if we are in the area again we would enjoy staying there in the future.
10 / 10Outstanding·May 2025
We truly didn’t want to leave! The house combines the perfect blend of original rustic charm with all the modern touches and amenities. Every detail has been curated to create a warm, inviting and relaxing atmosphere. The house is located in a slightly rural area which provides the most peaceful evenings on the porch. We enjoyed exploring the area knowing we were returning to this truly magical place.
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Top rated by guests
10Outstanding
(25 Ratings)
"So much has already been written about this house, but it still does not prepare you for what you experience when you arrive. The inside and outside of the house are both gorgeous and the decorations ..."
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