The now-defunct Mineral Springs Inn in Willow Grove (Upper Moreland Township), formerly located on the site of Veterans Memorial Park at 220 Mineral Avenue, was featured today in a post by the Abandoned, Old or Interesting Places in Pennsylvania Facebook page.

From their description:

For centuries, people sought out mineral springs for their supposed healing properties, and the Abington and Willow Grove areas of Montgomery County were once recognized for these waters. In the late 18th century, local springs gained prominence through early promoters like Thomas Hallowell and Benjamin Rush, and entrepreneurs soon built baths and lodging around “Willow Grove Springs.” In 1784, George Rex purchased land around the springs and opened the Mineral Springs Inn, which offered showers, plunging baths, and stage-coach access from Philadelphia. The inn changed ownership over the years and grew significantly under Charles Ehrenpfort in the 1890s.

With the opening of nearby Willow Grove Park in 1896, interest in the mineral springs waned. Although the hotel continued operating for a time, Prohibition severely weakened its business, and it was demolished in the 1930s. Today, the former site of the inn and springs lies within Veterans Memorial Park. In 2003, the Upper Moreland Historical Association excavated the spring in hopes of restoring it, and testing showed its mineral content was similar to water found throughout the county.

According to local historian Mike Leibrandt, in 1784, George Rex, a blacksmith from Germantown, bought 39 acres and developed a tavern and hotel. Rex’s new establishment had mineral spring baths and advertised that visitors from Philadelphia could take a daily stagecoach for a visit. The building had many rooms, stables for 100 horses, and a recreational park with walking trails and gardens.

The hotel stayed in the Rex family until 1865 when it was purchased by John Berrell. Charles Ehrenfort bought the hotel in 1890 and undertook a large expansion in 1895. Prohibition significantly limited the hotel’s business until it closed and was razed in the 1930s.

In 2003, the Upper Moreland Historical Association began an excavation of the mineral spring with the goal of restoring it and incorporating it into the existing park.

You can read more about the inn here. For more historic inns in Willow Grove and Huntingdon Valley, you can read Glenside Local’s previous coverage.

For all the latest news, follow us on Facebook or sign up for Glenside Local’s “Daily Buzz” newsletter here.

Photos: Abandoned, Old or Interesting Places in Pennsylvania