Meet Rosalie George, your Innkeeper, in this excerpt from a press statement two years after opening her Inn:
“Rosalie is always excited about meeting guests and giving them the very best service and experience possible. Her experience has a world view: She was born and reared in Washington, DC…one of the few ‘original Washingtonians’ in a city with a predominant transient population. She also lived for several years in New York City, several more in a small Japanese village, and in Oklahoma, where she met her husband, Craig.
Along the way, Rosalie learned to become a highly skilled cook, learning a great deal from her sisters, mother and Craig’s mother. Rosalie has been working several years on a cookbook, to be titled, “Inn the Kitchen with Rosalie,” and when finally published by a mainline publishing company, it will be dedicated to those two important ladies and her chef friends.”
Meanwhile, she is working hard every day in her Inn, finding out what her guests want, and helping them to get it. “It might be just a place to get away from it all, not interacting with people (including the innkeeper), and just unwinding. That is one of the facets of our business plan, to create an oasis,” she said. The Inn is focused on privacy for the guests, excellent accommodations, and deliciously memorable food. Her reviews give her five stars in all categories.
Another feature of Annville Inn that guests seek is the view of the mountain range, the closeness to Hersheypark and all other things Hershey, but also the closeness to Lancaster. The Inn is ideally situated to address travelers’ needs whether exploring Pennsylvania Dutch/Amish Country, visiting any of the plethora of wineries surrounding Annville Inn, swimming in the sparkling pool, wandering its well-tended gardens, or just curled up with someone special in one of the hammocks for two or before a fireplace.
One reviewer wrote, “the positive and magical vibe at Annville Inn is very evident. It is elegant, yet casual. The layout makes sense and flows so nicely—it is not a warren of rooms but instead is just beautifully laid out and decorated. A perfect background to Rosalie’s care she gives her guests and her fabulous cooking—it is a place one wants to be.” Rosalie is friends with a number of acclaimed chefs, and even started the Acclaimed Chef Cooking Class at her Inn. Guests can sign up for a day with an acclaimed chef–not just watching a demonstration, but participating, working with the Chef and Rosalie. Later, the guests in the class have a fabulous dinner with their chef
“We started the Acclaimed Chef Cooking Series almost as soon as we opened,” Rosalie says. “We did that because our goal in our first business plan was to be the ‘Inn Different.’ That means we become an Inn that offers guests more, that is different in very good ways. For example, we have a professionally tended botanical garden with a extensive walking paths, three ponds and over 500 roses. We have a theatre with a 75” screen, with carpeting designed for commercial movie houses and Dolby 7.1 digital surround sound with commercial theatre speakers. Add to that our expansive game room, garden room, fireplaces and jacuzzis along with special features such as a secret entrance to two different guest rooms, an intriguing 160 year old desk from England and other pieces of outstanding furniture such as our Stickley collection, and we have the recipe for a magical experience.
We have worked very hard to do everything “not the normal” way, in order to give our guests an experience “beyond.” Beyond what is normally expected. Our goal was to become a destination ourselves. We found that became reality when we had guests who came here to do other things in the area, but instead decided to spend all their time in the ambiance we have created here in the quiet countryside just outside Hershey. They love our large pool, koi ponds, unique features in and outside the Inn, and we look every day to improve further,” she explained.
Rosalie’s passions are hospitality for her guests, decorating, flower arranging, and certainly cooking. She loves long walks in the Pennsylvania countryside with her husband, Craig, who has been a business partner with her “from day one” when they both owned several photographic businesses in the Southwest including two premiere portrait studios, where they even made portraits of two US Presidents (one from each major party). You can read more about photography offered at Annville Inn here. You can also read about the history of Annville Inn’s remarkable building, built by a famous WWII general, here.
Innkeeping is long, focused work. Rosalie easily works 70 hours a week, 52 weeks a year. She came from Washington, DC, where she managed a large enterprise for 14 years. There the work was extremely demanding. At Annville Inn, she says, “I work even longer hours at a physically demanding profession, but my board of directors at Annville Inn is my wonderful guests. I would do anything I could for them, and love hosting them in the Inn we created from scratch.”
Rosalie George with husband, Craig
Annville Inn B&B didn’t exist before Rosalie came along and built the business, designed the traffic flow of the rooms, decorated them, and put into force an impeccable business plan with only one focus: The best experience possible for her guests. Her reviews certainly indicate she has succeeded. Rosalie invites you to come experience her hospitality for yourself. .
