Early Sunday, October 5th, the historic Woodward Inn,onee of Penns Valley’s greatest landmarks, was caught aflame and almost completely demolished.  The first report was at around 2:30 AM by a resident who lived nearby and noticed the flames, immediately calling 911. Millheim Fire Chief Delmar Homan, on arrival, found fire “shooting through the roof” of the back of the three-story structure. Many fire companies from around Center County were called to the Inn to help put out the fire, which took them hours of constant battling against the roaring flames. During the extinguishing process, one firefighter fell through the floor of the building while performing interior operations. Luckily, there was nobody inside the Inn when it caught aflame. Though owners Corby and Melissa Stover, who had purchased the property in 2023, had been renovating with the plan to reopen as a bed-and-breakfast, the fire occurred just weeks before they were scheduled to reopen. They claimed that the restorations were nearly completed before the fire erupted. The Woodward Inn was constructed in 1814 and has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1978. It has been a popular tourist destination for the two centuries since it was opened to the public, and has also played an important role in the Penns Valley community. 

The cause of the fire is still left undetermined, and residents across Penns Valley have taken to social media to spread the news about the catastrophe, to send their condolences and share personal memories of the Inn. It is still not confirmed what will happen now that the once historic building is in shambles. There is no confirmation that they will try and restore the building to its original state or if they’ll try to start fresh with a new design.