Nittany Lion Inn
The east entrance of the Nittany Lion Inn on the campus of Penn State University in State College, Pa.
General information
StatusTemporarily Closed
Architectural styleGeorgian-style[1]
Address200 W Park Ave
Town or cityState College, PA
CountryUnited States
Coordinates40°47′51″N 77°52′15″W / 40.7975°N 77.8708°W / 40.7975; -77.8708
GroundbreakingMay 1, 1930[2]
OpenedApril 15, 1931 (April 15, 1931)[3]
RenovatedJanuary, 1953
October, 1990
June, 2023
Renovation cost$1,072,000 (equivalent to $11,725,333 in 2022)
$15,000,000 (equivalent to $33,599,083 in 2022)
$10,000,000 (equivalent to $10,000,000 in 2023)
OwnerScholar Hotel group
LandlordPennsylvania State University
Technical details
Floor count3
Design and construction
DeveloperConsolidated Hotel Service Inc.[2]
Awards and prizesAAA Four Diamond Award[1]
DesignationsHistoric Hotels of America[1]
Other information
Number of rooms223[4]
Number of restaurants2
Number of bars1
Website
Official website

Nittany Lion Inn is a hotel located on the campus of Pennsylvania State University in State College, Pennsylvania. Built by Consolidated Hotel Service Inc., the Nittany Lion Inn and was opened in 1931. Its location near the Nittany Lion Shrine and Rec Hall. The location is temporarily closed due to renovations.

History

Nittany Lion Inn between circa 1930 and circa 1945

A 75-room colonial style inn, planned for development on the campus of Pennsylvania State University, was announced in March 1930. The development and operation of the Inn was managed New York City company Consolidated Hotel Service Inc. as the newest in a chain of 11 college hotels as a part of Treadway Inns.[5][6] The project broke ground on May 1, 1930, with 65 workers employed. The lot in which the Inn was built on was located behind New Beaver Field's west stands and near Rec Hall.[2][3]

Nittany Lion Inn between circa 1930 and circa 1945

The exterior of the inn was 125 feet tall painted greenish-blue and white with a stone portico. To the left of the building was a parking garage designed similar architecture with parking spaces for 20 vehicles. Inside of the inn featured 75 hotel rooms with the ability to accommodate 150 guests, a main dining space for 300 guests with an additional three dining spaces with room for 175 patrons in each. The entire hotel was furnished in the colonial style.[7][3] The Nittany Lion Inn was formally opened to the public on May 5, 1931. To celebrate the opening 250 trustees and faculty were invited to the inn for a dinner and dance.[6] The initial cost of a stay at the Nittany Lion Inn was $3.50 a night.[8]

The Nittany Lion Inn was expanded in January 1953 with the addition of an east wing. The wing contained a grill, a meeting room and 75 hotel rooms bringing the total available to 150.[5][9] The project was completed by Irwin and Leighton, a Philadelphia contractor, at a cost of $1,072,000 (equivalent to $11,725,333 in 2022).[10][11]

A 15-foot sinkhole opened up on the grounds of the inn after a limestone cavern wore away in early April 1957. The sinkhole damaged a sewer line and was repaired shortly after its collapse.[12]

A 132,000 square foot expansion and renovation took place on the Nittany Lion Inn in October 1990. The expansion added alumni offices, a lounge, 4 handicapped-accessible rooms, 500-seat ballroom, multiple meeting room, indoor hot tub, Gift shop, workout facility, enclosed atrium, expanded kitchen space and 136 guest rooms bring the total hotel rooms to 223.[13] The Inn's main entrance was also moved to the north side of the building facing Park Avenue. The Inn also received new furniture influenced by 18th-century Chippendale, Sheraton and Hepplewhite styles.[8] The renovations were completed in January 1992 by Biehn Construction at a cost of $15,000,000 (equivalent to $33,599,083 in 2022).[14][15] During the renovation of the Inn, the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local No. 66, protested the use of a non-union contractor Stone Valley Construction Company, a subcontractor of Biehn Construction.[16]

The Nittany Lion Inn was converted into temporary student housing and classrooms in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Initially the space was used as a quarantine dormitory for infected students.[17][18] It was announced that the hotel would continue to serve as student housing through the 2021–2022 academic year with no set plan to return to operation.[19]

The Penn State Board of Trustees approved a ground lease for The Nittany Lion Inn with the Scholar Hotel Group in June of 2022. Scholar Hotel group also owns Hyatt Place State College, Scholar Hotel State College, Residence Inn by Marriott State College and Courtyard by Marriott State College. The duration of the ground lease and the sale amount received by Penn State remains undisclosed.[20]

The Scholar Hotel Group announced an estimated $10 million renovation would begin in 2023. Renovation construction began June 1, 2023 focused on the exterior with repainting, roof replacement and window replacement. Whiskers and The Dining Room, two previously named restaurants, underwent redevelopment and rebranding. The result was the creation of two new spaces, featuring an integrated cocktail bar and lounge within the restaurant and a café in the lobby area.[21]

With the sale approval the University announced the Nittany Lion Inn is announced to remain closed until 2024.[20]

Famous visitors

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Historic Hotels in State College, PA, Nittany Lion Inn". Historic Hotels Worldwide. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 "75-Room Colonial Inn Planned for Campus; Work Starts May 1". Daily Collegian. March 7, 1930. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 "Nittany Lion Inn Will Open May 1". Daily Collegian. January 20, 1931. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Hotels Rooms on Penn State University Campus". nittanylioninn.psu.edu. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  5. 1 2 Trice, Betty (October 24, 1970). "Change of pace offered by Inn". Daily Collegian. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  6. 1 2 "Nittany Lion Inn To Hold Formal Opening May 5th". Daily Collegian. April 10, 1931. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  7. ↑ "College Inn May Open Next Month". Daily Collegian. March 10, 1931. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "EXPANSION PROVIDES MORE MUSCLE FOR LANDMARK NITTANY LION INN". The Morning Call. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Work Begins on Inn Wing". Daily Collegian. January 8, 1953. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Student Union Construction to Begin Early Next Year". Daily Collegian. December 16, 1952. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  11. ↑ "New Nittany Inn Wing". Daily Collegian. October 28, 1953. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Men Work On Sewer Near Inn". Daily Collegian. April 5, 1957. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  13. ↑ Laughinghouse, Ramona (March 16, 1992). "University completes Nittany Lion Inn addition". The Daily Collegian. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  14. ↑ Lynch, Sharon L. (October 4, 1989). "Nittany Lion Inn to expand in March". Daily Collegian. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  15. ↑ Niedecker, Stacy (March 19, 1990). "Nittany Lion Inn loses pool during expansion". The Daily Collegian. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  16. ↑ Loeffler, Lisa (November 16, 1990). "Local union protests construction at Inn". The Daily Collegian. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  17. ↑ Pallotto, Bret (July 16, 2020). "Penn State changes its plans: Nittany Lion Inn to be used as classroom space this fall". Centre Daily Times. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  18. ↑ Svrluga, Susan (June 28, 2020). "This college is tiny and isolated. For some students during the pandemic, that sounds perfect". Washington Post.
  19. 1 2 3 Sabini, Paul (February 12, 2021). "How Penn State's Nittany Lion Inn made switch from hotel to residence hall". The Daily Collegian. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  20. 1 2 "Penn State getting out of the hotel business, selling iconic Nittany Lion Inn". The Morning Call. June 30, 2022. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  21. ↑ Moyer, Josh (October 6, 2023). "How is the Nittany Lion Inn progressing? What we know, including when to make reservations".
  22. ↑ President, United States (1993). Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States. Federal Register Division, National Archives and Records Service, General Services Administration.
  23. ↑ "Hotel History State College | The Nittany Lion Inn". Historic Hotels Worldwide. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  24. 1 2 Ward, Laura A. "Inn hosts cast of stars". The Daily Collegian. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  25. 1 2 "College Entertains 34 State, National Figures At Luncheon". Daily Collegian. February 26, 1938. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  26. ↑ Dubbs, Ed (February 15, 1956). "Bridges Defends Dulles On 'Brink' Statement". Daily Collegian. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  27. ↑ Fanucci, Fran (January 14, 1956). "6000 to See Switzerland's Gym Team". Daily Collegian. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  28. ↑ Martino, Barb (March 14, 1957). "University Makes Plans For Arrival of Leader". Daily Collegian. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
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