Historic Hotel Saxonburg for sale but will remain open while on the market
The oldest continuously operating hotel, bar and restaurant in the heart of historic Saxonburg in Butler County is on the market.
The Hotel Saxonburg, built in 1832 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is listed for about $1.2 million with Coldwell Banker of Fox Chapel.
The business, at 220 W. Main St., opened the same year Saxonburg was founded.
Owner and general manager Judy Ferree, 62, of Middlesex Township bought Hotel Saxonburg for $425,000 in 2010 and assures her patrons the business will remain open and operating as usual while on the market.
“It’s sad, but I want to be there for my parents more, and I want to see my kids more,” Ferree said of her decision to sell. “It ties me down.”
She said that when the hotel is sold, she will miss the staff, community and customers who frequent Hotel Saxonburg.
On Wednesday, lunch customers reacted to hearing the news of the property being put up for sale. Buffalo Township resident Kathy Campbell is a regular customer.
“I don’t like it,” she said. “I hope they keep it the same it’s been.”
Regular customer Dixie Cypher of Winfield said she has an attachment to the historic restaurant.
“My husband used to come here after baseball games all the time,” Cypher said.
As for what might happen with the property after it’s sold, Ferree said, “If an independent owner were to buy it, I’d hope that they could enjoy it and move it forward from where I have it.”
The hotel’s earlier names were The Vogeley House, The Belvedere House, The Laube House and The Central Hotel.
A glass case holds a guest register from 1918 and bears the signature of Woodrow Wilson, who is said to have been a hotel guest.
The building features original woodwork, floors, fireplaces, ceilings and a copper-top bar.
Realtor Rob Strohm of Coldwell Banker of Fox Chapel listed the business last week and said the property is being sold as a turn-key business.
“It’s a very unique property, and it’s a part of the community,” he said. “It’s the thing that everyone is talking about.”
The property is zoned commercial, and the sale includes a hotel liquor license. The annual taxes are $4,703.
The parking lot has 20 spaces, and Ferree added a large outdoor patio several years ago.
“That’s my favorite part — the patio. There’s so much potential here,” Ferree said. “When I bought the lot next door (where the patio is), it was all weeds. It was a dream to make a patio, and I was scared to death to put the money into it.”
The patio seats about 70 patrons, and multiple separate dining rooms inside can accommodate 150 guests.
Five 1800s-themed rooms are available for rent upstairs.
The entire second floor is available to be rented ($600 per night) for private events.
Ferree said she is willing to show the ropes to a new owner if asked, but she realizes it is time to retire.
“I was originally planning on only doing this for 10 years, but I ended up staying longer because I love it here,” she said. “My staff is like my heart. They’ve been with me since I opened it.”
Editor’s Note: The 2010 purchase price of the hotel has been corrected. It was incorrect in an earlier version of this story.
Haley Moreland and Joyce Hanz are a Tribune-Review staff writers. You can contact Haley at 724-224-4681 or hmoreland@triblive.com. You can contact Joyce at 724-226-7725, jhanz@triblive.com or via Twitter @hanz_joyce.
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