Throughout the balance of 2023, the Joseph Ambler Inn will mark 40 years of serving guests and hosting events in the North Wales community that touches both Bucks and Montgomery counties.

Love at First Sight, Almost

Since its 1983 founding, the destination has had the same owner, Richard Allman, who just about fell in love with the spot at first sight.

“I drove by what was then the Bonnymeade Farm often,” Allman remembered. “I said to myself, ‘If that property ever goes on the market, I’m going to buy it!

“When the ‘For Sale’ sign appeared, I put the wheels in motion. I wasn’t sure what to do with it, but knew I had to save it from the wrecking ball.”

History

The original property was the 1734 home of the Joseph Ambler family.

Born in 1691 to a Philadelphian Quaker clan, Ambler first settled in Montgomery County to learn the trade of wheelwright, which inspired the inn’s wagon-wheel logo.

The Bonnymeade Farm days added the 1820 stone-bank barn as part of a three-stage construction project behind the fieldstone manor house. More than a century later, a tenant farmer’s cottage was built.

Underpinning Allman’s purchase decision was the vision of a bed and breakfast. As he said, “Within six months, the Joseph Ambler Inn opened its doors in 1983.”

Continual Refreshes and Expansions

Over the ensuing decades, Allman has worked to keep the property refreshed and expanding, even to the point of moving entire buildings to suit needs.

“Two of our five buildings weren’t originally built on property,” he explained. “They were picked up and physically moved to the estate.

“The Thomas Wilson House, built in 1853, was saved from demolition, moved to our grounds, and completely renovated in 1997.

“In 2003 another historic farmhouse was moved …, the John Roberts House, which was built in 1794. [It] weighed 310 tons, and the 1.3 mile move took 16 hours.”

Well-Known Guests

The Joseph Ambler Inn has had its share of celebrity guests. Allman cites:

• Soul singer Teddy Pendergrass
• Diplomat Madeleine Albright
• Chopped host Ted Allen
• Performer Andrea McArdle
• Singer-dancer-actress Rita Moreno
• Former Phila. Mayor Ed Rendell
• Filmmaker Kevin Smith
• Singer-songwriter-guitarist James Taylor

Celebration Components

Throughout the anniversary, patrons can take advantage of numerous specials and promotions, themed around the number 40.

“We want to show gratitude to our guests and dedicated staff who have helped create 40 years of one-of-a-kind memories at Joseph Ambler Inn,” Allman concluded.

More detail is available at the Joseph Ambler Inn website.

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A guided tour of the Joseph Ambler Inn.