About Us

The Glen Gardner Inn, circa 1760, has an unbroken tradition of offering hospitality to county residents and travelers over many decades.  It is reported to have the honor of holding the oldest liquor license in the same location in the state of New Jersey.  More recently, the Inn has received awards from both state and county planning officials for the work in the restoration of a historical landmark.

The original tavern, built before the Revolutionary War by John Eveland, became a stage coach stop for early travelers.  It evolved into a dynasty spanning over 100 years as the mantle of ownership passed form John to his son, Peter and then to grandson, John.  The town was known as Eveland and the tavern, Eveland's Tavern.  History notes that for a short time the community was known as Sodom - named as such by an itinerant preacher who thought poorly of the neighborhood's behavior.  How such a moniker endured still baffles historians.  When the railroad came through the area in the mid-1850, the wood tavern was demolished and a new stone structure was built.  It is the building that stands on the site today.  Construction is characteristic of the times with every stone wall 2 feet thick.

In 1881 an industrialist, Edward Humphry, purchased the property - business and building, and changed its name to the Clarksville Hotel in honor of the then current Postmaster.  The community took on the name of Clarksville as well.  Mr. Humphry was responsible for many attractive additions to the building during the next 20 years.

Not long thereafter, the five Gardner brothers from New York City came to town and created a small industrial revolution as they competed with Hunt family for community leadership.  The Gardners won out over the Hunts and now the Borough's name, Glen Gardner, bears witness to that victory.

In later years, the building fell on difficult times and lapsed into a severe state of disrepair.  In 1987, Russ and Elaine Mayer purchased the property and began the long and difficult task of renovation.  While the Glen Gardner Inn now embodies the beauty of antiquity, today the Inn's dining and food preparation focus are definitely modern.