The History of The Nittany Lion Inn

Not much is happening with the wedding planning at the moment. We've got almost everything planned out. The next big thing is the tasting on April 4th in State College. I taste the Creamery ice cream already... But it's been a little while since we've posted so I thought I'd fill everyone in on the history of the hotel where we are holding the reception.

Here you go:

The opening of The Nittany Lion Inn, in 1931, brought first-class dining and lodging facilities to Penn State and the community of State College. The Georgian colonial-style Inn, nestled comfortably in an oak grove opposite the White Golf Course, enjoyed immediate popularity with campus visitors and nearby residents. It has been host to political icons, entertainers, and other well known figures ranging from Eleanor Roosevelt to presidents Lyndon Johnson and George Bush; from Robert Frost to actors Jack Nicholson and Danny DiVito.

In addition to its worldwide acclaim, its quiet charm and attentive service staff have also made it the “sentimental favorite” of returning alumni for more than half a century. Perhaps President Emeritus Eric Walker described the Inn best when he called it “Penn State’s living room”.

Owned and operated by the University, the Nittany Lion Inn has grown with the Penn State Family. The University enrolled 4,800 students in 1931; today, more than 41, 000 students attend the University Park Campus. Another 40,000 persons come to the campus to participate In Continuing and Distance Education activities. To accommodate this growth the Inn has expanded several times, most recently in 1991, always careful to preserve the homelike warmth and pleasing architecture that have been its hallmarks. The Inn today has 223 guest rooms, a spacious dining room and an informal lounge. It also boasts a health club, gift shop, miniature golf course, numerous private meeting rooms, and one of the largest ballrooms in Central Pennsylvania.