ruce and Jan Garrabrandt left the hectic pace of
metropolitan living in 1996, to open a bed and breakfast in the heart of Pennsylvania
Dutch Country. Bruce is a full-time artist, specializing in finely detailed, colored
pencil drawings. His first book, The
Power of Having Desire, was published in March, 2004.
Innkeeper Jan is a self-confessed recipe addict. She cuts them
from newspapers and magazines, prints them off the internet, and trades recipes with
guests. Bruce often teases her that she could try a new recipe each day and not exhaust
her supply.
Coupled with Jan's passion for cooking is a love of gardening. Flowerbeds surround the
inn with a broad palette of colors. "Bruce knows that if it rains for more than a
day, I'll be asking him to turn over a new bed in the soft ground," Jan says. Her
favorite flowers are pastels, but she can't resist any plant that will attract
butterflies. "We like to think of this as a community garden," since most of her
plants came from friends.
The Artist's Inn & Gallery, built in 1848, is a Federal-style
home nestled in a small town surrounded by Amish and Mennonite farms. Horse-drawn buggies
regularly pass by the inn. "The Amish and Mennonites are wise people," says
Bruce. "Their simple lifestyle keeps them in touch with what is important. We
couldn't ask for better neighbors. For me, they're a daily reminder to slow down and see
life for the miracle it is."
While most guests find plenty of things to do to fill their days while
staying at The Artist's Inn, there are those that have taken the art of relaxation to new
heights. They love sitting in front of the fireplaces, lounging in the whirlpool
tubs, or falling asleep on the porches!
We are pleased to announce that Jan received a Spriit of Hospitality award from the
Pennsylvania Dutch Convention and Visitors Bureau in Lancaster. Read about the award here. She is also the Volunteer of the Year for Terre HIll 2009.
"A wonderful place and great cookies!"
- Clark and Susan, New York
