The owners of the historic Hill Top House Hotel property in Harpers Ferry have opened a temporary pathway that leads to the iconic overlook, offering visitors a stunning view of the “Gap” where the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers meet. This comes after the property had been closed off to the public for years following the demolition of the dilapidated hotel.
Fred and Karen Schaufeld, who purchased the property 18 years ago from SWaN Investors, made the announcement through a social media post, revealing that the walkway is accessible from Columbia Street via Washington Street. The access is for pedestrians only, with safety fences in place around the overlook.
The opening of this pathway marks a temporary measure, as the Schaufelds have long planned to construct a new hotel on the site. After years of struggles with local town councils, the plans for the new hotel have been approved. Representatives of SWaN Investors shared that the opening of the promontory overlook signals that construction may soon begin.
The proposed new hotel aims to be similar to the original Hill Top House Hotel, which dates back to 1914. Karen Schaufeld mentioned in a 2022 Rotary Club meeting in Martinsburg that the goal is to preserve much of the original hotel’s design, incorporating materials from the historic building into the new structure. The Schaufelds had hoped to begin construction in 2024, but rising construction costs have delayed progress.
Despite efforts to move the project forward, including the creation of a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District and the approval of various tax incentives, there has been no visible progress on the new hotel since the original hotel was demolished several years ago.
