Mount Nittany Inn going out of business

A local restaurant with a long and sometimes tumultuous history will shut its doors for good Sunday.

The Mount Nittany Inn in Potter Township has announced it is closing.

“Our dedicated staff is with us until the end,” a message on the restaurant’s website said.

“We want to thank all of our loyal patrons. ... You have made it worth it, but sadly the Inn cannot sustain itself another winter.”

Co-owners Doug Collins and Nancy Silvis did not return requests for comment.

Silvis and Collins have co-owned the inn since 1992 and had attempted to sell it the past two years.

In April 2013, the property, at 559 N. Pennsylvania Ave., was listed by U.S. Commercial Realty for $2.8 million, but the listing was dropped to $1.97 million in a month.

In May 2013, Silvis said they wanted to move on to different ventures.

The restaurant was rebuilt twice between 2003 and 2008 after fires caused extensive damage.

An April 2003 grease fire caused roof damage, and the inn was almost fully repaired in 2004 when another fire completely destroyed it.

It reopened in 2008.

The inn had small beginnings.

In 1919, Pete Coldron opened a roadside stand on the site, which grew in popularity with travelers, so he built the original restaurant in 1928.

This story was originally published December 18, 2014 at 12:12 PM with the headline "Mount Nittany Inn going out of business."