Nittany Lion Inn’s historic preservation efforts awarded more than a year after reopening
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- Centre County Historical Society will present six preservation awards at a ceremony.
- Scholar Hotels reopened the Nittany Lion Inn in 2024 after a $10M-plus renovation.
- Inn renovation kept lobster bisque, complimentary apples and renewed community access.
Gary Brandeis couldn’t help but laugh when asked just how much has changed at the Nittany Lion Inn.
Brandeis — CEO of Scholar Hotels, which reopened the historic hotel in 2024 — spearheaded an extensive renovation that sought to modernize the 94-year-old Georgian-style hotel while at the same time preserving its character, history and charm. That led to even more work than Brandeis expected. And it didn’t come easy.
But, more than a year after reopening, Brandeis said it’s all felt incredibly rewarding. And those efforts are set to be honored Sunday at the Centre County Historical Society’s 37th annual John H. Ziegler Historic Preservation Awards.
“It’s been the greatest thing,” Brandeis, a Penn State alum, said of taking over the Nittany Lion Inn. “It’s been one of the most rewarding parts of my career.”
The historical society will hand out six awards during the hourlong public ceremony that starts 3 p.m. at the Pennsylvania Match Factory in Bellefonte. But it’s Brandeis’ “Preservation and Restoration” award that’s among the most notable.
Part of the reason for the award, of course, is the importance of the Nittany Lion Inn to the area’s history. It is one of just 20 locations in Pennsylvania to be recognized among the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Historic Hotels, and it was once famously called “Penn State’s living room” by the university’s 12th president in Eric Walker.
Famous guests have included the likes of Dwight D. Eisenhower, Eleanor Roosevelt and Robert Frost.
“It’s important to preserve some of the important buildings and structures and so forth in Centre County,” added Mary Sorensen, executive director of the county historical society. “But it’s also important to recognize the people that are doing it.”
Changes at the Nittany Lion Inn
Brandeis knew he had a lot of work ahead when he and the university became announced partners in 2022. But, early on, he didn’t realize just how much.
Sure, his company acquired more than $5 million in federal and state tax credits to help offset costs. But with multiple unplanned emergencies, the renovation wound up costing at least an additional $10 million — Brandeis declined to share exact figures — and the 1988 PSU graduate still felt the pressure of doing the renovations right.
“Otherwise,” he laughed, “I would’ve been chased down College Avenue with pitchforks like I was Frankenstein in the old movies.”
The elevator that hadn’t worked in years needed 90 days just to get all the asbestos removed. Original woodwork needed to be stripped and refinished. Past additions were structurally unsound at their connecting points. The heating and cooling systems needed to be replaced. So did the expensive slate roof.
The list went on. There was a leak in the kitchen. Past workers had glued the carpet right to the original floor in one section instead of using the typical plywood. Rooms were outdated.
“Not only did I feel the weight and the pressure of any deal that I’ve done. I have investment partners, I have lenders and things like that,” Brandeis said. “But now, all of a sudden, I have millions of Penn State people saying to me, ‘Don’t mess this up. It’s so important to all of us.’ So there was an additional layer of pressure.”
Most, including the historical society, would agree the renovations that took about 15 months turned out incredibly well. Some antiques that were uncovered during a deep cleaning now decorate the hotel — such as an old, embroidered tablecloth now framed in one of the hotel’s restaurants. The original flooring has also been uncovered, with the intact patina still telling stories like an early guest who stamped out his cigarette onto the floor.
Much of the character has been retained and built upon. Exposed wooden beams in the original section of the hotel now don’t appear out of place because the style has been mimicked in the addition that was built in the 1990s and restored two years ago. The lobby is more open now with a view to the courtyard, and it’s not unusual to see College Heights neighbors reading books in front of the fireplace or students studying near the coffee shop.
“He really tried to keep the spirit of the building,” Sorensen said of Brandeis. “The building was suffering from a lot of different maintenance issues, and a lot needed to be dealt with. But the way he organized the middle of the building made it more visitor friendly.”
Looking ahead, by looking back
Some of the colors inside the Nittany Lion Inn have changed, with more blues and whites now reflecting the campus the hotel sits on. But, before opening, Brandeis received two requests above all the others.
In a nod to tradition, Brandeis was told — sometimes over social media, sometimes in a surprise face-to-face interaction — that the Nittany Lion Inn needed to offer its staple of lobster bisque while also continuing to offer complimentary apples in the lobby.
On a recent afternoon, more than a dozen red delicious apples sat in a basket near the main entrance. And lobster bisque remained on the menu of one of the inn’s restaurants, Lionne. (In fact, it’s the first item listed on the lunch menu.)
“That was really important to us,” Brandeis said about satisfying guests who wanted those traditions continued. “People loved this place before. ... It wasn’t very nice, but people still loved it. And, so if we improve it and make it a lot better, boy, maybe they’d love it even more. And that’s sort of what we were hoping for.”
Brandeis, who owns a home in College Heights, acknowledged he received a standing ovation during one neighborhood meeting. But he also realizes the job isn’t done. He’s glad the community is largely happy now — but he wants them to stay happy. And that doesn’t happen by growing complacent, he said.
He wants the community to feel even more connected to the inn. He wants it to become a place where people feel comfortable spending time — whether that means chatting near the fire with a complimentary apple and water, or stopping by to grab a burger and beer.
“We’ve made a tremendous amount of progress in 18 months, and we’re really happy,” Brandeis added. “But we’re not satisfied. We’re going to keep trying to improve.”
Awards ceremony
The Centre County Historical Society’s awards ceremony is free and open to the public, but organizers ask those interested in attending to RSVP online or by calling 814-234-4779.
Brandeis received a similar honor from the historical society in 2021, for his work on Scholar State College in the downtown’s famous Glennland Building. But that ceremony was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so this will be the first award Brandeis gets to accept in-person.
Here’s an overview of all the award recipients, as provided by the historical society:
Preservation and Restoration (Gary Brandeis, The Nittany Lion Inn): For the extensive restoration of the historic Nittany Lion Inn, a National Trust for Historic Preservation-recognized historic hotel, restoring the property to its longstanding role as a cherished tradition for the local community and Penn State alumni.
History and Heritage (University Club Heritage Project, Directed by James Collins and Vicki Fong): For leading the project to preserve the University Club’s historical documents and artifacts that tell the story of the club’s unique cultural legacy in the broader community over the past century.
Education and Advocacy (Rick Rishel, Centre County Library and Historical Museum): For the outstanding and long-term commitment to preservation activities in Centre County at the Centre County Library and Historical Museum including countless hours spent cataloging, preparing exhibitions, and scanning to make collections accessible to the public.
Support and Volunteerism (Gerald Hefferan and Zachary Chambers): For significant contributions to historic preservation in Centre County through their gifts of time, talent, and project leadership working with the Lions David House Heritage Museum in Snow Show, development of the Mountaintop Historical Day event, and for promoting the rich history of the Mountaintop region of Centre County.
CCHS President’s Award (Jacqueline R. Esposito): For exemplary service to the Centre County Historical Society as its Collections Management Chair. Her contribution through her ongoing work with interns and staff, and insights as a professional archivist have exponentially benefited the Historical Society’s archives by increasing their public accessibility.
Jacqueline J. Melander Award (Michael Hermann, Purple Lizard Maps): For his years and countless hours devoted to appreciating Centre County’s natural landscape by making it more accessible through his Purple Lizard Maps.
