Historic Penns Valley building destroyed by early morning fire. What to know
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- Historic 1814 Woodward Inn in Penns Valley was destroyed by early fire.
- More than a dozen regional fire companies battled blaze; no injuries.
- Owners had nearly completed 2023 restoration; fire marshal now probes cause.
A historic building that has stood in Penns Valley for more than two centuries was destroyed by a fire early Sunday morning.
More than a dozen fire companies from across Centre and Union counties were called to the Woodward Inn in the 100 block of Mountain Avenue (state Route 45) in Haines Township just after 2:30 a.m. A neighbor called in a report of fire showing from the building, Millheim Fire Chief Delmer Homan said.
Upon arrival, Homan said flames were coming through the roof of the structure. Crews were able to surround the building to attack the blaze, Homan said, but the fire quickly spread throughout the stone structure that was built in the early 1800s as well as a newer part of the structure behind it.
Aerial trucks from Union County responded to help battle the blaze in the three-story building and water was shuttled in from nearby Woodward Camp.
“There’s a creek right there, but with the drought we’re going through it was dry,” Homan said.
The building was erected in 1814 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. It served as an overnight stopping place along the highway and served as a “collection spot and deposit of goods and a gathering spot for area residents,” according to the Centre County Historical Society.
Also called the Stagecoach Inn, the building was sold to new owners in 2023. Homan said the owners were in the process of restoring the inn and were just about finished. The inn was not used as their residence, and no one was inside when the fire started, Homan said.
No injuries were reported in the response, Homan said, though one firefighter fell through the floor and was evaluated.
Part of state Route 45 was closed for several hours between the Woodward Camp area and the Union County line throughout Sunday morning while crews worked on scene.
The cause of the fire is unknown, Homan said, and the fire marshal was called to investigate.
In addition to the Union County crews and Millheim Fire Company, Miles Township, Gregg Township, Centre Hall, Pleasant Gap, Walker Township, Boalsburg, Port Matilda, Howard, Milesburg and Alpha fire companies were among those called to assist. Sugar Valley fire company in Clinton County was also called to stand by at Millheim’s station.
This story was originally published October 5, 2025 at 1:39 PM.
