DESTINATION
Youghiogheny and Casselman rivers. It is also—at more than halfway along the trail for thru-riders heading south—the ideal spot to indulge in some well-earned luxury. At the Smith House Inn at 420 Sterner St. (smithhouseinn.com), a beautifully restored 1920 bunga- low with a charming wraparound porch perfect for a late-afternoon nap, guests enjoy free snacks, French-press coffee and turndown chocolates. The next day’s ride will be fueled by a two-course homemade breakfast (yogurt parfaits with home- made granola, anyone?), and bikes are safe and sound in the locked garage. The Gingerbread House Bed and Breakfast, Rockwood People who stay at The Ginger- bread House Bed and Breakfast (thegbhouse.com), a meticulously maintained Victorian home at 156 Rockdale Road in the trail town of Rockwood, Pennsylvania, rave about the host’s homemade syrups—maple, mulberry and pumpkin—that adorn the breakfast table each morning. In addition to the inn’s beloved break- fasts, guests can also look forward to clean and comfortable rooms and a secure place to stash their bikes. The Rockwood trailhead and visitors center is within sight of The Gingerbread House’s inviting front porch, and a local brewery is a block away. Morguen Toole Company Hotel, Meyersdale During the early 20th century, the 30,000-square-foot warehouse at 130 Center St. in the heart of downtown Meyersdale, Pennsylvania, housed two separate businesses: Baer & Company Hardware and R. Reich & Son Furniture and Undertaking. The latter is the reason ghosts and spirits now reportedly roam the halls of
the Morguen Toole Company Hotel (morguentoole.com), a quirky hostel-like retreat popular with GAP- goers. There’s even a room named after one of the ghosts: Helen’s Chamber is among the hotel’s most booked rooms. Ideal for large groups and fam- ilies, the hotel offers a range of ac- commodations, from sprawling suites to bunk beds with shared bathrooms. Donges Drive-In and Motel, Meyersdale If ghosts aren’t your thing, how about hamburgers, french fries and ice cream? Located just around the block from Morguen Toole Company Hotel, Donges Drive-In and Motel at 100 Center St. (dongesdriveinmotel.com) might be the only spot on the GAP where you can get a hot shower and a hot fudge sundae without leaving the premises. Open since 1967, Donges has been in the same family for three generations and offers classic diner fare and a handful of tidy and cozy motel rooms. In the morning, guests can wander down from their digs to fuel up on bacon, eggs and pancakes—topped with some locally sourced syrup right here in Pennsyl- vania’s “Maple City.”
Today, the hotel, which was renovated and reopened in 2019, still offers weary travelers a soft place to rest their heads. The hotel is located about half a mile from the GAP’s Frostburg trailhead (take note that it is a steep half mile) right in the middle of bustling downtown, where people have no problem filling the hours between rides, exploring the city’s many shops and restaurants.
The Inn on Decatur, Cumberland
Whether you’re starting your ride or celebrating its completion, the historic Inn on Decatur (theinnondecatur.net) at 108 Decatur St. in downtown Cumberland, Maryland, provides a stylish home base. A Federal-style townhouse located just four (flat!) blocks from Mile 0, the inn is owned by a local tour guide who offers complimentary tours of the city and help with discovering Cumberland’s best restaurants and most notable landmarks. A hearty breakfast—with challah French toast or apple crisp— will power your first miles along the GAP or keep you full all the way home.
MARYLAND
Hotel Gunter, Frostburg Opened on New Year’s Day 1897, for decades the Hotel Gunter at 11 W. Main St. in Frostburg (hotelgunter.com) provided an easy and opulent getaway for politicians and their families from nearby Washington, D.C. Nestled in the mountains of Western Maryland, the hotel had a café, a barber shop and even a petting zoo, complete with tame deer. During Prohibition, it also had a jail in the basement so that federal marshals transporting criminals down Route 40 could enjoy a hot meal and a good night’s rest.
PHOTOS: From top: Donges Drive-In and Motel in Meyersdale, Pennsylvania; Hotel Gunter in Frostburg, Maryland | Ashley Stimpson (2).
Rails to Trails MAGAZINE | FALL 2025
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