Long before William Penn
began to settle Pennsylvania, this exact site was known as
“Saint Anthony’s Wilderness” Due to the narrow valleys and
steep ridges, early settlers could not cultivate the
landscape into farmland using the fanning techniques
familiar to them in their native Europe. For this reason the
area was left unsettled for many years.
There were only a few
Indian trails that crossed through the area in those virgin
years. One trail now known as Route 309 was known then as
the Nanticoke Trail. In those days trails and roads
such as these were referred to as state highways, or
turnpikes.
Sand Springs was the name
given to the natural spring fed pond located to the rear of
where the present Stage Coach Inn now stands. This site
served as an overnight stop for travelers on The Beaver
Meadows Stage Coach Line. The stage coach departed Beaver
Meadows making a stop in Hazelton, and then continued its
journey to Wilkes-Barre. The trip from Beaver Meadows to
this point along the way, “Sand Springs”, took approximately
5 hours in the early 1800’s.
In 1946, Peter and Ester
Solutko built a restaurant on the site near Sand Springs and
called it the Stage Coach Inn, because of the history
connected to the site. In 1969 it was purchased by Russell
and Helen Mucklow, who operated the Inn till 1987.
In 1988 the Stage Coach
Inn was purchased by Ed and Betty Deets of Mountaintop, Pa.
After extensive renovation and improvement, the new Inn was
opened on February 12th, 1988. The new owners pledge to
continue in this fine tradition, and add a “Touch of Class”
to this landmark establishment. Bon Appetite!
