KINSMAN, Ohio – Richard “Dick” Thompson’s appreciation for history and preservation is readily apparent – and a requisite for running a country inn built in 1821.
Thompson and his wife, Rhonda, own the Peter Allen Inn, a lodging, restaurant and tavern and event center, at 8581 Williamsfield Kinsman Road, on the edge of this country town.
Over lunch in the tavern patio one recent afternoon, Thompson shared the history of his building and its inhabitants, inserting vignettes that brought it to life.
It’s that attention to detail that places the inn among the finest properties in the state.
The property’s singular attributes and comfortable elegance are manifested at every turn, and the hospitality world has taken notice.
In January, Peter Allen Inn was accepted by Select Registry, which includes only the country’s most distinguished craft lodgings.
And in May, the inn was named to Distinguished Restaurants of North America (DiRoNA), one of the most prestigious honors in the industry.
How rare is each accolade? Only seven inns in Ohio have been named to Select Registry, and only four restaurants in the state are in DiRoNA.
The restaurant, which specializes in American cuisine, has also received the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence five years in a row, a testament to its wine list.
Not surprisingly, the Thompsons’ other loves are architecture and exquisite lodgings. The couple was guided by both in creating the Peter Allen Inn.
After years of painstakingly accurate restoration, the couple opened the inn in 2017. Richard Thompson is there most days, overseeing operations and greeting guests.
In addition to its seven guest rooms – three in the main house and four in the Stone Cottage on the property – the inn has a parlor, Heritage Hall banquet room, a puzzle room, conference and meeting rooms, the Kinsman Tavern restaurant, manicured gardens and a grand canopy for outdoor events.
History
The Peter Allen Inn was built by Kinsman’s first doctor, Peter Allen, who used it as his home and office. It retains its original look, polished to a high degree.
The Federal Style house was in disrepair before the Thompsons acquired it in 2008. The couple recognized its architectural and historical significance and felt compelled to save it.
“We feared that someone else would buy it and tear it apart,” Thompson said. “We didn’t know what to do with it at first but [eventually] decided that a restaurant, bed and breakfast and events center would work.”
Because of the house’s historical significance, architectural drawings of it are on file in the Library of Congress and available online. The Thompsons and their contractors often referred to the drawings in restoring the structure to its original state. They also built an addition that continues the architectural style.
It was a costly project and a labor of love. As Thompson put it, “the brain shifts out and the heart shifts in.”
Before retiring, Thompson was an electrical engineer, first with Packard Electric. He and several business partners later founded ThermoLink, which manufactures wire and cable and has several plants, including one in Warren.
The Thompsons also started Heritage Hill Farm near the inn, which their son now manages. High-quality beef raised at the farm – without steroids, antibiotics or hormones – is sold at market and also used in dishes at the Peter Allen Inn’s restaurant.
“We are grain fed and proud of it,” Thompson said.
The Kinsman area has some of the richest soil in the region. It is also home to Pymatuning Creek, which the state has designated a wild and scenic river.
The Thompsons own a lot of acreage in the area and have granted conservation easements to the state to ensure the preservation of the creek and surrounding land. Their action started “a movement” among other landowners in the Kinsman area, Thompson said. Today, more than 16,000 acres are protected under conservation easements.
The Thompsons themselves live in a restored historical house in Kinsman. They have played a key role in preserving other historical structures in the area, including the professional building on the town square.
Their most recent project is the Stone Cottage, which they assembled on the Peter Allen Inn property, a hundred feet or so from the main building.
After learning that the disassembled 1836 structure was being stored in a nearby farmer’s barn, they purchased it in 1995.
The building stones and other materials were relocated to the Thompsons’ barn, where they sat for at least 20 years.
The cottage – the word is misleading, as it’s a deceptively large structure – was reassembled in 2022, with an expansion added on and the interior restored. It was opened to guests in 2023.
“It made so much sense to put it here,” said Thompson, pointing to the structure. “We have the staff to maintain it here, and it gave us four more suites [to rent to guests].”
Incidentally, it was the addition of the cottage that made the Peter Allen Inn eligible for consideration by Select Registry, said Katherine Dodd, general manager of the property. For consideration by the Registry, a property must have at least four guest rooms, and the cottage brought the inn from three to seven.
Rooms, Restaurant
To earn the approval of Select Registry, the suites and rooms at Peter Allen Inn were inspected – occasionally in secret by representatives who did not reveal their affiliation.
The representatives checked that all required hallmarks of quality are upheld.
“For example, we have to have 10 hangers in each room, and they have to be wooden,” Dodd said. Other items that must pass muster include the towels and bedding, and even the website and how the inn responds to complaints or comments.
“They check for dust,” she said. “They have their white gloves on.”
The Registry’s reps return on a regular basis to make sure that quality does not slip. “It’s not one and done,” Dodd said.
The inn’s overnight guests come from throughout the region: Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Erie and the Youngstown area. “Since we were named to the registry, we are also getting guests from places like Cincinnati and Indianapolis,” Dodd said.
The restaurant faced a similar scrutiny before earning its DiRoNA certification. That group’s checklist goes beyond food and service; it checks for the use of locally sourced ingredients and a comprehensive wine list.
The kitchen is under the control of chef Rob Vossler, whose previous credentials include executive chef at the Lake Club, and the Youngstown Club. He uses herbs grown in the inn’s garden as garnishes.
Activities, Entertainment
The Peter Allen Inn is not just an inn. It’s also a gathering place.
“The neighborhood comes here to celebrate on special occasions,” Thompson said.
Live acoustic music is scheduled for the tavern on many Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons. Other events include murder-mystery dinner shows, clambakes, concerts, an artisan expo and more.
From December to May, the inn presents a passport dinner series featuring food and wine from a variety of countries. “Each evening is a five- or six-course dinner,” Dodd said. “It’s very well attended.”
Click HERE to see all of the offerings.
Golf and winery weekend packages will also be available soon.
“It’s a nice country getaway, close by but far enough, where you can experience a great meal,” Dodd said.
The inn also offers spa services and is a very popular location for weddings.
“Our taglines for weddings are, ‘Let your history begin with ours’ and ‘You make the drive, we’ll make the difference,’” Thompson said.
Pictured at top: The exterior of Peter Allen Inn.