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View to overlook at historic Harpers Ferry hotel now open to the public

The view of the “Gap” from the Hill Top Hotel property is once again visible as the property owners have temporarily opened the walkway to pedestrian traffic. (Photo by Toni Milbourne)

HARPERS FERRY — Owners of the Hill Top House Hotel property in Harpers Ferry have opened the pathway to the iconic overlook from the front lawn of what was once the prime hotel in the area.

The property, purchased 18 years ago by Leesburg, Virginia’s Fred and Karen Schaufeld from SWaN Investors, has been fenced and closed to the public since the dilapidated hotel was razed.

A social media post indicated that the opening of the walkway, accessible on Columbia Street from Washington Street, is temporary for visitors to see the view of the “Gap” where the two rivers, the Potomac and Shenandoah, meet. The access is for pedestrian traffic only and has been fenced on all sides to ensure safety.

Plans for a new hotel, years in the making, have been approved after years of struggle between the owners and various town councils. SWaN representatives indicated with the announcement of the opening of the promontory overlook that a construction ground-breaking on the long-awaiting hotel.

The hotel is proposed to be similar to the original hotel from 1914, according to past statements made by the owners at various times. Karen Schaufeld, at a Rotary Club meeting in Martinsburg back in 2022, explained that the goal was to preserve as much of the original hotel as possible and re-use materials in the construction of the new site.

At that time, the Schaufelds indicated they hoped construction would be complete in 2024; however, construction has yet to begin. Continued increases in the cost of construction have, over the years, been listed as a cause for the lack of moving forward with the construction.

Despite the creation of a TIF District to help move the project along as well as approval of various tax breaks, no movement has been seen on the project since the hotel was torn down several years ago.

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