Historic Log Cabin Inn opens in Donegal

The Laurel Highlands offers many lodging facilities, but only the Historic Log Cabin Inn in Donegal can claim to be the oldest log cabin in Westmoreland County.

"The log cabin is the oldest one in Westmoreland County, and it represents not only tourism but history in Westmoreland County," said Ronald Virag, executive director of the Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau.

For the past 12 years, Judy Trabbold has put her heart and soul into refurbishing the pre-revolutionary log cabin on Main Street in Donegal. She bought the building in 1999 and immediately began restoring it to its former glory.

Trabbold taught herself how to refurbish the cabin's logs and fill their chinks. With the help of her two children, she was able to remove siding that had hidden the treasure and completely restore the log exterior to look like it did in 1750. She then turned her attention inside, where she did 90 percent of the refurbishment by herself.

"It truly has been a labor of love," said Trabbold.

A few years later, she opened the Mountain Herb Shoppe in the downstairs portion of the building while continuing to work on its top floor. Trabbold eventually closed the shop to finish the first-floor renovations and converted it into the Historic Log Cabin Inn.

The unique inn features chestnut logs that are documented to be the largest in Westmoreland County. Visitors will also see a locust tree inside the inn, with a half-spiral wrought iron and log staircase, forged as if it were made 250 years ago.

The cabin was built circa 1750 along the Heritage Route between Fort Ligonier and Fort Necessity, Trabbold said. She has named one of the rooms after George Washington in the belief that he stayed at the cabin during his travels.

The inn sleeps eight with a pull-out sofa and three bedrooms. The George Washington and Sassafras rooms each have one queen bed, and the Diva Room has a full bed and a single bed.

While the inn has been designed as a vacation home rental, she will occasionally rent rooms for people looking for a bed and breakfast, Trabbold said.

There is also a full kitchen and a full bath with a claw-foot slipper tub. Outside there is a natural garden with medicinal heritage herbs and a gazebo.

"People seem to like the uniqueness of it being so old and that it encompasses the history, so history buffs like it. Other people like the peace and tranquility," Trabbold said.

Trabbold incorporated many iron elements into the inn's decor that it has become a theme.

"I didn't plan on it. I feel the energy of the original blacksmith is still present revealing itself through the wrought iron accents throughout the inn," she said.

Dylene Cymraes of Westminster, Md., and her husband, Earl Needhammer, stayed at the inn right after it opened. The couple enjoyed their visit to the inn so much, they are planning another trip, Cymraes said.

"I'm a writer, and I'm always looking for a retreat. The peaceful nature of the cabin was amazing. I love the thought that she put into it to make it unique," Cymraes said.

She also liked being able to stay in a historical building and knowing that so many people had been there before her over the past 250-plus years.

"You had a sense of being in a historical place. A sense of who has been there and what was done there before. I will always choose to stay somewhere that has stories attached to it," Cymraes said.

Trabbold also has several events planned for the inn that are open to the public, including her monthly Weed Walks. A master herbalist, she takes visitors on educational tours of the medicinal heritage herb garden on the property.

Those interested in more information on the Historic Log Cabin Inn and events scheduled there can visit www.historiclogcabininn.com .