Est. 1856: The family behind The Fallon
By Emily Wright
LOCK HAVEN – In what’s become a heartwarming tale of both dedication and a passion for preservation, the Chisolm family uprooted their lives in sunny Florida to embark on a journey to restore the iconic Fallon Hotel in Lock Haven almost six years ago. Leaving behind sandy beaches for this small but historic town, they have captured the attention and admiration of the local community with mind blowing restorations that they’ve completed.
Many locals claimed that it couldn’t be done, but new owners Carey and Brittany Chisolm, have been dedicated to restoration work and they’ve managed to breathe new life into the building, now called The Historic Fallon Hotel.
Together the couple masterfully recreated the hotel’s original splendor by striking a fine balance between conserving its historical significance and incorporating modern decor and amenities. The Chisolms have made it their mission to conserve “as much as possible” when it comes to historical elements of the building and the contents within it. So far, they’ve succeeded in doing so while also adding an upscale, modern decor that creates a fresh new vibe.
The former Fallon House has had its previous name reinstated to the Historic Fallon Hotel, hosting a bar and restaurant named in honor of the year the Fallon House first officially opened its doors, Est.1856. The four-story brick structure stretches 100 feet along Water Street and has been standing for more than 150 years. It was built to survive the test of time and has been a witness to numerous chapters of American history; but, before Carey and Brittany began the laborious restoration process, the building was in desperate need of repairs.
Owners Carey and his wife Brittany sat down with The Record for an interview and shared some of their insight, inspiration, and passion for restoring the property, as well as a bit of background about themselves. During the interview, their ambitions for The Historic Fallon Hotel were apparent: to create a revitalized version of the former Fallon House that will serve as their family legacy for generations to come.
Carey, who originally hails from Philadelphia but moved to Williamsport at a young age, had been in the real estate business in Florida before his father became ill, prompting the move back to Pennsylvania. Prior to that, Carey served in the military as an aviation ordnanceman and was stationed in Fallon, Nevada. Brittany, having been born and raised in northern California, happened to be visiting Las Vegas with friends, which is where the couple met.
Carey’s real estate career began after he worked as a full-time musician. Having come from a family that worked in the real estate business, he started out by owning and leasing properties before shifting his focus to restoring and renovating them; an experience that would come in handy later when he and his wife took over the Historic Fallon Hotel.
The restoration process has been a labor of love for the Chisolms. The couple became inspired by the rich history of the building, and they claim that they had a vision for what they wanted to create before they even started their work on the property. Both have been fully engaged and hands-on throughout the process of making restorations, and their hard work is obvious upon entering the building. They both claim to continually find a sense of gratification at the completion of each stage of the restoration and are proud to see the place transform from a completely unusable space to a fully functional restaurant-bar-hotel trio.
The couple operate the business together, with Brittany and Carey handling the day to day operations of C&Q Tavern inc. also known as Est.1856 which oversees the restaurant, bar, kitchen and hotel operations, and C&Q Investment properties in charge of handling the construction and routine maintenance end of the business in addition to continued restoration projects.
The historic Fallon Hotel has become not only a restoration project for Carey and Brittany Chisolm, but also a playground for their five children. When asked what their children think of restoring, owning, and operating The Fallon, the couple stated they have been enjoying the process, largely because of the adventures they like to embark on within the massive building.
“We have so much fun. We’ve run through the halls playing with nerf guns and when we still had plastic hanging up to block off certain sections of the building, we’d call it a ‘secret passageway’” Carey said.
The Chisolms have embraced the hotel as a family legacy, with one of their sons already taking pride in what will someday be his establishment. Carey told The Record about his elementary-aged son’s proud announcement at school, “My son goes to school and tells his teachers, ‘My name is Carey Chisolm II, and I’m the owner of the Fallon hotel.'”
Chisolm also told a story about a day that he and Brittany noticed the sound of children’s feet running on the floor above where they were working, which turned out to be their kids. “I had told them that each level of the building was a different mission, so they were trying to get to the top,” he said.
Despite facing adversity, red tape, and a number of challenges during the restoration process, Carey and Brittany were compelled to keep moving forward because of their strong belief in the legacy of the historic Fallon Hotel. When asked, “What made you want to keep moving forward after being told ‘no’ so many times?” Brittany expressed that they see the project as “something bigger than us”: a legacy to pass down to their children. The couple maintained positive attitudes despite the challenges they’ve faced since taking over the historical building, and they claim to have leaned on the old adage, “where there’s a will, there’s a way.”
Brittany discussed her aspirations for the future of the family-owned and operated business, “Eventually our children will run this business; they’ll be second generation hoteliers. For us, one of the driving factors to continue restoring the building is that this is a legacy. That’s the vision for us; to pass it on to our children.” she said.
While hard at work restoring the pre-Civil War-era property, Carey and Brittany have already stumbled upon some interesting finds. When asked about what they may have found in the building while restoring it, Carey offered one noteworthy piece of history they stumbled on, “We found an old cigarette machine here that we’re thinking about turning into a vending machine with an assortment of candy.”
It’s not just vintage vending machines they’ve discovered; among the treasures found during the renovation process is a ledger from the hotel that dates back to 1901. The couple plans to incorporate the original ledger into the decor, paying homage to those who have stayed at the hotel over the years. Upon making this discovery, the couple says that they plan to create their own ledger for future guests to write in.
The Chisolm have put a significant amount of effort into their commitment to utilize as much of the original furniture and architecture as possible while also incorporating modern and unique elements into their restoration plans.
Carey pointed out the enormous mirror that hangs on the mantle of the fireplace in the lobby while discussing additional furniture and architecture that the couple hopes to put into use. Both the fireplace and the mirror are original components of the building that have survived over 150 years with very little, if any, visible deterioration. During this discussion, Carey shared an introspective thought, saying aloud, “Imagine, over the course of all the years that this building has been operating, how many people have looked into that mirror.”
Another fascinating detail about the former Fallon House is its connection to renowned author Mark Twain. When asked if they had any knowledge of which room Twain might have stayed in, the Chisolms pointed out two possibilities: “With the fireplace in room #224, we think there’s a possibility that that could have been the room,” the owners said. They also mentioned that room #222, which features a balcony, might also be a contender. Both rooms certainly hold a nostalgic charm, bringing visitors closer to the history of the renowned author.
The structure not only has a rich history, it also has the capacity to accommodate a large number of guests. The building measures 36,000 square feet in size and has a capacity of 500-600 persons on the ground floor alone.
Carey shared that the four-story building (five if you count the basement), has a total of 107 hotel rooms. The Chisolms have officially completed the restoration of 15 of those rooms, which guests have already begun to reserve for their stay.
When asked about the timeline for the building’s complete restoration, the owners emphasized that they are taking their time with the process. Responding to this question, Carey expressed a calm and patient approach. “I’m enjoying the journey; we’re not in a rush, but it will get done,” he emphasized.
The couple seems to put a lot of value in the process, making sure that the end result of each project will be in alignment with their vision. While they are completely dedicated to their mission, the Chisolms added that finding balance between raising their kids, spending quality time together, and working on the restorations remains a top priority.
Other exciting plans for The Historic Fallon Hotel are the owner’s intentions to revive and breathe life back into the rear portion of the building. The back of the building was a courtyard; when asked about any plans for that area, Carey confirmed their intentions, “We want to open up the courtyard, Absolutely. That will probably be something we will plan to have done by spring or early summer, 2024.”
Based on the extravagant interior work that the pair has already completed, the eventual results of their work on the courtyard are certain to be nothing short of stunning.
In the past, the building sustained a heating system failure during the winter, which forced tenants to relocate at the time. When asked about this, Carey provided assurance that another similar situation will not be an issue under their ownership. The heating system has since been updated and is fully functional, ensuring that the hotel and restaurant is capable of operating seamlessly even during harsh Pennsylvania winters.
Food enthusiasts can rejoice as the restaurant serves food and take-out throughout their hours of operation. The Chisolms told The Record that they plan to bring back their popular takeout platters, which received rave reviews from customers last summer. As for the menu, Carey describes it as a fusion of southern comfort and southern cuisine.
In addition to their southern-inspired menu, Est. 1856 can finally serve alcohol at their two bars. They’ve recently reintroduced the infamous Thursday night “quarter drafts”, a nod to the popular tradition from the hotel’s past. Years ago, Thursday night quarter drafts at The Fallon were known to bring students from Lock Haven University out to the bar in droves.
The Historic Fallon Hotel is now offering their 15 newly restored hotel rooms for guests to reserve. Those looking for a comfortable place to stay in the historic building can enjoy a room complete with a king sized bed, flat screen TV, and other amenities for just $85 per night.
The Chisolm family’s company dedication to the restoration and preservation of one of the most iconic and historically significant landmarks in Lock Haven’s will certainly leave an indelible mark on the community. Carey and Brittany’s dedication to preserving the past and their drive to make their vision for The Historic Fallon Hotel a reality ensure that the essence of the former Fallon House is not only restored, but also enhanced, allowing future generations to experience the glory of a bygone era.
To stay up-to-date on upcoming events or to book your stay at The Historic Fallon Hotel, “Like” and “Follow” the Facebook page or visit the website:
• www.est1856.com
• Facebook: @TheFallonHotelEst.1856
• (570) 300-5213
Send your inquiries to info@est1856.com for event bookings or to get more information about available retail and commercial spaces provided by C&Q Investment Properties
• Est. 1856 Hours of Operation:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 6:30 PM – 10:00 PM
Wednesday: 6:30 PM – 10:00 PM
Thursday: 7:00 PM – 2:00 AM
Friday: 7:00 PM – 2:00 AM
Saturday: 7:00 PM – 2:00 AM
Sunday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
