The first settlers in the York Springs area in the 1700's found that the water had a high content of sulphur and various salts. People came to the springs just to drink and soak in the water. At some point an old style inn and tavern was built that housed up to 50 guests. That building was replaced in 1790 with a larger T shaped structure. The new building was very beautiful, set in a hillside, with balconies, arbors and very well kept grounds. It could now house 150 guests.
The place became known as a resort and was very popular with many people from Philadelphia and Baltimore. The stagecoach companies made York Springs a regular stop and there was daily service to and from the cities of Baltimore and Philadelphia. Yes, even George and Martha Washington spent some time at the resort in summer 1799. The resort was very popular through the first third of the 1800's. There was drinking, dancing, croquet, bowling, and even amusement rides installed for the children. The inn was often completely full and local farmers rented rooms in their homes to guests who could not get into the main resort.
By the end of the 1830's railroads became the choice mode of transportation. The rail lines gave people more access to places on the Atlantic coast and the beaches grew as resort destinations. The resort at York Sulphur Springs quickly fell out of favor and deteriorated. The main building was destroyed by fire on January 8, 1896.
There is an organization called "Ye Olde Sulphur Spa Historical Society" which meets regularly in York Springs. You can find their web site here.
