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The James Manning House bed and breakfast in Bethany, Pennsylvania has belonged to Warren and Janet Heinly for the past thirteen years—but they don’t consider themselves the owners of this historic property. In their words, they are just the stewards: taking good care of this special place, honoring its long history as a fixture of the community, and welcoming their guests to become part of its story, whether they spend a weekend or return year after year.

The Heinlys have lived in Bethany for the past forty years, and they value their strong local community and of the unique natural and cultural heritage of the Upper Delaware River region. They will celebrate the 200-year anniversary of their historic home next year: the James Manning House was built in 1819, and in two centuries has had just six different owners.

Since joining the Green Lodging Partnership of the Delaware Highlands Conservancy in 2013, the Heinlys have become stewards not just of their historic home, but also of the lands and waters of the Upper Delaware. Through a $2-per-stay contribution to the Conservancy, the Heinlys and their guests make a direct investment in protecting this special place. But they don’t stop there: they also work to conserve energy and water usage at the inn, buy the food for the meals they serve from local farms, and grow their own garden.

Just like caring for this historic property, land conservation is an ongoing process of stewardship. Land trusts like the Conservancy promise to protect land forever, knowing that eventually we will be handing this promise off to the next generation. By participating in the Green Lodging Partnership, Warren and Janet are ensuring that future generations will always be able to enjoy the beautiful forests and clean waters of the Upper Delaware River region that we have today.

Currently, the Heinlys are looking forward to hosting Christmas in the Village along with other local businesses in Bethany. The public is invited to an Open House at the inn on December 1st for treats, holiday carols, and a tour of the historic home. Learn more about the James Manning House or about the Green Lodging Partnership.