Jean Bonnet Tavern

An iconic fieldstone tavern along the historic Lincoln Highway that has provided hospitality since the 1760s. Used as a gathering place during the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794 when local farmers raised a Liberty pole in defiance of federal taxes. Jean Bonnet and his wife bought the tavern in 1779.

The Jean Bonnet Tavern has stood at the historic intersection of Routes 30 and 31 since 1762, making it one of the oldest surviving structures in the region. Originally built by Robert Callender for trading with Native Americans, it was purchased by Jean Bonnet in 1779 and opened as an inn and tavern. Route 30 follows Forbes Road, built in the late 1750s under British General John Forbes to move troops westward against the French at Fort Duquesne.

The inn witnessed pivotal moments in early American history. Farmers plotting during the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794 used it as their meeting grounds. Later that same year, George Washington's troops stayed here on their way to suppress the rebellion. The structure was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979—but its dark secrets predate any official recognition.

During separate renovations, two bodies were discovered buried under the tavern floor. These are believed to be tried and hanged war criminals whose remains, if found at the time, would have caused unrest among the troops. These unknown victims, along with other incidents over the centuries, are likely explanations for the many hauntings.

The Jean Bonnet Tavern is rumored to be the most haunted restaurant in Pennsylvania. One apparition is a man in colonial clothes seen drinking at the bar or walking the first floor. A young boy hauling coal appears in the kitchen area. In Room 2, guests hear the phantom sounds of a rustling skirt, footsteps, and a young woman humming. A man in a long coat once materialized at the foot of a guest's bed in that room.

Room 3 is haunted by a servant woman wearing a shawl, accompanied by the unexplained smell of sugar cookies. The room's notorious rocking chair starts rocking on its own in the dead of night. Guests who place purses or coats on the chair awaken to find their belongings tossed to the floor.

The tavern maintains a Ghost Book compiling accounts from employees and guests. For ghost seekers in Western Pennsylvania, the Jean Bonnet is considered paranormal Mecca.