School of Hospitality Management Monthly Update: September 2009

New resort leadership maintains family business

When father-and-son business duo John W. Heinze and Charles A. B. Heinze ’29 Arts and Letters bought a fifty-seven-acre Pennsylvania estate in 1944, they set out to turn their dream of running a family-owned hospitality business into a reality. Too beautiful to keep from the public, they transformed their property, with its nineteenth-century limestone buildings along the Yellow Breeches Creek, into a one-of-a-kind resort now known as Allenberry Resort Inn and Playhouse, located in Boiler Springs, Pennsylvania. Today, their dream lives on as yet another generation takes the helm of the business.

John Heinze, Jr. ’55 FS HA, Allenberry’s president and producer since 1967, retired on August 1, 2009. His brother Jere Heinze, a 1968 graduate of business from Drexel University, is now president and Charles A.B. Heinze II, ’96 HRIM (Jere’s son) was promoted to general manager and vice president. Mary Ann Taylor Murtoff ’86 COM will continue in her role as accountant.

Allenberry is a rare case of a traditional family-owned business surviving after sixty-five years in a world full of franchises. “Only 15 percent of family businesses last beyond the second generation,” said Charles Heinze II. “Ours defies the odds, proving the staying power of old-fashioned hospitality and a commitment to a vision.”

Allenberry remains an integral part of the community that it serves, and many people make regular visits (including coach Joe Paterno and his staff, who visit the resort for retreats).

As president, John streamlined operations and added several buildings, while maintaining the property’s perennial feel. Many visitors hail the Carriage Room, a fine dining facility that John designed, as the most beautiful, cherished room on the property. John also added tennis courts, the Addison Room, the Beltzhoover Terrace, and the Pine Lodge.

John is perhaps best known among Allenberry patrons and employees alike as the producer of the Allenberry theatre. (In sixty years, the theatre has only had two producers: John and his father before him.) John has always loved the theatre, and his passion laid the foundation for Allenberry’s long-standing success at a time when regional theatres across the country continue to struggle. As producer, John gave many aspiring, talented actors—including a young John Travolta—the chance to shine on the Allenberry stage before going on to succeed on Broadway and in television and film. John himself has appeared on stage quite a few times, proving to be an audience favorite. Among other roles, he has twice played a salesman in The Music Man, whose famous line he can still deliver without missing a beat: “He’s just a bang beat, bell ringing, big hole, great go, neck-or-nothing, rip roarin’, every time a bull’s eye salesman.”

As John steps aside as president and welcomes his brother into the position, he knows Allenberry will continue to charm its visitors. “We provide such a unique setting for our guests to come and relax, eat, and be entertained. We also provide a great experience for so many talented people who want to come here to work, whether in the theatre or in the restaurant. There is no other place in the world like Allenberry, and I’m so proud so many people have had the chance to visit us.”

In his retirement, John looks forward to traveling the world and playing golf with his wife Kathy. A staunch supporter of everything Penn State, he plans to spend as much time as possible at his second home in State College, as well as visiting his two daughters, Cricket and Jackie, who live in New York and Los Angeles, respectively.

The new president of Allenberry, Jere, grew up on the property and resides there today with his wife Diane. In his new role he hopes to build residential homes on its bewitching fifty-seven acres so that others can experience the allure of living at Allenberry.

But he is perhaps most excited to continue working alongside his son, Charles. “I am so proud to be working with him,” he said. “It’s wonderful to know that this business my father started will remain Heinze-family operated, and I am eager to see Allenberry pass through many generations of Heinzes to come.”

In 2005, Jere’s son Charles A.B. Heinze II returned to Allenberry to serve as its food and beverage director. Prior to that, Charles gained his expertise in the hospitality business by working at the Loews L’Enfant Plaza in Washington, D.C.; the Tavern Restaurant in State College, Pennsylvania; the Hyatt Regency in New Orleans, Louisiana; and as assistant food and beverage director of the Hyatt Regency Lake Las Vegas Resort. When Charles came home to Allenberry, he not only brought his experience and incredible skill, he brought his love of and loyalty for the property. “We are a family-run business, but all of our employees are also part of that family,” he said. “All of our guests are part of that family. We are fortunate that we are able to host our guests in such a personable way, making sure they feel at home in this truly special setting.”

For sixty-five years, Allenberry has enchanted its visitors. Although guests are wooed by the property’s tranquil setting and timeless feel, they’re won over by Heinze hospitality. Today, the entire Heinze clan is grateful for such a smooth transition in leadership, as Allenberry continues to be run by dedicated, qualified family members committed to sustaining the vision of its founder, Charles A.B. Heinze.

For more information or to interview John, Jere, or Charles, please contact Leslie Sterner at 717-960-5281, 800-324-8716, or aberry6@allenberry.com.

The Heinze family was also featured in an article in the Sentinel. View the article on the Heinze family.