Pennsylvania's Oldest Continuously Operated Inn Since 1681
102 Radcliffe St, Bristol, PA 19007
Age
All Ages
Cost
$$
Restaurant dining; standard American cuisine pricing.
Access
Limited Access
Historic building with colonial-era construction and original floors
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1681 · Revolutionary War · Colonial History · Oldest Operating Bar in Pennsylvania
Samuel Clift opened the Ferry House in 1681 to serve travelers using the river crossing between Bristol and New Jersey — a practical commercial necessity at a Delaware River ford that connected Philadelphia to the colonies beyond. The building has operated as a public house for over 340 years without interruption, a record that places it among the oldest continuously operated bars in the United States and positions it as a witness to virtually the entire arc of American history.
The Revolutionary War connection is documented rather than folkloric. In December 1776, George Washington's troops stopped at the inn just days before their famous Christmas crossing of the Delaware River to attack Hessian forces at Trenton, New Jersey — a tactical surprise that reversed the faltering momentum of the Continental Army.
The inn sits at 102 Radcliffe Street in Bristol, overlooking the Delaware River, and operates today as an American-cuisine restaurant. A November 2025 article confirmed the inn recently celebrated nearly 350 years of operation and remains fully active.
The location file listed this venue as 'King George Inn in Bristol' — the correct full name is the King George II Inn.
Sources
The King George II Inn's most frequently described presence is referred to locally as the Dancing Ghost: an apparition dressed in a top hat and 19th-century formal wear, complete with a coat with tails. Unlike many reported apparitions that appear in peripheral vision or dark corners, this one has been described as appearing in the main rooms of the inn with enough definition to register specific period clothing.
The identity of the Dancing Ghost has not been established. The inn's history spans 340 years, and any number of figures — from colonial merchants to Revolutionary-era officers to 19th-century patrons — would be plausible candidates. Staff have noted sightings but have not attempted to assign a specific identity to the presence.
Martha Washington is said in local tradition to have stayed in one of the inn's rooms, adding a Revolutionary-era dimension to the building's lore beyond the documented troop visit.
Notable Entities
Dine in Pennsylvania's oldest operating bar, a building that has stood since 1681 with views of the Delaware River where Washington's troops drank before the Christmas 1776 crossing to Trenton. The 'Dancing Ghost' in a top hat and 19th-century formal wear has been sighted on multiple occasions by staff and guests.
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
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