Nestled atop the hills that overlook the Delaware River sits our family-run, locally supported, HollyHedge Estate.
Owned and operated by the Luccaro family for the last 30 years, HollyHedge’s rich 240-year-history is nearly as old as America itself. Established comfortably between New Hope, Lambertville, Stockton, and Frenchtown, HollyHedge offers guests a glimpse into New Jersey and Pennsylvania’s rich, vibrant history and natural beauty. In addition, we offer contemporary accommodations to let every guest relax in their evening with us while serving as a premier wedding venue and inn.
240 Years About Us
In the 1780s, a carpenter named Watson Fell began construction on a new property alongside the Delaware River. Sourcing field stones and other materials from the local community, Watson established the property we know as HollyHedge Estate. The Fell Family raised their three sons on the property nearly 240 years ago, farming and working the hilly land. The properties, for many centuries, were passed down from one generation of Fells to the next.
The family sold the estate in 1887, but that wasn’t the end of its story. In the 1930s, former Trenton Times Editor-in-Chief James Kerney, alongside his wife, Sarah Kerney, transformed the property from a working homestead into a regal private estate. In addition, they added ornate English gardens and landscaping that showcased the magic of HollyHedge even to this day.
In the 1960s, HollyHedge hosted students across the country as a premiere performing arts academy. “Arts amidst the fields” offered outdoor classes and performances in music, theater, modern dance, and ballet to the greater community.
Then, in 1994, the Luccaro family bought the property envisioning its potential as the elegant country estate it is today. Perfect for intimate weddings and private events, the Luccaro family has restored and preserved the most breathtaking parts of HollyHedge Estate. The Old Barn is extremely popular for weddings and gatherings. The English gardens are still vibrant and lush.
Where Rustic, Bohemia, and History Meet
On the edge of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, sit our nearest communities, New Hope, PA and Lambertville, New Jersey. The Quakers first settled the area known as the Pennsylvania Colony back in 1681. The Leni Lenape tribe traced its roots to the region 10,000 years ago. The turn of the 20th century saw the emergence of the Bucks County Impressionists, vibrant art, and artisans who attracted tourism with their charming galleries, unknown artists, and fantastic food.
With its seasonal festivals, historic reenactments, year-round cultural activities, community clubs, artisanal shops, and an authentic bohemian charm, it won’t be hard to see that New Hope and Lambertville have remained true to their roots.
HollyHedge is here to celebrate this community with all who visit us. We offer guidance and recommendations from in-town happenings like wine tours, food tastings, antiquing, and shopping. If live music and theater are your thing, we’ve got you covered. With outdoor excursions like hiking, tubing, kayaking, bike-riding, camping, and so much more, the possibilities are endless.
“We abuse land because we see it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.” –Aldo Leopold
We take our stewardship of the estate, land, and its history seriously. Using traditional mason techniques, the maintenance and restoration of our historic stone buildings, walls, and barn has helped us retain the property’s rustic charm. A solar array helps us reduce our energy consumption and minimize our environmental footprint from weddings and other events – making HollyHedge a leader in developing the green wedding industry. Using better water catchment systems and responsible drip irrigation helps prevent soil erosion and water run-off from the property. It also allows us to maintain rich biodiversity, making a spectacular backdrop for wedding photos and ensuring native flora and fauna are protected space to grow.
Our commitment to farm-to-table and local food means we grow much of our guests’ dinner and breakfast on the property. We work with our award-winning chefs each year to produce various fruits, vegetables, flowers, and herbs that can be prepared and shared with our guests. For the food we can’t grow, we try to source from local growers like Manoff Market Garden in Solebury, PA, Maximuck’s Farm Market in Doylestown, PA, or Blue Moon Acres in Buckingham, PA. We also ensure food scraps and biodegradable byproducts from our catering services don’t go to waste. Leftover cooking oil is recycled into biodiesel; fruits, vegetables, eggshells, and coffee scraps are turned into compost onsite; and leftover food scraps from events are saved and shared with our local hog farmer as feed for her livestock.
Sustainability isn’t a buzzword; it has always been our core business principle and helps us ensure we are living up to our obligations as responsible stewards of our beautiful estate. So whether you are planning your wedding or relaxing for the weekend at the inn, we are excited to be able to offer our guests an environmentally friendly experience.