Farmstead Tours

ADMISSION FEES

General Admission (ages 13-65): $12 per person

Seniors (age 65+):

$10 per person

Children (ages 3 to 12):

$6 per person

Children (ages 2 and under): Free 

Public, walk-in tours of the Royer Farmstead are available with our knowledgeable and docents from mid-April through mid-October. Tours depart from the Visitors Center at the top of the hour Wednesday through Saturday at 1:00PM, 2:00PM, and 3:00PM. Admission may be purchased in-person anytime during regular business hours on the day of your visit. We recommend arriving 15 minutes prior to your desired tour time to allow ample time to park and purchase admission. Note: If you intend to bring a group of ten (10) or more, please consider a pre-arranged group tour for a more customized experience.

Join Renfrew for an overview tour of our 300+ year history on the Royer Farmstead. Rooted in our Pennsylvania German heritage, Renfrew’s story is quintessentially American and closely mirrors the narrative of our young nation with central themes of industriousness, ingenuity, and innovation. By the close of the nineteenth century, the property boasted two successful farmsteads, a grist mill, lime kiln, and several outbuildings. Later occupants of the site placed their own marks on the landscape, resulting in a varied built environment with unique structures spanning the Federal to Edwardian Eras. Renfrew’s final private residents, Edgar and Emma Nicodemus, lovingly restored the property which was bequeathed to the Borough of Waynesboro as a gift to its citizens following Emma’s death in 1973.

Visitors will tour the 1812 Royer House, furnished with a host of decorative arts and residential artifacts spanning three centuries, visit several historic outbuildings (summer kitchen, milk house, and smoke house) where important everyday tasks took place, and view exhibit galleries inside our Visitors Center, a converted Victorian barn, featuring permanent displays of Bell Family historic pottery, Pennsylvania-Kentucky longrifles, and tradesmen’s tools. Visitors will be introduced to the people who lived and worked at Renfrew over the centuries, from the site’s earliest settlement in the 18th century, through the intense social and technological changes of the 19th century, to its restoration by our last private residents in the 20th century. Along the way, visitors will be inspired by authentic stories of hardworking and passionate people, just like them, who made their own lasting impact on this historic property.

Accessibility: Renfrew Museum and Park has limited accessibility.  Many of our walking surfaces on the farmstead and the interiors of historic buildings can pose challenges to those with mobility concerns, those using wheelchairs, canes, or walkers, and families with strollers.  Please be advised that much of the exterior ground surface is gravel or grass, with the exception of paved paths at the Visitors Center, Picnic Grounds, and other select areas. The approach to all outbuildings and the Royer House requires movement over uneven surfaces and steps. Tours require walking and standing for approximately 1 hour. There is no paved accessible route to the historic buildings at Renfrew. The Visitors Center, however, is all on one level and allows for easy maneuvering. We will try our best to provide reasonable accommodations for your group’s needs to allow for a comfortable experience.

Special Accommodation: If you or a member of your party requires special accommodation to traverse uneven surfaces during the tour, please call ahead so Renfrew’s staff may arrange a golf cart (as available) to transport guests to the doors of historic buildings while on tour. Likewise, seating may also be pre-arranged for guests needing to rest periodically throughout the tour. Please note that standing, walking, and climbing stairs are a part of the full tour experience. Due to narrow doorways and spaces in our historic buildings, please note that strollers must be left outside.

Handicapped Parking: Designated handicapped parking (currently on a gravel surface) is located near the Visitors Center. Please follow the paved pathway from the handicapped parking area to the east side of the white barn to access the Visitors Center and restrooms.

Toilet Facilities: Restrooms are available at the northeast corner of the Visitors Center and portable toilets are located seasonally from mid-April through mid-October at the east end of the park grounds near the pavilion.

Bookbags, Personal Accessories, & Emergency Equipment: Please leave bookbags, large bags (excluding medical/emergency packs), lunches (bags, totes, boxes, etc.), non-essential electronic devices, toys, games, personal items, etc. in your vehicle(s). Small carrying bags and purses are permitted. Participants may carry a notebook with pencil (no ink pens), water bottle (tightly closed, no soda, juice, etc.), camera (no flash) with them while on their Royer Farmstead Tour at Renfrew.

Behavioral Guidelines & Expectations: Participants must remain with their docent at all times regardless of the age of the guests. Group organizer is responsible for maintaining orderly and respectful behavior. The Museum and Visitors Center is a public space. Please show courtesy and respect for all other visitors.

• We encourage you to take lots of pictures, but to protect our artifacts we ask that you please don’t use flash.  No video permitted during the tour.
• Speak quietly in large, open areas and please do not talk during presentations.
• For your safety, running, jumping, and other similar activity is prohibited.
• Please use caution while around bodies of water and on trails.
• Do not touch or climb on displays and exhibits.
• Do not go under or behind ropes, or open closed doors.
• Use interactive equipment only as instructed by Renfrew staff.
• Do not lean, sit, or write on surfaces of historic buildings, walls, artifacts, etc.
• Only adults should select brochures, taking just one per small group.
• Please use restroom facilities responsibly.
• Water fountains are located at the Visitors Center and Picnic Grounds. Please feel free to use them and/or fill personal water bottles.
• Please respect our site by not littering, picking plant life, throwing objects, climbing fences, removing/stacking rocks, bothering wildlife, etc.