From the gracious entrance to the grand interior and stunning landscape, everything about the Box Hill Mansion suggests timeless elegance. But not so long ago, there was a gap in the splendor of this property purchased in 1736 from the family of William Penn.
Part of the Regents Glen Country Club, golf course, and living communities, this
Depression-era mansion was built as a private home for the Whiteleys, who owned Dentsply.
Although local businessman Webster McCormack developed the estate into a popular golf course and country club in the 1980s, later another owner let it fall into disrepair. When Rodney Kreb bought the country club in 2016, the gardens were overgrown and the structures needed significant renovation.
A Transformed Venue
The property’s best features have been maximized to showcase both inside and out. And now that the Box Hill Mansion is open to the public on Friday and Saturday nights, more people are experiencing this welcome new option for fine dining—and strolling. This year marks the first time its pub and upstairs dining room have served a wider audience than its club members and event guests. The pub’s décor nods to a former use as a cigar lounge, with George Whiteley’s cigar boxes lined up behind the bar. You can order from the dining room menu here, as well as the special pub menu. Oversized black-and-white portraits of 20th century idols suit the tasteful, informal atmosphere.
Extensive renovation here and throughout the mansion and the grounds reflects the owners’ vision of all this popular venue could become. “We’ve been growing quickly, especially with our event side. We’ve gone from 10 weddings to 30 weddings this year,” says general manager Steve Harrington. Opening with a special brunch on Valentine’s Day earlier this year, the Box Hill Mansion has quickly gained traction in the local dining scene, attracting a fairly even mix of members and newcomers.
Historic Grandeur
A walk through the stately home en route to the dining room reveals the creative sophistication that has shaped the mansion over the years. A mural of the gardens, oriented exactly as the landscape lies, slows down first-time visitors as they notice the painting wraps completely around and up past the staircase onto the second floor walls. An opulent chandelier, period draped windows and an intricate wooden floor stage the entry to the library and dining room beyond.
Once in the well appointed dining area, the eye is captured by the view: acres of terraced landscaping and successive koi and reflecting ponds. The cuisine, styled by former Left Bank chef Sean McGirr, embodies the best of tradition, with some inventive twists. The Seacuterie is McGirr’s fresh take on a charcuterie board, offering cured, pickled, and preserved delights of the sea—a mortadella composed of scallops and salmon, Southern pickled shrimp chow-chow, salmon pastrami, and tuna confit.
Seasonal offerings vary, from carbonara ravioli with prawns or Korean barbecue shortribs (with wasabi mashed potatoes and warm kimchi salad) to wagyu and seared day-boat scallops with split yellow pea silk. Each menu is what McGirr calls eclectic, incorporating locally sourced ingredients augmented by the kitchen garden and the global influences he loves.
Celebratory desserts like bananas Foster egg rolls and rotating fruit creations offer a tempting finish. In the Pub, the chef’s popular crab cake sliders (served on pretzel rolls) hold a permanent spot on the menu. Other light or hearty pub fare, such as roasted beet and strawberry tartare and Carolina smoked pork belly, change seasonally.
After dining, a walk through the lighted gardens offers a welcome break from the everyday. Labeled stones collected by Mrs. Purdon Whiteley record her travels, from Pompei, Palestine, and the pyramids to Leningrad and the grave of Shakespeare. A rose garden, sculptures, arches, and fountains add to the beauty, while glimpses of rolling hills offer a sense of place. Small wonder more and more guests are opting to dine outside at this stately mansion.
Note: Until the new 250-person ballroom opens in January, the upstairs dining room may be closed for private weekend events, so call ahead to check.
1501 Copper Beach Dr. York, PA
717-501-8802
