About Us

The Milton Inn, a 260-year-old fieldstone building in Northern Baltimore County, is counted among Maryland's historic treasures.  It is believed that construction of the Inn began in 1740, and it has grown and changed over the years to become one of the premier country dining spots in the United States. The house was originally used as a coachstop for Quakers who settled in this area.  They came to worship at the New Gunpowder Meeting House which stood just a few miles from here. During that era, the town of Sparks, Maryland was named Priceville after its founder, Quaker John Price.  There are still members of the Price family residing nearby. The Inn served as a haven for travelers for about a hundred years.  It was then purchased by John Emerson Lamb, who transformed it to a "classic" school for boys.  Sons of prominent Maryland planters and merchants attended Milton Academy (named for Paradise Lost poet John Milton).  The name has been associated with the Inn ever since. One of the more infamous students of the Academy was John Wilkes Booth, assassin of President Abraham Lincoln. The school closed after fifty years of operation, and the building became the private residence of William D. Hurst. In 1947, Ivan Drechsler purchased the old stone house, restoring its original use as a fine country inn.  Mr. Drechsler operated the Milton Inn for eleven years.  During that time, it became known for exceptional food served elegantly in an authentic colonial atmosphere. Atilio and Eleanora Allori acquired the Inn in 1959, and it flourished under their guidance for twenty-five years until Mr. Allori's death and Eleanora's retirement. The tradition of excellence has continued to grow with the current ownership.  The Milton Inn has been featured in books published by Life and Time magazines, and the wine cellar is considered one of the best on the East Coast. Over the years, the Inn has engendered a legacy of romance, and numerous couples have become engaged in its candlelit dining rooms and open air garden terrace.  Many return to celebrate their personal milestones. For private parties and meetings in the Baltimore, Maryland area, the Milton Inn will help you plan every detail in keeping with its traditions of fine dining and warm hospitality.  Please inquire.