Powered by the Past, Growing Toward the Future: Pheasant Run Farm’s Path to Sustainable Hospitality

Vivian and Bob Abel, the husband-and-wife team behind Pheasant Run Farm Bed & Breakfast | Weddings and Events, are no strangers to hard work, community, or education. After long and impactful careers as elementary and reading teachers, they traded chalkboards for check-ins and lesson plans for linen service—retiring into a life of rural hospitality with a twist: sustainability.

 “It was a cold day in February, and I got to pull the lever to turn it on,” said Vivian Abel, recalling the moment she activated the solar array atop the old chicken house that once served as part of her family’s working farm. “That was kind of exciting.”

Vivian Abel, Owner

Located just minutes from downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Pheasant Run Farm Bed & Breakfast | Weddings and Events is nestled on 47 scenic acres of rolling countryside. The heart of the B&B is a beautifully restored 1809 stone barn that’s home to four unique guest rooms. Each space pays homage to both family legacy and local history—Henry & Anna’s Room and Catharine’s Room honor past property owners, while Olivia’s Room and Violet’s Room are lovingly named after the Abels’ granddaughters. Every room is tastefully decorated, blending rustic elegance with modern comfort and an eye for design—“I like things to be pretty,” Vivian says with a warm laugh.

But what truly sets Pheasant Run apart is the way the Abels have transformed it into a model of sustainable rural tourism. In 2023, they installed a solar panel system on a former chicken house, converting a relic of the past into a powerhouse for the future. With support from the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) and federal tax incentives bolstered by the Inflation Reduction Act, the Abels were able to offset their energy bills dramatically—from around  $700 per month to roughly $100. In fact, their solar array now generates enough power not only for the bed & breakfast, but also for their surrounding outbuildings. Any surplus power? They sell it back to the grid.

“It’s not giving us a fortune, but it’s certainly helping,” Vivian noted in a recent interview with Resource Rural, a nonprofit organization that helps rural communities like theirs access public and private investment for infrastructure, energy, and economic development. As Resource Rural describes, their work “mobilizes funding and technical support to help rural and Indigenous communities access and implement public and private investment… building sustainable projects and improving quality of life.” It’s an ethos the Abels fully embody.

Where History, Hospitality & Sustainability Bloom

Pheasant Run Farm isn’t just a bed & breakfast—it’s a peaceful retreat, an award-winning historical renovation, and an enchanting venue for weddings and private events. Whether you’re sipping coffee on the patio surrounded by perennial gardens, celebrating love under the open sky, or exploring nearby Amish country, the Abels’ land invites guests to slow down and savor the moment.

Twenty-six of their 47 acres are leased to a local farmer who continues a generations-old family tradition of planting seed corn on the property. It’s a quiet, dignified collaboration that reflects the values of community, stewardship, and trust. The rest of the land is dotted with native plantings, lush flower beds, and the occasional curious deer at sunrise.

 “It’s very quiet and peaceful,” Vivian reflects. “We’re set back from the road a good distance. It’s a beautiful part of the country right here. We’re the garden spot.”

A Generational Legacy in the Making

As the Abels look toward the future, they’re considering building an accessible solar-powered home with a south-facing roof to continue their energy-saving mission. Like the rest of the farm, it will balance functionality with beauty—just as the Abels have done in every corner of their guest experience.

Their story—of former school teachers turned innkeepers and sustainability advocates—shows what’s possible when rural America is given the resources and respect it deserves. With partners like Resource Rural and the power of programs like REAP, they’ve transformed a family dream into a beacon of resilience and hospitality for Lancaster County and beyond.

Read the full article from Resource Rural here: Retired Teachers Turned Innkeepers Lead the Charge in Sustainable Tourism

About Resource Rural

Resource Rural mobilizes funding and technical support to help rural and Indigenous communities access and implement public and private investment for infrastructure, economic development, clean energy, and workforce initiatives. By partnering with high-capacity, community-rooted organizations, Resource Rural enables local leaders to navigate federal funding, build sustainable projects, and improve quality of life. The organization is grounded in the belief that rural America thrives when equipped with the resources, partnerships, and power to lead its own future.

Photos by Resource Rural