About The Golden Lamb
The Golden Lamb has stood on Broadway in downtown Lebanon since 1803, when Jonas Seaman paid $4 for a license to run a "house of Public Entertainment" for travelers. Its name comes from the golden lamb on its sign, a symbol early travelers could recognize even if they could not read. It calls itself Ohio's longest continually operating business, and 2026 marks 100 years of ownership by the same family.
The guest list is the draw for history fans: twelve U.S. presidents, Henry Clay, Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, Harriet Beecher Stowe and Neil Armstrong all passed through. The 17 overnight rooms are each named for a famous guest and furnished with antiques, with private baths and air conditioning. On the fourth floor, museum rooms tell the story of the innkeepers and the Shaker communities of the area.
The dining room serves lunch and dinner from scratch, Monday through Saturday 11:30 to 9 and Sunday noon to 8. The signature plate is the roast turkey dinner with sage sausage and apple dressing and cranberry chutney; Ohio fried chicken, shepherd's pie and sauerkraut balls are other regulars, and the inn's own farm, started in 2018, supplies produce and maple for seasonal dishes. The Black Horse Tavern offers a more casual seat, and the gift shop sells keepsakes. Private dining rooms host parties and groups.
Sunshine Acres Lavender Farm near Morrow is about 15 minutes south, so dinner and a night at the inn pair easily with a lavender stop. Irons Fruit Farm and Hidden Valley Orchards are also a short drive in fall.
What to do
- Order the roast turkey dinner with sage sausage and apple dressing
- Stay in one of 17 antique-furnished rooms named for famous guests
- Visit the fourth-floor museum rooms on the innkeepers and Shaker life
- Have a casual meal in the Black Horse Tavern
- Browse the gift shop on a walk through downtown Lebanon
Season, hours and prices
- Season
- Open year-round; closed some holidays such as Christmas Day
- Hours
- Dining room: Mon–Sat 11:30 a.m.–9 p.m., Sun noon–8 p.m. (2026); hotel check-in 4 p.m., check-out 10:30 a.m.
Good to know
- Accessibility
- Guest rooms are on the second to fourth floors with no elevator; the first-floor Buckeye Dining Room is accessible
- Reservations
- Recommended; hotel rooms book up to 6 months ahead
- Payment
- Tap-to-pay and phone wallets are not accepted
Tips for your visit
- Guest rooms are up stairs with no elevator, so mention mobility needs when booking
- Outside food and drinks, including celebration cakes, aren't allowed in the dining rooms
- Hotel cancellations under 48 hours are charged for the whole stay
- Call ahead about special dietary needs
Pair it with a lavender farm
Sunshine Acres Lavender Farm · about 15 minutes away
Sunshine Acres Lavender Farm near Morrow is about 15 minutes south, an easy add to a meal or overnight at the inn.
Getting there
Questions
How old is the Golden Lamb?
It has operated since 1803 and calls itself Ohio's longest continually operating business.
Who has stayed at the Golden Lamb?
Twelve U.S. presidents plus guests such as Charles Dickens, Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher Stowe.
Does the Golden Lamb have an elevator?
No, the guest rooms are on the second, third and fourth floors with no elevator.
Can I bring a cake for a celebration?
No, outside food and drinks, including cakes, aren't permitted in the dining rooms.
🗺️ Part of the guide Things to Do Near the Lavender Farms of Lebanon & Yellow Springs, Ohio
Checked in October 2026 against the business’s own website and local tourism pages. Hours and seasons change, so check with them before you go. How we check listings · Is this your business? Claim it free
