Valley Green

Valley Green
Type	Park area / Historic inn
Location	Wissahickon Valley Park
Coordinates	40.0580,-75.2180
Area	Part of Wissahickon Valley Park
Established	Inn: 1850; Park area: 1868
Operated by	Philadelphia Parks & Recreation / Private (inn)
Features	Historic inn, creek views, Forbidden Drive access, duck feeding
Hours	Park: dawn to dusk; Inn: check hours
Transit	SEPTA bus; Regional Rail to Chestnut Hill
Website	Official Site

Valley Green refers to both a beloved area within Wissahickon Valley Park and the historic Valley Green Inn that has served visitors since 1850. Located at a scenic bend in Wissahickon Creek along Forbidden Drive, Valley Green serves as the most popular destination in the Wissahickon, offering an idyllic combination of natural beauty, historic atmosphere, and refreshment.

Valley Green is where generations of Philadelphians have come to feed the ducks, walk the trails, and escape the city.

History

The Inn

Valley Green Inn dates to 1850:

• Built as hotel and tavern
• Served visitors to Wissahickon Valley
• Pre-dates park acquisition
• Continuously operated since opening
• Philadelphia's last remaining Wissahickon tavern

Park Acquisition

• 1868: Wissahickon Valley became part of Fairmount Park
• Valley Green retained as concession
• Became heart of Wissahickon recreation
• Traditions continued

Generations of Visitors

Valley Green traditions include:

• Feeding the ducks (generations of families)
• Sunday drives (before cars banned)
• Sunday walks (current tradition)
• Holiday gatherings

Features

Valley Green Inn

Historic tavern and restaurant:

• 1850 stone building
• Restaurant and bar
• Outdoor seating (seasonal)
• Traditional American fare
• Sunday brunch tradition

The Creek

Wissahickon Creek at Valley Green:

• Scenic creek bend
• Stone bridge
• Ducks and geese
• Wading (unofficial)
• Photography spot

Forbidden Drive Access

Valley Green is on Forbidden Drive:

• Central location on the trail
• Walk in either direction
• Rest stop for hikers and cyclists
• Trailhead for side trails

Duck Feeding

Beloved tradition:

• Ducks and geese congregate
• Bring appropriate food (no bread—harmful to birds)
• Generations of families
• Children's favorite activity

Restrooms

• Public restrooms available
• One of few facilities in Wissahickon

Using Valley Green

Walking and Hiking

• Starting point for Forbidden Drive walks
• Access to side trails
• Various loop options
• Central rest stop

Dining

• Lunch or dinner at the inn
• Outdoor seating in season
• Casual atmosphere
• Reservations recommended for dinner

Photography

• Scenic creek views
• Historic inn building
• Wildlife
• Fall foliage

Wildlife Watching

• Ducks and geese
• Herons
• Turtles
• Fish in creek

Visiting

Hours

Park Area:

• Dawn to dusk

Valley Green Inn:

• Check website for current hours
• Closed some Mondays
• Reservations recommended

Getting There

Location: Valley Green Road, Wissahickon Valley Park

By Public Transit:

• SEPTA Regional Rail to Chestnut Hill East or West, then walk
• SEPTA Bus 27 to Springfield Avenue, then walk

By Car:

• Parking lot at Valley Green (fills early on weekends)
• Enter from Springfield Avenue
• Arrive early—parking is limited

Tips

• Parking fills by 9 AM on nice weekends—arrive early or walk in
• The inn can be crowded—reservations help
• Bring birdseed, not bread, for ducks
• The nearby trails are less crowded than the main area
• Winter is magical (and parking is available)

Duck Feeding Note

Please don't feed bread:

• Bread is harmful to waterfowl
• Causes "angel wing" deformity
• Pollutes water
• Better options: corn, oats, duck feed
• Bring appropriate food or none

Nearby

• Wissahickon Valley Park — Surrounding park
• Forbidden Drive — The trail
• Chestnut Hill — Nearby neighborhood
• Mount Airy — Nearby neighborhood
• Andorra Natural Area — Northwest section of park

See Also

• Wissahickon Valley Park
• Forbidden Drive
• Wissahickon Creek
• Chestnut Hill
• Fairmount Park

External Links

• Valley Green Inn
• Friends of the Wissahickon