Cape May ยท Howard Street to Physick Estate
The Southern Mansion
George Allen's Italianate mansion on about 1.5 acres of gardens in Cape May's historic district, now a 24-room inn.
- Built
- c. 1860The inn says "built circa 1860"; other sources give 1863 for the George Allen House.
- Style
- Italianate
- Architect
- Samuel Sloan (pattern-book design, attributed)
- Type
- B&B
- Rooms
- 24
- Area
- Howard Street to Physick Estate
- Credentials
- Inside a National Register historic district
The story
The mansion is the Italianate George Allen House; Wikipedia notes its plans are believed to have come from a Samuel Sloan pattern book. It sits on about one and a half acres of gardens in the historic district. Restored as an inn, it now has 24 rooms and hosts weddings of up to 150 guests.
The ghost story
Cape May Magazine reports that the ghost of Esther Mercur, George Allen's niece, is said to still haunt the mansion and to enjoy its parties, and that guests may notice her strong perfume in the hallways; the inn's own blog calls her a 'happy ghost'.
Source: www.capemay.com
Good to know
- Breakfast: included
- Parking: on-site free
- Address: 720 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ 08204
Sources (4)
Last verified October 2026. Details change; confirm with the inn before you book.