Group Tours

Renfrew Museum and Park is a great place to bring your group for a fun and educational experience! Our scenic 107-acre historic farmstead lends itself to an enjoyable day out for guests of all ages and interest levels. Recommended for organized groups such as travel/tour groups, active retirement communities, social clubs, church groups, recreational groups, nonprofits, corporate organizations, etc.

*Note: If your group is affiliated with a chartered public/private school and/or district, formally organized homeschool consortium, day care, early childhood education center, nonprofit youth organization (Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, YMCA, church camp, etc.) please refer to Renfrew’s Field Trip/School Group Visit information and request form.

Due to the nature of our historic buildings and structures group sizes are limited. Note that large groups will be divided during your tour. To book a group visit your group must have a minimum of ten (10) people. The maximum number of group visit participants Renfrew can accommodate on a single day is sixty (60) people. Reservations must be made at least thirty (30) days in advance for groups of thirty (30) or less and sixty (60) days prior to your desired date for groups of thirty-one (31) to sixty (60) participants. Please be aware that Renfrew is a museum and park, other events and usage of the museum and grounds will continue during your visit. The scheduled portion of group visits, guided by museum staff, begin at 10:00am and conclude at 11:30am. Group visits are available Tuesdays through Fridays only, between mid-March and mid-October. Renfrew Museum and Park reserves the right to deny any request.

Tour Package:

Royer Farmstead Tour:

$12 General Admission (ages 13-65) 

$10 Seniors (age 65+)

$6 Children (ages 3-12)

$0 Small Children (ages 2 & Under)

90-minutes; Max. 60 participants

Join Renfrew for an overview tour of our 300+ year history on the Royer Farmstead. Firmly rooted in our Pennsylvania German heritage, Renfrew’s story is quintessentially American and closely mirrors the narrative of our young nation with central themes of industriousness, ingenuity, and innovation. By the close of the nineteenth century, the property boasted two successful farmsteads, a grist mill, lime kiln, and several outbuildings. Later occupants of the site placed their own marks on the landscape, resulting in a varied built environment with unique structures spanning the Federal to Edwardian Eras. Renfrew’s final private residents, Edgar and Emma Nicodemus, lovingly restored the property which was bequeathed to the Borough of Waynesboro as a gift to its citizens following Emma’s death in 1973. Groups will tour the 1812 Royer House, furnished with a host of interesting decorative arts and residential artifacts spanning three centuries; several historic outbuildings, including the summer kitchen, milk house, and smoke house, where important everyday tasks took place; and exhibit galleries inside our Visitors Center, a converted Victorian barn, featuring permanent displays of Bell Family historic folk pottery, Pennsylvania-Kentucky longrifles, and tradesmen’s tools. Visitors will be introduced to the people who lived and worked at Renfrew over the centuries hearing about the site’s earliest settlement in the 18^th century, through the farming heritage and intense social and technological change of the nineteenth century, to its restoration by our last private residents. Along the way, visitors will be inspired by authentic stories of ordinary people, just like them, who made their own lasting impact on this historic property.

Booking and Payment Policy:

Groups must have a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 60 guests to book. Reservations must be made at least 30 days in advance for groups of thirty (30) or less and sixty (60) days prior to your desired date for groups of thirty-one (31) to sixty (60) participants. Renfrew accepts tender in the form of cash, check, debit or credit card. All requests are subject to Renfrew availability on a first come, first served basis. *Note: Renfrew cannot pencil in or otherwise complete a reservation until tender is exchanged. Your request form is not a confirmed reservation.

No reservation will be guaranteed until Renfrew Museum and Park staff have: (1) confirmed the date, (2) have received a signed contract, and (3) contract be signed and returned within fourteen (14) days with a 50% deposit of total fees due to confirm your reservation. Your reservation will be cancelled if the contract and deposit are not received by the due date. *Note: We accept cash, check, debit, or credit card.

Payment in full must be received at least seven (7) days prior to your visit date unless a prior arrangement is made and confirmed in writing by Renfrew Museum and Park staff.  Once your date is booked, it may not be rescheduled without written agreement.

Certificate of Insurance required. Groups affiliated with a tour/travel company, church group, nonprofit organization, social clubs, active retirement community, recreational group, corporate organization, etc. require a Certificate of Liability Insurance on file with the office of Renfrew Museum and Park. Certificates must name “Renfrew Committee, Inc.” and the ‘Borough of Waynesboro” as additional insured.  The CSL (combined single limit) is $1,000,000 dollars to cover Premises and Operations liability for Bodily Injury and Property Damage. If there is any question as to the need for Liability Insurance, the contract will be reviewed by Renfrew Committee, Inc., the Managing board of Renfrew Museum and Park, or their duly appointed representative.

Cancellation Policy:

Renfrew Museum and Park will only issue a refund of your down payment fee (50% of total) and/or final payment fee(s) already paid in the event that the group visit organizer cancels no less than seven (7) days prior to scheduled event. Group visits at Renfrew Museum and Park take place rain or shine. Please plan and dress accordingly. No refunds will be issued for inclement weather, unless Renfrew Museum and Park Visitors Center has closed. Cancelled group visits may have their payments applied to a future date. If a group visit needs to be rescheduled, Renfrew staff will work with you to find a mutually acceptable date. Please contact us as soon as possible before your original scheduled visit date, however, we cannot guarantee that a new date will be available.  We are unable to adjust program start times. Please plan accordingly and verify scheduled arrival times with your transportation provider.

What to Expect on Group Visit:

Arrival: Arrive 15 to 30 minutes prior to the tour start time (10:00am) for check-in with Renfrew Museum and Park staff. For groups of 30 or less, arriving in cars, vans, or short buses, please use the Upper Parking Lot near the Visitors Center off of Main Street/Buchanan Trail/PA-16. For large groups arriving in school or coach buses, please note that turn around is difficult in the Upper Lot and we require that you drop guests off at the Lions Club Pavilion located at the Lower Lot off of Welty Road.  A group representative must check in with Renfrew staff upon arrival and prior to off-loading guests.

Accessibility: Renfrew Museum and Park has limited accessibility.  Many of our walking surfaces on the farmstead and the interiors of historic buildings can pose challenges to those with mobility concerns, those using wheelchairs, canes, or walkers, and families with strollers.  Please be advised that much of the exterior ground surface is gravel or grass, with the exception of paved paths at the Visitors Center, Picnic Grounds, and other select areas. The approach to all outbuildings and the Royer House requires movement over uneven surfaces and steps. Tours require walking and standing for approximately one (1) hour. There is no paved accessible route to the historic buildings at Renfrew.

The Visitors Center, however, is all on one level and allows for easy maneuvering. We will try our best to provide reasonable accommodations for your group’s needs to allow for a comfortable experience. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience.

Special Accommodation: If you or a member of your party requires special accommodation to traverse uneven surfaces during the tour, please call ahead so Renfrew’s staff may arrange a golf cart (as available) to transport guests to the doors of historic buildings while on tour. Likewise, seating may also be pre-arranged for guests needing to rest periodically throughout the tour. Please note that standing, walking, and climbing stairs are a part of the full tour experience. Due to narrow doorways and spaces in our historic buildings, please note that strollers must be left outside.

Handicapped Parking: A designated handicapped parking (currently on a gravel surface) is located near the Visitors Center. Please follow the paved pathway from the handicapped parking area to the east side of the white barn to access the Visitors Center and restrooms.

Toilet Facilities: Depending on your drop-off location (Upper Lot vs. Lower Lot), we recommend allowing time for guests to use the toilet facilities prior to tour start time (10:00am). Please note that restrooms are available at the northeast corner of the Visitors Center and portable toilets are located seasonally from mid-April through mid-October at the east end of the park grounds near the pavilion. *Note: Toilet facilities are shared with general park users, and not limited exclusively to your group during their visit.

Bookbags, Personal Accessories, & Emergency Equipment: Please leave bookbags, large bags (excluding medical/emergency packs), lunches (bags, totes, boxes, etc.), non-essential electronic devices, toys, games, personal items, etc. in your vehicle(s). Small carrying bags and purses are permitted. Participants may carry a notebook with pencil (no ink pens), water bottle (tightly closed, no soda, juice, etc.), camera (no flash) with them while on their Royer Farmstead Tour at Renfrew. No food, gum, or candy is allowed in the Visitors Center and historic buildings (please notify Renfrew staff of any special circumstances).

Behavioral Guidelines & Expectations: Please prep your guests ahead of time. Participants must remain with their docent at all times, regardless of the age of the guests. Group organizer is responsible for maintaining orderly and respectful behavior.

The Museum and Visitors Center is a public space; show courtesy and respect for all other visitors.

• We encourage you to take lots of pictures, but to protect our artifacts we ask that you please don’t use flash. No personal call, texting, or social media use during your tour, please.

• Speak quietly in large, open areas; do not talk during presentations

• For your safety, running, jumping, and other boisterous behavior is prohibited; use caution while around bodies of water and on trails

• Many of our walking surfaces are uneven, please watch your step

• Do not touch or climb displays and exhibits

• Do not go under or behind ropes or stanchions; or open closed doors

• Use interactive equipment only as instructed by Museum staff

• Do not lean, sit, or write on surfaces of historic buildings, walls, artifacts, etc. If you require seating accommodation, please notify Renfrew Museum and Park prior to your visit.

• Do not play with items for sale in the gift shop without intent to purchase

• Do not play with water and/or paper goods in the restrooms; do not deposit food or dog waste in restroom receptacles

• Water fountains are located at the Visitors Center and Picnic Grounds, please feel free to use them and/or fill personal water bottles; do not play in the fountains or put your mouth directly on the drinking spout

• Please respect our site by not littering, picking plant life, throwing objects, climbing fences, removing or stacking rocks, bothering wildlife, etc.

• Only adults should select brochures, taking just one per small group

Staff Welcome & Group Orientation: At 10:00am, Renfrew staff will meet your group at the orientation area (varies depending on drop off location) to welcome group guests and introduce them to the day’s activities and their tour docent. Organizers will receive an itinerary packet prior to their visit. Following orientation, groups will be dismissed to their first station depending on their size.

Post-Tour Exploration and Lunch Facilities: Guests will have an opportunity to shop and to use restrooms prior to departing. If your group wishes to stay longer after their scheduled program has concluded, we invite and encourage your group to explore on foot the historic 107-acre property. Please note that restrooms are available at the northeast corner of the visitor center and portable toilets are located seasonally from mid-April through mid-October at the east end of the park grounds near the pavilion. *Note: Toilet facilities are shared with general park users, and not limited exclusively to your group during their visit.

Lunch is on your own: Renfrew Museum and Park does not have food service available. Please leave lunches, if bringing food with you, in your vehicle(s) until after your tour has concluded. If you choose to enjoy lunch at Renfrew after your tour has completed, we encourage you to take advantage of the multiple picnic tables in the picnic grounds area and at the Pavilion location (see map below). Please be aware that Renfrew is an active museum and park; other events and usage of the grounds will continue during your visit. There are also many local restaurants to choose from.  If you require recommendations, please speak to a Renfrew staff member.

Waste Disposal: Renfrew Museum & Park is a “carry-in/carry-out” facility. All trash, garbage, refuse, etc. generated by the group visit (excluding restroom waste, i.e., paper towels, personal hygiene products, etc.) must be removed by the group at its conclusion to a separate location off site. Any waste left by the group or disposal in inappropriate locations (i.e., dog waste stations, bathroom receptacles, in shrubs, behind or near buildings, etc.) may result in forfeiture of visiting as a group in the future. Please plan ahead for the proper removal of your waste and help maintain the natural beauty of Renfrew Museum and Park.

Please complete the Group Visit Request inquiry form below. Requests for trips must be for the current calendar year only. Due to a high volume of requests, please allow 3-5 business days for a reply from our office.

Royer Farmstead Map