A remarkable house.
An unforgettable gathering.

A historic hilltop home for country weekends, wedding celebrations and time away together.

Durham White House framed by trees beneath a brilliant sunset

A nineteenth-century landmarkCountry staysDog-friendly · Gated propertyOutdoor showerWeddings & retreats

Welcome to the White House

A long history
of hospitality.

At the end of a long drive, above the valley and along the historic Susquehanna Turnpike, Durham White House has welcomed generations of visitors. The 20-room house was begun in the mid-nineteenth century by Curtis Humphrey; his wife Caroline and their three daughters first occupied it in 1862.

In 1906 it became a boarding house, drawing Scandinavian guests to hills that reminded them of home. Today, its distinctive rooms, old trees and far-reaching views offer a setting for a stay, a celebration or a gathering of your own.

Discover the house’s history

A wedding couple enjoying the tree swings outside Durham White House

Weddings at the house

Your celebration.
An extraordinary setting.

Exchange vows beneath the trees, gather your favourite people and let the character of the house become part of your day.

Explore weddings

Wellness & retreats

A little distance.
A different perspective.

Make space for movement, quiet mornings and shared meals. Bring your group together for a retreat at your own pace.

Discover wellness

White wisteria and rocking chairs on the peaceful porch

An elevated view of Durham White House and its country setting

The house & grounds

Character in
every direction.

Antiques, art and a landscape that changes with the seasons. Discover the spaces and details that make this house its own.

View the photographs

Then & now

A landmark
in West Durham.

A preserved newspaper profile traces the house from the Humphrey family to its years as a boarding house. In 1906, Theodore Kartevold and Helmin Johnson purchased the property for $500 and advertised for guests in a Norwegian newspaper. Some visitors later made homes in the area, drawn to its familiar landscape.

The article also records the care of Douglas and Alice MacDougall, full-time West Durham residents from 1969. It describes original woodwork and flooring, hand-graining, and the pencilled heights of the Humphrey children still visible on a door.

Historical details drawn from the newspaper article “19th Century ‘White House’ — A Landmark in West Durham,” preserved with the house’s records.