How New Hope, Pennsylvania, became a Hollywood magnet
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The Logan Inn in New Hope. Photo: Jeff Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
New Hope in Bucks County has become a new hotspot for elites and celebrities.
Why it matters: The borough and neighboring Lambertville, New Jersey, are at risk of losing the quirky, artsy charm that made them relatively affordable spots to live or escape for the weekend.
State of play: Boutique hotels, scene-y restaurants and multimillion-dollar homes are becoming the norm in the once-sleepy burg on the Delaware River.
- After decades of decay, the revival of the town was supercharged during the pandemic years, per the New York Post.
New denizens include Bradley Cooper, the Hadid family and Jakob Dylan, as well as unnamed Fortune 500 executives, per Philadelphia Magazine.
- Tina Fey, Leonardo DiCaprio and Justin Bieber have been spotted around town.
The borough took the crown for best food and culture town in the U.S. on Travel + Leisure's annual list of best small towns in America this year.
Zoom in: New Hope is halfway between Philly and Manhattan. It's known for low taxes and highly rated schools, and is among the most LGBT-friendly small towns in the U.S.
- Tourists descend on warm weekends for the vintage shops and bookstores and for shows at the Bucks County Playhouse.
By the numbers: 46 homes sold for more than $1.5 million during the first five months of this year, per Philly Mag.
- Compare that with 32 homes sold for at least that amount during the pandemic's 2020-21 sale cycle.
Catch up quick: New Hope has long attracted artists and creatives.
- Impressionist artists made it their home in the early 1900s.
- Hollywood stars and musicians — like Ella Fitzgerald, Paul Simon and Robert Redford — flocked there throughout the 20th century.
Friction point: New Hope's transformation is dividing the community.
- Some long-time residents say it's losing its identity while developers knock down historic homes to build mega-mansions.
- Others see a revival and evolution of a community that remains committed to its artsy tradition.
The bottom line: You'll have to visit and judge for yourself.