The land here was sold in 1891 (on behalf of Queen Victoria), becoming a farm.
A gentleman by the name of Charles Cusworth, built The Coach Inn in 1892, as a rest stop along the wagon route between Johannesburg and Durban. Soon after, the railway line reached Van Reenen, and the population grew quickly. Houses were built for the railway employees, a school was built, and trading stores established. The Patel's original shop still exists in the main street, and some of the original houses still stand in the village.
During the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902) the Hotel was commandeered by the British Army. After the War, the hotel was extended, and silent movies shown on one of the first film projectors in the country.
As time passed, the hotel changed hands, and was renamed. In 1948, Cecil Osborne renamed it The Green Lantern Inn, after the light that was hung from a pole at the top of the new pass. This was used to indicate to motorists that they had reached the summit.
The 132 year old hotel has been sold and renovated numerous times.