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Who Owns The Chatham Bars Inn

A member of Historic Hotels of America in 2020, The Chatham Bars Inn has been a fixture in New England for more than a century. This brilliant holiday destination originally opened thanks to the efforts of Bostonian stockbroker Charles Ashely Hardy. Gathering a group of likeminded investors together, Hardy pushed for the creation of an exclusive vacation retreat in the heart of Cape Cod. Yet, the effort to create the Chatham Bars Inn was not without its risks. The region had only begun to emerge as a luxurious hotspot for tourists around America, and it was incredibly short of exciting cultural attractions that could entertain people for days at a time. But Hardy knew the cape well, for he had traveled frequently to the area on hunting trips since his youth. Confident that others would share his passion for the cape, he encouraged his fellow investors to create a rustic hunting lodge in the quaint fishing village of Chatham. Despite its official designation, Hardy spared no expense in constructing the building. He specifically designed the structure in the popular style of New England “Shingle” architecture, which gave the location its iconic eloquence and grandeur. Taking several months to complete, the “Chatham Bars Inn” debuted for the first time in 1914. Hardy’s stunning destination overlooked the tranquil waters of Aunt Lydia’s Cove, as well as the picturesque scenery offered by nearby Tern Island. Guests marveled at the soundproofed guestroom, as well as private bathrooms equipped with both fresh and saltwater tubs. A magnificent nine-hole golf course awaited them, as did a series of upscale tennis courts. Patrons also participated in various kinds of outdoor activities, ranging from hunting in the neighboring wilderness to sailing in nearby Pleasant Bay.

A tragic hunting accident claimed Hardy’s life in 1924, but his legacy would remain imprinted upon the business for years to come. The new owners of the lodge—an organization called the “Chatham Associates”—maintained the standards set forth by Hardy and succeeded in transforming the building into a luxurious resort hotel. People from across the United States flocked to the Chatham Bars Inn in the decades that followed, including some of the most influential figures in the nation’s history. Among the powerful individuals to grace the inn with their presence were the likes of Henry Ford, William Rockefeller Jr., and Henry Morgenthau, Jr., who was Secretary of the Treasury during all four terms of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s presidency. The Chatham Bars Inn had even entertained European royalty, too! In 1940, the German invasion of the Low Countries in the Second World War forced the Dutch Royal Family to flee into exile. Seeking refuge, Princess Juliana and her three daughters soon arrived at the Chatham Bars Inn. They subsequently used it as their summer home throughout the duration of the war. (Juliana eventually became “Queen of the Netherlands” in 1948, a title she held until her abdication in 1980.)

By the middle of the century, the hotel’s prosperity had continued unabated, even as Edwin McMullen and his wife, Ursula, acquired the location in 1953. They subsequently succeeded in preserving the impressive standards created by their forebearers. Yet, the pair decided to sell the Chatham Bars Inn to William Langelier and Alan Green, who converted the hotel into a year-round destination for the first time in its history. The Chatham Bars Inn had almost been open for close to a century when Richard Cohen of Capital Properties acquired the location in 2006. Cohen had a brilliant vision for the hotel, desiring to elevate its prestige to the world stage. He invested $100 million into completely renovating the structure, leaving no area of the building untouched. Every guestroom inside the hotels’ main building were reconstructed to offer the best in modern comfort, while each cottage was redesigned from scratch. All of the restaurants and public spaces received a much-needed facelift, as well. But Cohen endeavored to protect the hotel’s wonderful architecture, ensuring that its historical character would endure for generations. When the work finally came to a conclusion a few years later, the Chatham Bars Inn debuted as Cape Cod’s most exclusive retreat. Since its grand reopening, the Chatham Bars Inn has received praise from throughout the travel industry, with the likes of Travel & Leisure and Boston Magazine declaring it one of the best resorts in the world. Truly few places are better for a memorable vacation experience in Cape Cod than the historic Chatham Bars Inn.

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