Captain Farris House is located in South Yarmouth, Massachusetts, 10 minutes from Cape Cod. It has a total of ten rooms split between two buildings. Eight of those are in the main building, and two suites are contained in the bed and breakfast’s carriage house. Amenities found in each room include robes, toiletries in the ensuite bathrooms, and TVs with Roku. Breakfast is served each morning from 8:30 to 9:45 and typically features either a sweet or savory dish. Tea and coffee are served with the meal and are also available throughout the day. When asked how they want their guests to feel, Carol, one of the owners, says she hopes visitors will feel “that they’ve walked into a friend’s or family’s home” and will have a comfortable stay. Many people will stay at the property to experience the Cape Cod area and the Atlantic Ocean 30 minutes away.
Originally built in 1845 by the Farris family, today, the Captain Farris House serves as a 10-room bed and breakfast. Eight of those units are contained within the main house, and two additional suites are in the carriage house on the property. The Phoebe White Suite, situated on the second floor of the carriage house, is the largest of all the guest accommodations at the bed and breakfast. Serving as the property’s “Honeymoon Suite,” according to the website, it has a queen-sized four-poster bed, a sitting area with a gas fireplace and couch, and a private balcony. On the first floor of the carriage house is the Elisha Jenkins Suite, which also has a sitting area and can accommodate up to four guests between one queen bed and a king bed that can be separated into two twin beds upon request.
The other rooms in the main house follow the same naming convention as those in the carriage house, either being named after notable people related to the building’s history or following a nautical theme. Amenities throughout each of the rooms differ; however, all of the rooms provide TVs with Roku as well as robes and toiletries in their respective ensuite bathrooms. Carol, one of the owners of the Captain Farris House, describes the interior of the house as having a French Provincial style, which is reflected in each of the rooms with their lighter color pallets, curtains on the windows, and decorations on the walls.
Each morning breakfast is served between 8:30 and 9:45 AM in the main house’s dining room. “Breakfast is very special,” says Carol, going on to say that the meal is catered to each patron who is staying at the bed and breakfast. Carol explains that the dish each morning rotates between sweet and savory, with sweet options including pancakes, Belgian waffles, and french toast. Savory breakfasts usually consist of an egg-based dish such as a scramble or quiche. Visitors are asked during the check-in process if they have any food allergies or preferences so accommodations can be made. Tea and coffee are served with breakfast but are also available throughout the rest of the day should someone desire some outside of normal breakfast hours.
Carol describes the Captain Farris House as “a destination for those who want to explore Cape Cod.” The closest attraction to the bed and breakfast is the Nantucket Sound, which is only 2.5 miles away. About a ten-minute drive north from the property is Cape Cod, with ocean access 30 minutes away by car. Each of these locations offers beach access for guests, with 41 miles of protected beaches found on the coast. Another notable attraction is the Cultural Center of Cape Cod, which informs visitors about the artistic history of the region and hosts a number of concerts, dinners, and similar events throughout the year. Those interested in the dining scene of Cape Cod are encouraged by Carol to try the restaurant at the Old Yarmouth Inn, the Cape Sea Grille, and The Ocean House situated on the waterfront. Carol recommends the 28 Atlantic for patrons celebrating a special event.
Carol and Jeff, the owners of the Captain Farris House, hope their guests feel “that they’ve walked into a friend’s or family’s home.” They strive to help people feel comfortable and at home during their stay. Most patrons will leave after breakfast to visit attractions or events in the area, with the most popular time of year for the bed and breakfast occurring between June and September, thanks to warmer temperatures and typically a higher number of activities to do. With that being said, the business closes for two months of the year in December and January.
Patrons are asked to abide by the policies that have been enacted in an effort to create the owners' desired atmosphere. These include a no-smoking policy inside the building. Additionally, children must be older than 14 if they will be staying at the bed and breakfast, and a quiet time starting at 11:00 PM has been established to respect the other patrons. Finally, the check-out time at the end of one’s stay is 11:00 AM.
There have been a number of positive reviews left by former guests of the bed and breakfast. One of the most common compliments these reviewers have had is that “the bed and breakfast was clean, tidy, and the room was beautiful.” Others have highlighted the hosts, saying, “Carol and Jeff are excellent innkeepers” and “they helped us create lifelong memories that we will forever cherish,” referring to their knowledge of things to do in the area and their hospitality.
The history of the Captain Farris House begins with the house’s original construction and completion in 1845. As the name would suggest, the first owner of the home was the Farris family. From its creation until around 1970, the Farris family and their descendants lived in the home. Between the 1970s and 1990s, the property was a private residence that fell into disrepair as time passed. It was restored in the late 90s by Patty and Steve Bronstein, who turned it into a bed and breakfast and ran it for a few years. Following the Bronstein’s ownership, Michael and Nancy Lunia ran the business, selling it to Jeff and Carol Watson, the house’s current owners, in 2016.
Jeff and Carol had hosted various parties in the past for friends and family in the past and enjoyed doing so. As they neared retirement from their respective careers, they began to consider the possibility of running a bed and breakfast as it fell in line with their love of hosting. They attended an innkeepers' forum in 2015 to learn more about the industry and decided they wanted to move forward and find a property of their own to run. One of the largest draws for them to own the Captain Farris House was its history, with Carol remarking, “there’s a lot of connections to history [here], which is cool.” Both Carol and Jeff enjoy helping guests to experience attractions around Cape Cod and “helping them to experience what we love.”
308 Old Main Street
South Yarmouth, Massachusetts 02664
United States
Greek Revival
Jeff and Carol Watson
Michael and Nancy Luna
