The Falmouth Heights Motor Lodge is located in the coastal town of Falmouth on the Cape Cod Penisula of Massachusettes. Known for its beaches, ferries, cuisine, and shopping, the town has a comprehensive list of attractions and activities that draw guests to its shores. The lodge itself is located 175 yards off the shoreline of Falmouth Heights Beach, tucked away in a neighborhood district of town. There are 9 distinct buildings on-site, housing 34 guest accommodations in total, which vary in size and style. From luxury suites to high-occupancy rooms, kitchenette style spaces to a private cottage, guests can reserve whichever unit fits their needs and wants best. Built on five acres of land there is also an abundance of trees, grassy areas, and flower gardens, as well as a saltwater pool. The lodge is privately owned by a local family who has been running the business since its establishment in 1969. Currently, three generations live and work on-site, striving to show their guests the quality of Cape Cod hospitality.
The Falmouth Heights Motor Lodge is situated just a few blocks off the shoreline of Cape Cod, Massachusetts in the town of Falmouth. The property is described by the owner Maureen Kelly, as being a “mini-resort.” It resides on five acres of land, on which there are eight separate buildings housing guest accommodations. The grounds of the property are relatively large, with plenty of grassy areas, a fair amount of trees, and an abundance of hanging flowers and flower gardens. Guests are free to explore the grounds at their leisure and spend time relaxing at one of the many sitting areas spread throughout the trees, grass lawns, and gardens. There is also a covered pavilion picnic grove complete with tables, seating, and barbecues that visitors can utilize as an outdoor venue. In addition to these features, there is also a saltwater pool on the premises that is surrounded by lounging pool chairs, umbrella-covered tables, a grass lawn, and a pool house. A bike shed is available for guests to store their bicycles in, as well as a swing set that is typically used by kids staying on the premises.
Among the eight buildings, there are 34 guest accommodations of various sizes and types. This variance allows guests to pick and choose which unit will best fit their needs during their stay. Regardless of the room patrons of the “mini-resort” end up staying in, they will have access to in-room air conditioning and heating, a 32 inch (or larger) flatscreen television with cable, a telephone, a hairdryer, an iron and ironing board, forgetfuls such as shampoo and conditioner, and pool towels. Some of the rooms come with kitchens and would have all the amenities that would typically come with that feature, including cooktops, cupboards and countertops, cookware and dishware, an oven, a sink, a refrigerator, and a microwave. However, even those units that don’t have a kitchen still come equipped with a refrigerator and a microwave.
The Main Lodge is a single-level structure on the property is where visitors will find the front office. Here they can use the ice machine, acquire pool towels or beach passes (cheaper parking passes at nearby beaches), get complimentary coffee in the morning, or receive assistance from the staff on-site. There are also 16 guest accommodations in the Main Lodge. Two of those are the King Guest Rooms with king-sized beds, while the remaining 14 are the Queen Guest Rooms with queen-sized beds. The Harbor House building has three guest accommodations called the Harbor Queens. Each one has two queen beds and a pull-out couch, so they are able to sleep up to 5 people. The Grand House is unique because each of its six units has a deck or a balcony (depending on if it’s one the ground level or the second level). These rooms each have two double beds, though it should be noted that two of the six of them—one on each level—have an additional pull-out couch and a kitchen.
Guests wanting more private accommodation should perhaps reserve a room among the Anchor House, the Beach House, or the Cape House. The Anchor House is a single-level home split into two rooms in a duplex style. These two units both have a private entrance and deck, along with a full kitchen. The Beach House only has one accommodation available called the Beach House King. It has a king-sized bed and a relatively large wrap-around balcony that overlooks the grounds of the Falmouth Heights Motor Lodge. Similarly, the Cape House also has a single unit, though it makes up the entirety of the cottage. In this room, guests can enjoy a queen-sized bed, a kitchen, a private deck, and the fact that their accommodation is a standalone building unlike any of the other places on the property.
The newest additions to the property are the Heights House building and The Loft. The first of these has three accommodations split among two levels and are described by the owner, Maureen Kelly, as being a “luxury” option. They each have king-sized beds, private patios, full-sized kitchens, and a furnished living room. The latter of these two buildings—The Loft—has the two biggest units on-site at the Falmouth Heights Motor Lodge, both measuring 1,200 square feet in size. They have a similar room layout as the Heights House accommodations.
Maureen, the owner of the Falmouth Heights Motor Lodge, describes the property as a “mini-resort.” They want to provide high-quality service and features that a resort would offer, such as the pool, the covered barbecue picnic grove, and the sitting areas spread throughout the gardens. They also want to maintain a well-kept appearance, striving to manicure their lawns and flowers—the flower gardens have even won the establishment a couple of awards. In addition, they have many different accommodation options ranging from multi-bed suites to kitchenette rooms to single-bed "Efficiency rooms" to a private cottage. One guest explained in a review that the property is “Clean, quiet, and locally owned. A great choice for a variety of guests ranging from singles, couples, and families, to corporate.”
The difference between Falmouth Heights Motor Lodge and an actual resort, according to the manager Debbie, is that the Falmouth Heights Motor Lodge is not a chain lodging location with a ton of visitors. She explains “It’s like family here,” because the staff members “go out of their way to make guests feel comfortable.” It is also a family-owned business and has been for more than 50 years, which perhaps further gives it the “homey” atmosphere that the owners and staff are striving for. Debbie talks about how both her and Maureen’s favorite part of the job is their guests, and that they often interact with them as they walk around the property because “people love it when you pay attention to them.” Maureen’s goal for the Lodge is “to be a nice, comfortable, and friendly escape for our guests.” In response to a person’s review that praised her and her staff, Maureen said “My staff and I truly want each and every guest to enjoy their stay from arrival to departure. We are always available to answer questions, deliver forgetfuls or just chat.”
Many people who have stayed at the Falmouth Heights Motor Lodge talk about the quality of the service that they were given and the personability of the staff. One patron of the “mini-resort” said, “Maureen and the entire staff are very friendly and accommodating. Everyone has a smile and always asks how our stay is going.” Another visitor mentioned that “Maureen and her team are always at the top of their game. Assuring guests have anything and everything they need.”
Beyond the staff and the service, people who stay at the Falmouth Heights Motor Lodge also frequently mention how much they enjoyed the property features, the rooms, and the grounds of the lodge. One such review, in particular, reads, “This property is beautiful and so well maintained. You can tell that the owners really care about the place. We had a king room in a separate building that was clean, beautiful, and quiet. We had a lovely porch to have our coffee on each morning. We were within walking distance of a cute breakfast place, several restaurants, and a bike rental place. The grounds are also beautiful and we really enjoyed just hanging out at the pool after an active day. We were frequently checked on throughout our stay and got great advice on things to do."
The Falmouth Heights Motor Lodge does have a couple of policies in place to better accommodate their guests and help them feel comfortable. For instance, It should be noted that the property has a strict no-smoking policy anywhere in the rooms or on the grounds. Guests are not allowed to bring pets to the property except for ADA service animals—which still need to be approved ahead of their stay. Each room comes with one complimentary parking spot, though guests can purchase a second spot for $20 a day should the need arise. The “mini-resort” opens the first weekend in May and closes after Columbus Day each year. However, according to Debbie, it is not uncommon for the owners to open their doors to accommodate guests that call in and ask for reservations during the off-season. Additionally, it should be noted that though the lodge doesn’t advertise events or gatherings on its property, guests have hosted small weddings among the back gardens in the past, as well as graduation parties and other celebrations.
Beyond the amenities, the features, the accommodations, and the service that the Falmouth Heights Motor Lodge provides, many guests who stay at the property come because of the location and the attractions nearby. Chief among these are the various beaches nearby, something the Cape Cod peninsula area of Massachusetts is well known for. Only a three-minute walk from the shoreline, guests can head to either the Falmouth Heights Beach or Bristol Beach whenever they please. Parking at the hotel is also much closer to the shore than most other available places. Should patrons of the “mini-resort” wish to drive to other beaches in the area that aren’t as close, Falmouth Heights Motor Lodge is happy to provide them with beach passes—a cheaper entrance fee or parking pass to the various beaches around.
Another well-known local attraction is the Island Queen Ferry, which guests of the property can walk to in about five minutes. This ferry brings people to and from the city of Oak Bluffs on Martha’s Vineyard Island. Here there is an abundance of cuisine options, a vast shopping district, and various other beaches and attractions. The Falmouth Heights Motor Lodge is only a five minutes walk away from Falmouth’s Main Street, which also has a variety of dining, shopping, and attraction options. Directly south of the lodge, just down the street, guests can find the Holiday Cycles of Falmouth Heights, a bike rental shop. Biking is a popular past-time found in Falmouth Heights due to the several bike paths that overlook the beaches and ocean.
Some restaurants that the staff at the lodge recommend are Shipwrecked, Soprano’s Casino By The Sea, The Flying Bridge, and the Little Dog Cafe. Shipwrecked and Soprano’s Casino By the Sea are seafood restaurants located on the beach, though the first of these is a British-themed pub while the second is more of an Italian-style eatery with a casino. The Flying Bridge restaurant is known for its harbor and bay views and also specializes in seafood—in an American style, however. The Little Dog Cafe is a popular venue for breakfast and happens to be located right next to the lodge’s property.
Other activities that visitors to the area often participate in is whale watching, taking a ride on the Cape Cod Dinner Train, or coming for one of the various events and festivals. Two such events, that often bring people to the Falmouth Heights Motor Lodge, are the Cape Cod Marathon Weekend, and the Fourth of July. Both of these annual events take place in part on the two beaches within a three-minute walk of the lodge, shooting off fireworks there on the Fourth of July, and running on the coastline during the Cape Cod Marathon Weekend.
The Falmouth Heights Motor Lodge is a family-owned business and has been for more than five decades. The current owner of the resort is Maureen Kelly. Her mother is the person who initially opened the “mini-resort” for business in 1969. Previously she had been running a bed and breakfast, and when this property came up for sale she said, “If I can run a B&B, I think I can run a hotel too.” Since then she and her family have been showing their guests the quality of “Cape Cod hospitality” ever since. Now, fifty years later, there are three generations living on the property who all still put in their time and work—Maureen’s mother who originally established the Falmouth Heights Motor Lodge, Maureen herself, and Maureen’s own daughter. Maureen says that “hard work and true hospitality” are the business aspects they follow that have led to their success.
When they initially bought the property there were only a couple of buildings that housed guests, namely the Motor Lodge and another small house next door. Over the years, as properties that were contiguous to them became available to purchase, they have bought and added them to their lodging place. They, of course, renovated these to be better suited to house guests, but at the same time, have tried to “keep in synch with the neighborhood—the residential look of it.” As the Falmouth Heights Motor Lodge has expanded, renovated, and updated throughout its years in business, Maureen talks about how they have always tried to listen to their patrons and “find out what they want.” Due to this, they added the pool and air conditioning in the 70s, built kitchenette units over the years, and installed flat-screen TVs, all to better accommodate their guest’s needs and desires.
Debbie, the property manager, has been working at the establishment for just over 20 years. She was introduced to the Falmouth Heights Motor Lodge through her husband—a golf pro who was giving the owner of the “mini-resort” private golf lessons at the time. Debbie had gone to college to manage hotels and talks about how this job was exactly what she was looking for. She loves the owners and staff she works with, the people that come and stay there, the location, and the seasonal work life.
146 Falmouth Heights Road
Falmouth, Massachusetts
United States
Mini-Resort
Maureen Kelly
