A free online encyclopedia about bed and breakfasts created and edited by travel writers

sign in or out

Orleans Waterfront Inn

The Orleans Waterfront Inn is located in the heart of Orleans, Massachusetts. The Inn is located right off the Orleans Cove. The property is on a large lot with a green yard, a small beach, and many restaurants and shopping centers just a few minutes' walk away.

About

The Orleans Waterfront Inn is placed on three acres of commercial land. The property has eleven separate rooms. Each room has unique views of Orleans and Orleans Cove. The entire Inn has coastal-themed décor, with various guest rooms to accommodate guest groups of all sizes. Each room has full private bathrooms, air-conditioning, free local and long-distance telephone, free Wi-Fi, cable television, a refrigerator, hairdryer, and a clothes iron. Extra cots, linens, and towels are always available to visitors.

Guests can choose if they prefer a waterfront view of the Orleans Cove or a forest view to the east of the property. A sizeable historical windmill is also visible from a select few of the rooms. The waterfront dining room and cozy tavern are also spaces guests are invited to enjoy during their stay at the Orleans Waterfront Inn. The Orleans Waterfront Restaurant is the Inn's main attraction. Visitors can enjoy all meals of the day on the outdoor waterfront deck or in the spacious family-friendly dining room. The restaurant serves from a menu of fresh coastal caught seafood and traditional American dishes. The Waterfront Tavern is open every night as well. This large bar area serves an extensive menu of tap beers and classic cocktails. A light breakfast is served every morning. Here they serve eggs, bacon, cereal, yogurt, muffins, bagels, and coffee.

The property has a fair amount of historical value. Because it used to be a sea captain's home in the 1800s, guests come to stay in the original (though restored) architecture. The Orleans Waterfront Inn is located between the beaches of the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the calm shores of Cape Cod Bay to the west. The Orleans Waterfront Inn and the Waterfront Deck are open seasonally from April to October, though the Waterfront Dining Room is available year-round. Guests most commonly visit during the changes of the seasons. During these times, the wildlife in the area is more active, and the beaches are warmer.

The town of Orleans is found at the outer bend of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The inn overlooks the Orleans Town Cove and the inlet to Nauset Harbor. The Nauset Harbor has a red and white lighthouse restored from when it was initially built in the early 1800s. The lighthouse is still fully operational. Many shops and restaurants are just a few minute's walks away from the Inn, along with many biking trails and beaches.

Culture

The Orleans Waterfront Inn is a very family-oriented establishment. There is a broad demographic of guests that stay at the property, though most commonly the property has families or middle-aged couples residing at the Inn. Guests are able to visit the nearby beaches and enjoy the waterfront views. The restaurant acts as a convenient location for guests to eat fresh local food without leaving the inn.

Owners Ed and Laurie Maas, along with their children and grandchildren, run the inn. They want each guest to feel comfortable and relaxed. There are many family-oriented activities on and surrounding the property. Just minutes away from the Orleans Waterfront Inn, visitors can rent paddleboards, kayaks, and small boats to use in the Cape Cod Bay. Guests often leave positive reviews concerning the waterfront location, the restaurant's closeness to restaurants and stores, and the property's elegant, clean rooms. The staff at Orleans Waterfront Inn strive to be personable and accommodating to every guest.

The historical aspect of the building is also very appealing to guests. They appreciate the property's original architecture and how the owners have preserved the large home's most prominent features to keep it authentic. There are even ghosts of old sailors rumored to be around the property. Ed and Laurie's ancestors have been apart of Orleans for years. Their family connections with the small city make it possible for them to connect with the town's historical parts and showcase what Orleans used to be.

History

Orleans Waterfront Inn was originally built in 1875 as a home for the old sea captain Aaron Snow and his large family. The house was built from timbers of a shipwrecked vessel in the nearby cove. Over time, the Snow family created many businesses throughout Orleans. Aaron died in 1982 in the building, and it is rumored that his ghost still roams its halls.

It was then purchased in 1900, and during its first thirty or so years of operating, it was sold between four different owners. The home was run as a boarding house, and the northeast and southwest wings were added after World War Two to add more rooms. The building was first just a summer hotel but was then transitioned to a year-round residence. Ed and Laurie Maas purchased the home in 1996. Ed worked for several years as a hospital administrator. When he saw the property was for sale in its excellent location, he bought it outright and started the necessary upgrades to get the restaurant and Inn in full working order. The Maas family originated in Orleans. Laurie's father created the oil paintings on display throughout the Inn, and the O'Hagans Irish Pub down the street was named after Ed's mother Kathleen, who was born in County Down, Ireland.

Click for directions on Google
Established
1875
Location

3 Old County Road
Orleans, Massachusetts 2653
United States

Type

Bed and Breakfast

Owners

Megan Kaser

Owned Since
1995
Phone
508-360-5986
Reviews
4.4 (323 Reviews)
4.3/5 239 Reviews
Google.com
4.5/5 84 Reviews
TripAdvisor.com
Sponsored By ResNexus