Best Of Both Worlds
By Lisa A. Lewis // Photography by Stephen Buchanan
Excitement was in the air this past fall (and continues to be), when the Chesapeake Bay Beach Club cele ated the grand opening of The Inn at the Chesapeake Bay Beach Club (The Inn), the newest addition to its waterfront property. It’s been a long journey—involving a lot of planning and labor—but the expansion is finally complete. Indeed, a four-story luxury boutique inn now stands on the site where ground was officially oken in the fall of 2014. The Inn also features a variety of accommodations, including a full-service restaurant, a gourmet market and café, and private event venues.
Located in Stevensville, on Maryland’s beautiful Eastern Shore, the Chesapeake Bay Beach Club has been offering event venues, cuisine, service, and experiences for both leisure and corporate guests since 1999. The Inn, which is adjacent to the Chesapeake Bay Beach Club, adds a new dynamic to the property and is located on four acres of manicured grounds that include gardens, courtyards, fire pits, fountains, activity lawns, and greenhouses.
“The Chesapeake Bay Beach Club has been working on developing The Inn for many years,” says Carrie Simmons, director of marketing and business development. “We have been fortunate since opening in 1999 to host weddings, special events, and corporate functions, but one element was missing: a hotel. We wanted to create an experience that encompassed the entire wedding weekend or corporate program, giving us the opportunity to serve our guests from start to finish.”
The Inn includes 54 luxurious guest rooms and suites that feature a distinctive décor, which blends rustic charm and contemporary chic. Utilizing the American farm as inspiration, the hired design firm developed a unique theme that is evident throughout The Inn as well as the other buildings. The exterior design of the buildings combines stone, shingles, and rustic metals, while the interior design blends more casual materials, such as wrought iron, barn wood, and stone, with elegant fa ics and wood trim. Guest rooms are located on the second, third, and fourth floors of The Inn and feature spacious layouts, contemporary bathrooms, resort-style amenities, state-of-the-art technology, and views of the Chesapeake Bay, Kent Island, and The Inn’s gardens.
In Good Taste
The Inn also offers a variety of culinary experiences. Located on the first floor, Knoxie's Table (read our restaurant review here), led by Executive Chef Paul Shiley, incorporates a “farm-and-Bay-to-table” philosophy—utilizing ingredients from the Chef’s Garden and greenhouses, as well as from local famers and watermen. The menu includes seasonal dishes that are prepared with the local ingredients. The 150-seat restaurant features table and booth seating, custom barrel light fixtures, a bar, and a garden terrace, which creates a cozy outdoor dining experience. In addition, the Decanter Room, an intimate, private dining room, is available for up to 16 guests.
A gourmet grocer and café, The Market offers a vast array of specialty food items as well as a seasonally inspired café menu. (Breakfast and lunch are served seven days a week.) Items for purchase include locally sourced artisan cheeses, condiments, infused oils and vinegars, pickled vegetables, jams, pies, beer, wine, and much more. Products sold in The Market are sourced through local farms and craftsmen and are unique to the Eastern Shore and the surrounding areas.
Accommodations for All
“The Inn gives us the opportunity to connect with locals in a greater capacity,” Simmons says. “Previously, to experience the Chesapeake Bay Beach Club and our services, guests had to be invited to attend a private event. The Inn allows us to open our doors to everyone, so they can enjoy a weekend getaway, a date night, or a holiday cele ation.”
For guests planning an event, The Inn offers more than 6,000 square feet of event space and a variety of venues—providing settings for any occasion. Ideal for weddings and special events, The Ballroom and private tented courtyard is The Inn’s largest venue and accommodates up to 130 guests. Hassie's Porch, a climate-controlled porch with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking The Inn’s gardens, is an ideal location to host a dinner. Other venues include a boardroom and The Tool Shed Bar, a unique setting for corporate events and rehearsal dinners.
In addition to the amenities already available to guests, The Inn plans to open a Luxury Boutique Spa in 2016.
The Inn shares common ownership and management with the Chesapeake Bay Beach Club and The Tidewater Inn in Easton. For more information, call 410-604-1933.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming our guests,” Simmons says. “And we hope that they experience the ambiance and hospitality that we have strived to provide throughout our many years of service.”
