The 200-year-old Inn at Perry Cabin by Belmond on the eastern shore of Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay has been witness to many transformations. Located on the edge of the town of St. Michaels, it has seen the rise and decline of shipbuilding in the area, been at the center of Maryland’s oyster and crab industry, and, as a modern-day wedding destination, sees hundreds of couples marry every year. The former private estate has been a hotel only since 1981, but in that amount of time it has become a favored getaway of D.C.-area families. And now, having expanded from six rooms to 78 in that time, the hotel is about to undergo its largest change yet.
In 2017, the property quietly renovated all of its suites and common areas, debuting a modern take on its country-coastal atmosphere. Designed by Alexandra Champalimaud, the new décor emphasizes the historical details of the hotel—the delicate moldings, wainscoting and fireplaces—and balances them with bright, interiors and rich textures. When Worth visited in the fall, we found spacious, light-filled suites with coffered ceilings, expansive terraces and enchanting marble-floor bathrooms with clawfoot tubs.
The hotel had also expanded its on-site farm. More than a decorative garden, the two acres of land on the hotel’s grounds provide much of the produce for, Stars, the property’s restaurant—which is also set to be renovated in 2018. Guests can tour the farm as well as the greenhouse next to the hotel, which produces fresh herbs and vegetables year-round.
When we talked with the general manager Michael B. Hoffmann, formerly of New York’s Waldorf-Astoria, he signaled that these were just the beginning of a greater effort to increase the offerings at the hotel. While there are already programs for sailing and fishing—the Inn at Perry Cabin has its own marina—guests can also look forward to more sports offerings such as tennis courts on property.
In that vein, is the Inn’s greatest achievement: A golf course. With Pete Dye and his golf design team, the Inn at Perry Cabin is redeveloping a local golf course that it purchased into The Links at Perry Cabin, transforming this esteemed getaway into a comprehensive luxury resort. The course is set to be one of the most exciting links on the eastern seaboard, which dramatic elevation changes and vegetation. The course will open in spring 2018. But don’t expect crowds of golfers to swarm the Inn: The golf course is located about eight minutes away from the hotel, and will eventually have its own accommodations. belmond.com
