Lighthouse Inn, Cape Cod that has been owned and operated
by the Stone Family since 1938
The Lighthouse Inn on
Cape Cod is on 9 acres and features free Wi-Fi, a private sandy beach, and
uniquely-decorated rooms that include a refrigerator. Five golf courses are
located within 5 miles of the property. Select rooms at Lighthouse Inn Cape Cod
offer ocean views or include a wood burning fireplace. All rooms include a
private bathroom and air-conditioning. The Waterfront at Lighthouse Inn
Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The Pool Snack Bar serves a
light fare along with frozen drinks and ice cream. Guests can swim in the
seasonal outdoor heated pool or play a game of tennis on the tennis court.
Miniature golf, volleyball, and a game room are also available. Cape Cod
Lighthouse Inn is a half mile from West Dennis Beach.
The light was lit on May 1, 1855, and continued in
service until 1880, when the Lighthouse Service decided the Bass River Light was
no longer necessary since a new light had been built at Stage Harbor in Chatham.
One year later, the government changed its mind and decided to relight the Bass
River Light. The light continued to serve seafarers until 1914, when it was
decommissioned after the Cape Cod Canal opened.
 
The light was lit on May 1, 1855, and continued in
service until 1880, when the Lighthouse Service decided the Bass River Light was
no longer necessary since a new light had been built at Stage Harbor in Chatham.
One year later, the government changed its mind and decided to relight the Bass
River Light. The light continued to serve seafarers until 1914, when it was
decommissioned after the Cape Cod Canal opened.
After being sold at auction, the Lighthouse property was purchased by Harry
Noyes of the Noyes Buick Company in Boston. Noyes enlarged the Main House, built
several buildings, and landscaped the grounds. After his death in 1933, the
property was on the market for five years until Everett Stone - - at the urging
of his wife Gladys - - purchased the Lighthouse property. Their son Robert
helped by putting in $1000 inherited from his grandparents.
Everett was a developer from Auburn, Massachusetts. He planned to develop the
land and sell it. But the papers on the Lighthouse were passed too late in June
to begin any construction, so Gladys Stone decided to take in overnight guests
to help pay the mortgage. So many of the 1938 guests asked to return, the Stones
changed their mind about developing the land and thus began Lighthouse Inn.
Since there were very few restaurants nearby, in 1939, Gladys and Everett
decided their son Bob would run the dining room for the Lighthouse. Bob hired
three waitresses from Wheaton College, including Mary Packard. Bob and Mary were
married in 1942, starting the tradition of family operation of the Inn.
After the death of Everett Stone in 1947, Bob, Mary and Gladys continued to run
the Lighthouse over the next three decades. Bob and Mary have continued to run
the Inn while raising five children at the Lighthouse - Betty Anne, Deborah,
Barbara, Jonathan and Gregory, all of whom have worked at the Inn at one time or
another in various capacities. Gregory and his wife, Patricia, who started at
the Inn in the late ‘70's as the Children's Director, now manage the day-to-day
operations of the Inn.
After being dark for 75 years, the light was relit as the only privately owned,
privately maintained working lighthouse in the country. The light, which is a
one-second flash every six seconds is now recognized by the Coast Guard as the
West Dennis Light. The light was relit on August 7, 1989, in conjunction with
the 200th anniversary of the U.S. Lighthouse Service, now the U.S. Coast Guard.
Lighthouse Inn
Owned and Operated by the Stone Family since 1938
Post Office Box 128
1 Lighthouse Inn Road
West Dennis, MA 02670
Phone: 508-398-2244
Website: www.lighthouseinn.com
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