Ocean House Rhode Island Expands Its Cottage Collection

Intercrest is a contemporary home with a classic New England design, one of the newest of ten stunning properties available for rent through the Ocean House Cottage Collection.

Each of the bespoke “cottages” in the collection is privately owned, exuding its own unique style, personality, and history. They range in size from two-bedroom bungalows to nine-bedroom mansions.

But in an innovative arrangement, all the cottages are rented and managed under the watchful eye of the iconic Ocean House resort.

The cottages command prime locations in the village of Watch Hill, an exclusive enclave in the town of Westerly, Rhode Island. Like Ocean House, several of the cottages sit on the peninsula at the southwesternmost tip of Rhode Island, surrounded on three sides by water and unspoiled beaches.

These exceptional rental properties offer unparalleled privacy and space coupled with access to the services and amenities of the five-star Relais & Chateaux resort. The Ocean House cottages are a welcomed solution for families who want extra space or privacy, or a special corporate retreat.

They are an ideal choice for an amazing summer getaway.

A peek inside Intercrest cottage

Intercrest is remarkable for its light-filled rooms and expansive views of the Atlantic Ocean on one side and Narragansett Bay on the other. It sits on the same footprint as the home built in 1898 for J.F. Champlin, the original proprietor of the Ocean House Hotel.

The 5,100-square-foot house has seven bedrooms, nine bathrooms, an oversized gourmet kitchen with upscale appliances, living and dining rooms with ample seating, two entertainment areas with large-screen TVs, a laundry room, high-speed internet, and an elevator that affords easy access to its four levels.

This spacious gathering place is designed for relaxed entertaining, comfortably accommodating up to 16 people. It’s a perfect retreat for multigenerational families or groups of friends who want a mix of time spent together and time spent apart.

The layout promotes a seamless flow between indoor and outdoor living with more than 1,500 square feet of porches, decks, and balconies, many with water views.

There’s no need for guests to bring anything with them (aside from clothes) because the turnkey residence is fully equipped with everything a guest could want, ranging from the juicer and icemaker in the kitchen to the Molton Brown toiletries and Matouk linens.

Available for monthly, weekly, or multi-night rentals, Intercrest has been fully reconstructed with classic moldings and other nostalgic touches, is tastefully decorated, and offers every comfort of a luxury summer residence, including concierge service.

The Oceanic, a second new cottage debuting this summer, will be the largest residence in the Collection at 10,400 square feet. It features 9 bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, a screening room, hot tub and pool. This grand cottage, just steps away from Ocean House, has been completely renovated under the direction of architect Meg Lyons, who was also the lead project manager on the historic rebuild of Ocean House.

The best of both worlds

Many of the cottages are located within a short walk from the resort. Here, guests have access to the Ocean House private beach and cabanas, the intimate Member’s Club and its private dining room, and the full-service Ocean & Harvest Spa (the only Forbes five-star spa in Rhode Island), which includes a fitness center, yoga room, and heated, indoor saltwater lap pool.

Golfers will enjoy the putting green and access to the Rees Jones Lake Isles course, less than 30 minutes away.

Cottage guests can opt to cook (or barbecue outdoors) in their home, hire a private chef to prepare and serve meals, or experience the range of dining options at Ocean House—from casual beach fare to elegant farm-to-table meals at the hotel’s fine dining room (the only 5-star restaurant in Rhode Island).

The hotel also offers complimentary transportation for guests to its nearby sister property, Weekapaug Inn, whose dining room is noted for its excellent contemporary cuisine.

At the onsite Center for Wine & Culinary Arts at Ocean House, food enthusiasts (including children and teens) can partake in private or group classes and tastings.

In addition to the white sandy beach, the family-friendly resort offers surfing and paddle board lessons, scavenger hunts, age-appropriate movies in the screening room, croquet clinics, babysitting services, special holiday happenings, and excursions to local attractions.

Kids of all ages will delight in taking rides on the nearby Watch Hill Carousel, the oldest flying horse carousel in the United States.

A setting filled with history

Since the 1800s, the natural beauty of Watch Hill has been a magnet for visitors with the means to spend their summers at the seaside—either as residents in the shingled, Victorian-style homes (many of them handed down over generations) or as guests at the handful of hotels and inns in the area.

Ocean House was built in 1868, soon after the Civil War. It quickly became popular as the place to be seen in summer, hosting social and philanthropic events for some 135 years.

The hotel survived two devastating fires that destroyed many of the homes at Watch Hill as well as the Hurricane of 1938, one of the most destructive hurricanes ever recorded.

However, in 2003, the hotel closed down when its antiquated wooden structure and innards were deemed beyond repair. A year later, the building was condemned when it failed to meet modern fire and safety codes.

With the support of the local citizenry who rallied to preserve this landmark property, long-time Watch Hill summer residents and community benefactors, Charles and Deborah Royce, decided to purchase Ocean House—with the ambitious goal of rebuilding it for generations to come. The painstaking, five-year, passion project was completed in May 2010 at a cost of $140 million.

Many distinctive architectural elements of the hotel replicate those of the original Victorian structure. The 5,000 artifacts that were preserved from the old Ocean House add a sense of history to the new building. These include the front door and entryway, the stone fireplace in the lobby, the beautifully-carved mahogany front desk, an old-fashioned telephone booth, and the oak-paneled elevator.

A magical destination

At a time when a growing number of hotels and resorts are owned and operated by faceless corporations, Ocean House stands out from the pack.

This independently-owned boutique property has only 49 rooms, 20 signature suites—and now 10 cottages—all of them tightly woven into the fabric of the Watch Hill community. Many Ocean House guests are fiercely loyal, returning year after year.

The continuity of the Ocean House legacy is due, in no small part, to the visionary leadership and commitment of its owners to build upon the past as they reimagine the future.

Ocean House has been named a 5-star resort by Forbes Travel Guides and was cited as one of the best hotels in the world by Travel + Leisure. The launch of the new Cottage Collection will likely expand the resort’s enduring appeal as a place to create rich lifetime memories.

IF YOU GO

Ocean House is approximately a 3-hour drive from New York City (2-½ hours by train); 2 hours from Greenwich, Connecticut; 1-½ hours from Boston; and 45 minutes from Newport and Providence, Rhode Island.

Visit the Ocean House website for information about the hotel or cottages and to make reservations.

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