Wequassett Resort Centennial: $12M Refresh, Events

Published on Sep 2, 2025, 4:27 pm CDT

5 min read

Wequassett Resort & Golf Club is marking a century on Pleasant Bay with a property-wide refresh and a yearlong program of culinary and cultural events. The Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star hotel and Five-Star restaurant status underscore the Wequassett Resort centennial, which also brings redesigned guest rooms, upgraded public spaces, and a limited-edition jewelry collaboration. Harwich sits on Cape Cod, with Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) as the primary gateway for travelers.

Key Points

Why it matters: A Cape Cod icon upgrades rooms, dining, and programming during its 100th anniversary.
Travel impact: Freshly renovated accommodations and new events raise the bar for Northeast luxury stays.
What's next: A James Beard-inspired weekend and seasonal experiences anchor the centennial calendar.
$12 million renovation refreshed 113 rooms, cottages, and villas.
Limited-edition Centennial Ring debuts with Cove Fine Jewelry.

Snapshot

Founded in 1925 as a cluster of seaside cottages, Wequassett has evolved into a 120-room luxury resort overlooking Pleasant Bay. The latest multi-year, $12 million renovation updated 113 guest rooms, cottages, and villas with coastal-inspired finishes, while public spaces and dining venues received complementary design tweaks. Signature restaurant twenty-eight Atlantic remains the Cape's only Forbes Five-Star dining room, pairing New England seafood with bay views. Centennial programming includes chef collaborations, wine tastings, and classes built around the property's culinary identity. A new Centennial Ring, designed with Cove Fine Jewelry, lets guests take home a piece of Cape Cod's hydrangea-hued aesthetic.

Background

Wequassett's roots trace to early 20th-century cottage stays on Round Cove and Pleasant Bay. Over time, the resort added rooms, waterfront amenities, and access to the private Cape Cod National Golf Club, maturing into a Northeast classic. In recent years, the property earned Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star recognition for both the hotel and twenty-eight Atlantic, a rare double in New England. The centennial provided a natural pivot to refresh accommodations and public areas without losing the understated Cape Cod character. The updated look favors linen and grasscloth textures, coastal blues, and brighter interiors, aligning with guest expectations for modern comfort while retaining a strong sense of place.

Latest Developments

Renovation completes ahead of peak season

Wequassett finished the second phase of a $12 million, multi-year project in 2025, timing completion for the busy summer window. The work targeted 113 guest rooms, cottages, and villas, introducing lighter palettes, updated bathrooms, and relaxed residential details across a resort footprint of 120 accommodations. Public spaces and dining rooms were refined to blend contemporary design with Cape tradition. The resort positions the refresh as an evolution rather than a reinvention, keeping signature views and layouts while elevating materials, lighting, and comfort.

Culinary calendar leads the Wequassett Resort centennial

A James Beard Foundation-inspired weekend spotlights Wequassett's culinary program, featuring classes, tastings, and seated dinners led by the resort's team and notable guest chefs. The hotel is also programming seasonal experiences that lean into bayfront settings, from alfresco fine dining to beverage pairings. Twenty-eight Atlantic continues as a destination in its own right, maintaining its Five-Star standing and emphasizing native seafood and local produce with thoughtful wine curation.

A hydrangea-hued keepsake: the Centennial Ring

To mark the milestone, Wequassett partnered with Cove Fine Jewelry on a limited-edition Centennial Ring. Designed by Cape Cod native Alyson Iarrusso, the piece nods to Pleasant Bay's light and the Cape's emblematic hydrangeas with ocean-toned gemstones and gold. The collaboration offers a tangible, giftable expression of the resort's legacy, aligning with traveler demand for meaningful, place-rooted mementos.

Analysis

The Wequassett Resort centennial arrives at a moment when New England luxury travelers are seeking refreshed classics over newcomers. By finishing a targeted renovation ahead of summer, the resort preserves its competitive edge against high-profile openings in Boston and along the coast. The scale and focus of the project, 113 keys within a 120-room inventory, suggests a disciplined approach to ROI, prioritizing the guest room experience where travelers spend the most time. Pairing the physical updates with programming is equally important. Culinary events anchored by twenty-eight Atlantic leverage the property's Double Five-Star pedigree, while seasonal activations translate well to shoulder seasons, supporting rate integrity beyond July and August. Access remains straightforward for fly-in guests via Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), then a drive to Harwich, which broadens the catchment beyond New England. The limited-edition ring is a small but clever brand move, extending the centennial narrative into retail without diluting the luxury positioning. Net-net, Wequassett is using its 100th to reinforce why loyal guests return, and to give first-timers a timely reason to book.

Final Thoughts

Wequassett's 100th year underscores why heritage properties endure on Cape Cod. Thoughtful room and public-space updates, a high-caliber culinary calendar, and a sense of place that reads authentically coastal give the resort fresh relevance without sacrificing charm. For travelers weighing a classic bayfront stay with modern comforts, the Wequassett Resort centennial offers a compelling case to visit in 2025 and beyond.