Regal Elegance in Ocean City, NJ
The Homestead Hotel is one of Ocean City, New Jersey's oldest hotels. It first opened in 1929, just steps from the famous Ocean City, NJ boardwalk. It is now available for summer vacation enjoyment, boasting newly renovated rooms and amenities plus more much more.
About the Homestead Hotel
The devastating fire of 1927 destroyed large portions of the Ocean City Boardwalk and left residents and visitors yearning for modern, fireproof hotels. Seeing this opportunity, the Hanscom brothers (bakers and restaurateurs by profession) began plans for a new hotel with contemporary amenities. While not rivaling the Flanders Hotel, Ocean City's luxury accommodations, the Hotel Hanscom added much needed first-class guest rooms to the growing resort.
Now known as the Homestead Condotel, the hotel's early history is briefly stated on the building's plaque. It says, in part, "Formerly Hanscom Hotel, established in 1928 by the Hanscom Baking Company." However, the hotel opened Monday, July 22, 1929, according to the Ocean City Daily.
"The owners, having many years experience of understanding and satisfying the wants of summer hotel guests, planned the hotel as ideal for the seashore," stated the newspaper. "The place they conceived had to be comfortable in size and arrangement, attractive in design, within and without, tasteful in furnishing and complete in service. It was to be neither ostentatious nor expensive; it must wholly satisfy those of moderate means, but not oppress with over-lavishness. All this they materialized in the form of the new Hanscom."
However, in 1968, Friendly Homes, Inc., a group of Methodist laymen and clergy, purchased the Hanscom, changed its name to the Homestead Hotel and turned it into a retirement home. Although the company was based in Philadelphia, Friendly Homes' president William G. Luft was also president of the Ocean City Tabernacle Association, the city's first religious institution. After some renovation, the establishment was ready for occupancy in late summer of that year.
It remained a retirement residence for many years until purchased by a local entrepreneur. "Renovated in 1997 by James M. Dwyer, proprietor and real estate developer" (the plaque continues), the home again became a hotel.
The Homestead has been recently renovated into a condominium hotel (or "condotel").
Now, the hotel may finally break free from its retirement home image and move forward to a new era. Bathers would love staying at the property, since the Homestead is less than a block from the beach and Boardwalk. Ocean views range from excellent to mediocre depending on the location of the condo within the building itself.
Contact the Homestead
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Contact the Homestead Hotel
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