The Last of the Old-School Motels Give Way to Luxury in the Hamptons
The Westhampton Seabreeze Motel, once known for its humble quilted bedspreads and modest white appliances, is gone. So too is the slightly more upscale Sands Motel in Montauk, which offered full-size refrigerators and off-white stoves. These motor lodges were among the last affordable accommodations in the Hamptons, now overtaken by the region’s ever-expanding luxury footprint.
This summer, two new high-end hotels are opening in their place. Three Ducks, built on the former Seabreeze property, will offer complimentary farm-stand breakfasts and beach cruiser bikes. Offshore Montauk, which replaces the Sands Motel, will feature a cabana-lined pool and a wellness room for yoga and Pilates.
These developments mark the continued transformation of the Hamptons from laid-back beach towns into exclusive, upscale destinations. Real estate prices reflect this shift: the average home now costs $1.9 million in Montauk and $1.56 million in Westhampton, according to Zillow. Nightly rates at the new hotels are equally steep—up to $795 at Three Ducks and $1,000 at Offshore on summer weekends.
Montauk, once a quiet fishing village, has become a magnet for the wealthy, celebrities, and those eager to be near them. Two other local motels were recently purchased by a boutique hotelier with properties in Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard; both are currently closed for renovations. Meanwhile, new members-only restaurants and clubs are also moving into town.
For many longtime residents, the changes are bittersweet.
“Sands was a honky-tonk kind of place, very approachable, something for everybody, across the street from the beach,” said Kay Tyler, a 49-year-old Montauk resident and executive director of the local environmental group Concerned Citizens of Montauk. “Now it’s being turned into a very exclusive, very expensive kind of place. I think it’s another example of how Montauk has changed.”
Nancy St. John, 62, who grew up in nearby Quogue, remembers when the Hamptons were dotted with simple, affordable motels. “People would stop there when they needed a break from driving or a simple place to stay,” she said. “There were no restaurants or amenities. You would have your room and that was it.” They weren’t fancy, she added, but they were “classic,” and the people were friendly.
But for others, the nostalgia doesn’t outweigh the need for modernization. What some call “classic,” others see as outdated.
Three Ducks: A Boutique Rebirth
Randall Stone, 63, co-owner of Three Ducks, likened the old Seabreeze Motel to the fictional motel in the sitcom Schitt’s Creek. “This motel was the real ‘Schitt’s Creek’ of the Hamptons,” he said.
Stone, a hotel branding consultant who splits his time between Manhattan and nearby Remsenburg, purchased the 12-room Seabreeze for just under $2 million. He and his partners invested another $2 million into a full renovation. The hotel, which reopened May 21, still has 12 rooms, but now boasts vaulted ceilings, handmade clay tile floors in the bathrooms, and a variety of room types, including suites.
The property’s 1.6-acre lawn has been transformed into a wildflower meadow, and a new barn-style structure was added for breakfast service, events, and weddings. Notably, the defining feature of a classic motel—parking directly outside each room—has been removed. Those spaces are now private gardens with seating areas. A new parking lot has been built near the barn.
“We always knew it had so much potential, and now we are pouring our heart and soul into every detail,” said Stone.
Offshore Montauk: Spa-Like Serenity
In March 2024, Los Angeles-based Enduring Hospitality purchased the Sands Motel for $23.25 million. The property had been family-owned since 1951. The new hotel, Offshore Montauk, maintains the original 43-room count but has undergone a multimillion-dollar renovation.
The updated property includes an 1,800-square-foot spa with two cold plunges, a red-light therapy room, two infrared saunas, a gym, and a yoga/Pilates studio. Rooms now feature elevated ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, and sliding doors that open to ocean-view balconies.
“I would not say we are fancy. I would say we are more quality, like a home-away-from-home kind of vibes,” said Marley Dominguez, co-founder of Enduring Hospitality. “Our rooms have very warm tones, very understated. It’s meant for you to relax.”
The hotel is set to open on June 15.
A Shift in Expectations
Both hotel owners say they’re responding to a broader trend: the growing demand for luxury in the Hamptons.
Last year, Seven Beach Lane, a boutique hotel with 16 rooms and a heated saltwater pool, opened in Westhampton Beach. A stylish new movie theater debuted in February, and Donahue’s Steak House—an iconic Manhattan restaurant—is opening a Westhampton Beach location this June.
The village has also completed upgrades to its Main Street and septic system.
“Westhampton Beach was kind of the overlooked part of the Hamptons, but now people finally want to be here,” said Liz Cantwell, co-owner of Six Corners Fine Wines & Spirits, which is partnering with Three Ducks to deliver wine to guests.
Westhampton Beach Mayor Ralph Urban, 76, acknowledges the tension between progress and preservation. He supports the area’s evolution but is concerned about increased traffic, including more private jets, and the lack of affordable housing for local workers. A new development in the village includes seven affordable units—“a small number, but a step in the right direction,” he said.
“There is a demand for high-end things now,” Urban added. “Lifestyles are changing, and people expect more.”
Still, not everyone can keep up with the changes. Nancy St. John says friends and family who once stayed at the Seabreeze can no longer afford to visit. “I will have to send them to Riverhead,” she said, referring to a more affordable town outside the Hamptons.
As the Hamptons continue to evolve, the question remains: Is there still room for the charm of the past in a future built on luxury?
Source: nytimes.com