Gorgeous Oregon coast hotel with no TVs or WiFi that encourages guests to read its enormous selection of books and enjoy ocean views is sold to new owners who hint they’ll modernize it
A beautiful oceanfront hotel in Oregon has been snapped up by a developer 40 years after it was on the coast. This led to fears that the relaxed haven for book lovers could lose its charm.
The popular Sylvia Beach Hotel in Newport attracted local attention thanks to its picturesque views of the Pacific Ocean and its literary theme – including a total ban on TVs and Wi-Fi.
Instead, guests are encouraged to enjoy the extensive selection of books and the beautiful rugged views.
It was officially sold to John Lee, president of VIP Hospitality Group, for an undisclosed price on Friday, as former owners Goody Cable and Sally Ford announced their retirement.
“I don’t have a hotel anymore, it makes me sad, but life goes on,” Ford said The Oregonian. ‘One chapter ends and another begins. It has truly been a labor of love for Goody and I.”
But with the new owners announcing they are considering renovation works, some locals are concerned about possible modernisations.
The Sylvia Beach Hotel in Newport, Oregon has been snapped up by a developer 40 years after it was located on the coast
The hotel for book lovers has no TV or Wi-Fi, and guests are encouraged to spend their time reading
The hotel has a cozy library (photo) and rooms with a literary theme
When Ford and Cable opened in March 1987, they designed it with book lovers in mind.
It contains a large library full of classic books, and guests are encouraged to read rather than kick back with a movie.
During dinners in the hotel dining room, strangers are encouraged to play board games and chat with each other to make new friends.
The original property was built in 1913 and went through several iterations as the New Cliff Hotel and the Gilmore Hotel before Cable and Ford purchased it.
When they bought the property, it was a dilapidated, cheap residential hotel, with a broken roof and an unstable oceanfront foundation.
But despite its condition, Ford said, “When I first saw that dilapidated old building, I just loved it.
“It had three different colors of paint on it and that old Hotel Gilmore sign on the side of it. I had no idea what to expect, but most of it was fun, just really fun.”
They renovated the building, gutting every nook and cranny while adding four fireplaces, a kitchen, a new dining room and another 21 bathrooms.
To follow their literary theme, the owners also had their friends decorate rooms based on their favorite authors.
This allowed guests to enjoy specialist rooms themed around Agatha Christie, Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams and JK Rowling.
Many of these themes are still current, while guests can also enjoy a cozy library full of books with a picturesque view of the beach.
Although the hotel opened in March 1987, the original property dates back to 1913 and went through several iterations as the New Cliff Hotel and the Gilmore Hotel.
Guests enjoy aesthetic landscaping and rooms designed around famous authors including Agatha Christie, Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams
The very first guest was a “little man in a white sailor uniform,” Ford previously said The Oregonianwho showed up with a local and had no luggage with him.
“The rate included breakfast, but they didn’t stay overnight,” she said.
Although the early days were quiet, the hotel’s aesthetic location overlooking the Pacific Ocean made it a popular destination for tourists.
Because it is facing a new owner, fans of the hotel went to Facebook to share their disappointment, with one suggesting they ‘all join in and buy it’.
Another said the sale would be “sad, especially if it was all business-like.”
However, one former guest had a more optimistic view, saying it has simply “moved to another owner for the next leg.”
“The building will be here long after we are all gone,” they said.
The decision to sell the property came after Ford’s brother Ken Payton, who ran the front desk, died in 2009, while Cable also suffered a stroke four years ago.
The hotel was officially sold to a property manager on Friday for an undisclosed price
When they sold it, the former owners sadly said they would ‘miss it terribly’
When the hotel was renovated, four fireplaces, a kitchen, a new dining room and an additional 21 bathrooms were added.
Looking back, Cable said she is proud of her hotel, which she said was “our baby.”
“I’m going to miss it terribly,” she said.
‘I’m going to miss a lot of guests and the dinners very much.’
For new owner Lee, he said the VIP Group expects to modernize the hotel while staying true to its 111-year history.
“Sally and Goody have spent 40 years building a successful business and brand with a global following,” said Lee.
“We are honored to pick up the torch and will focus on learning the ways that make Sylvia Beach so unique.
“There is a lot to learn and digest, and we will be delving into the business over the coming months to determine the next steps, including the necessary capital investments to renovate all areas of the hotel.”