One of the first motels to open in the state of Maine, The Nevada, after a thoughtful renovation, has been transformed into a luxe beachfront hotel…
The husband-wife hotelier team behind Maine’s award-winning luxury waterfront hotel, The Viewpoint, have opened their much-anticipated new property, The Nevada — a 21-room, highly designed, luxury beachfront hotel in the picturesque town of York, located on the southernmost tip of Maine just over an hour outside of Boston.
Opening in a prime location on Long Sands Beach (a surfing and swimming destination with more than a mile of white sand beach), The Nevada is a revival of a historic 70-year-old motel property of the same name, thoughtfully renovated with 21 rooms, including luxe suites with vast private terraces and 180 degree views of the ocean.
Image credit: The Nevada
Originally built in 1951, The Nevada was one of the first motels to open in the state of Maine. It was named after a U.S. navy ship that the first owner served on in World War II, the U.S.S. Nevada, and he even designed the motel to resemble the flybridge of a battleship, a structural design that owners Joe Lipton and Michelle Friar have maintained in its new iteration. The original motel stayed under family ownership until it closed in 2021 after struggling through the pandemic, when the property was purchased with the vision of preserving its important legacy as a local family-run business in the community, while modernising and elevating it for a more luxe experience.
The Nevada was designed by CR Design in collaboration with owners Lipton and Friar, and maintains much of the building’s iconic design features and mid-century aesthetic, but with modern amenities and art deco-inspired design touches throughout. The team kept the original curved, L-shape structure inspired by the decks of the U.S.S Nevada, but added a third story in the same mid-century architectural style. The curved building features a wrap-around deck, allowing each room to have its own private terrace with unique views to the ocean.
Image credit: The Nevada
Preserving the quintessential 1950s motel vibe of the property, the design team kept the same colour motif on the exterior, with mostly white walls and accents of teal. The interior design of The Nevada is inspired by an art deco beach scene. Vibrant, pop art-style artwork from local Maine artists Kyle Nelson and Dan Delapasqua line the walls, adding bright pops of colour, while ambient music plays from the hall speakers.
A key part of the renovation included making the building more eco-friendly, which is something Lipton and Friar prioritise with all of their properties. Given that the property is located in a flood zone, the team put the building on stilts to raise it three and a half feet out of the flood zone. Additionally, they added more energy efficient systems including heat pumps (for heating and air conditioning) in each room and on-demand hot water heaters with a recirculating pump.
In line with the team’s commitment to sustainability, The Nevada is a member of the local Green Alliance and donates a portion from each stay to Giving Green — which directs funding to evidence-backed projects. Like their other properties, The Nevada works with Clean The World and uses Blueland cleaning products, commercial composting, and bamboo paper products.
Image credit: The Nevada
The hotel shelters 21 king rooms, each with its own private terrace and views of Long Sands Beach. The mid-century modern bathrooms in each room are outfitted with peacock blue tile, black and white terrazzo floors and lavish glass showers from Kohler.
Additional amenities include beach chair and umbrella rentals, van service to The Viewpoint’s nearby seasonal al-fresco restaurant A Little Auk, as well as its fitness, pool and new spa amenities and Stones Throw, the nearby hotel and restaurant.
Image credit: The Nevada
Lulu’s is the new restaurant and upscale tiki bar located inside The Nevada. Named after the owner’s daughter, Lulu’s features a tropical-inspired food menu. The beverage menu, curated by owner Friar, features fun tropical-inspired cocktails designed to be enjoyed beachside. The 75-seat, indoor-outdoor restaurant, which includes a bar area, and two tier decks for outdoor seating, offers an up close beachside dining experience. Embracing a playful and tropical beachside vibe, the design includes an 11-seat indoor-outdoor bar with forest green tile, velvet bar stools and tropical wallpaper. The outdoor dining space feels intimate with the addition of abundant greenery and cosy fire pits.
Main image credit: The Nevada
