When a 29-year-old entrepreneur opened one of the first boutique hotels in New Jersey 35 years ago, even he, in his most optimistic moment, could hardly have guessed at the impact his decision would have on Cape May. Especially since his path had been blocked by so many obstacles.
It was three years previous, in 1986, that Curtis Bashaw had first dreamed of breathing new life into a ramshackle building on Jackson Street. He saw so much potential where others simply saw a rooming house for hospitality workers (Curtis had been one of those boarders in the summer of 1975). The Virginia, built in the aftermath of Cape May’s 1878 inferno that claimed 35 acres of downtown real estate, was a classic example of the scaled-down architecture that had taken root in town in the latter years of the 19th century. It flourished as a small hotel until the 1950s, when the dining room closed and it operated as a rooming house.
TOP LEFT: An unknown couple pose for a photo outside The Virginia as it sits condemned, c. 1980s
TOP RIGHT: The Virginia during construction, c. 1988
BOTTOM LEFT: A crowd gathers for The Virginia’s grand reopening, June 2, 1989
BOTTOM RIGHT: A private guest room balcony at The Virginia as it appeared when the hotel reopened in 1989
Curtis’ vision was to restore The Virginia as a small luxury hotel with upscale dining. In other words, a boutique hotel—a recent phenomenon that had begun in 1984 with the opening of the Morgans Hotel in New York City by famed hotelier Ian Schrager. Curtis’ father, Keith, a real estate developer in Princeton, New Jersey, and his brother-in-law, Brandon Hull, partnered on the project.
Curtis set out to obtain bank financing, but the late 1980s were gloomy days for real estate and his plan was rejected by six banks. Securing financing wasn’t the only problem. Jackson Street neighbors were skeptical and fought the application for a liquor license, fearing that the re-opened hotel would be a nuisance.
The frustrations led to Curtis all but giving up on his dream. “I had gone to a seventh bank, but also realized it was maybe time to move in another direction and applied to Wharton Business School’s MBA program,” says Curtis.
And then came what he remembers as a very special day. “In the morning, I got a letter from Wharton telling me I had been accepted. Then, in the afternoon, I heard from the seventh bank. They said yes. After giving it some thought, I decided to do both. I would go to school in Philadelphia during the week, then I’d come home to Cape May and run the Virginia.” When construction began in 1988, the $3,000,000 budget made it the biggest restoration project undertaken in Cape May.
The 24-room Virginia opened in June of 1989 and was an immediate success. These days it’s regarded as one of the premier small hotels in the country and has received numerous awards and accolades, including Conde Nast Traveler’s Reader’s Choice Awards, the TripAdvisor Award of Excellence, and the Conde Nast Gold List. Its Ebbitt Room restaurant is recognized as one of the preeminent restaurants in the region and has been honored with an Award of Excellence by Wine Spectator magazine.
TOP LEFT: Congress Hall’s grand lawn, 2002
TOP RIGHT: Curtis Bashaw with Reverend Robert O. Davis, Congressman Frank LoBiondo, and former governor Christine Whitman at Congress Hall’s 2002 reopening
BOTTOM LEFT: This year, The Star celebrates 21 years since its 2003 reopening
BOTTOM RIGHT: Cape Resorts VP of Design Colleen Bashaw sets the scene for a Beach Shack photoshoot, 2023
The Virginia is celebrating its 35th anniversary, which also means it’s the 35th anniversary of Cape Resorts, the company that oversees a family of properties—from the southern tip of the Jersey Shore to the East End of Long Island, New York—that were inspired by the opening of that little boutique hotel. “Looking back,” Curtis says, “It’s been an amazing adventure. When I first bought The Virginia, I employed 40 people. Now we employ over 1,000 people in New Jersey and New York. What a privilege to work with a team over the years to expand our portfolio, to restore landmarks, to welcome guests, and to have such an economic impact.”
The opening of The Virginia was followed by the epic comeback, in 2002, of Congress Hall, America’s oldest seaside hotel. A year later, a motel that had sat across from Congress Hall for more than a century was renovated by Cape Resorts and began a new life as The Star, a quirky motel-inn combo that offers family favored efficiencies and cozy guest rooms, half-a-block from the beach.
“Cape May had always been known for its B&Bs, which were elegant Victorian affairs,” says Curtis. “There wasn’t a vibrant motel scene— that was always the purview of the Wildwoods. With The Star, we wanted to create a motel that offered all of the comfort and convenience of the Americana classic, but with a fresh and fun design vibe.”
That fresh take on the classic motel continued with the reimagining of a Cape May classic, the Coachman’s Motor Inn, on Beach Avenue. It was reborn in 2009 as the Beach Shack, with a zesty, surf-inspired décor that extended to its restaurant, the Rusty Nail. After a top-to-bottom refresh in 2023, the Beach Shack and Rusty Nail are ready to welcome you for their 15th season.
Today, Cape Resorts has curated a collection of legacy properties that all share a common theme. Each has fallen out of fashion. Each has fallen into disrepair. But they’ve all been saved by a vision, by a commitment, and by a belief that the past can inform the future. These properties are spirit-filled. Generations have worked here, earning their living. Generations have reveled here, creating lifelong memories—from presidents to artists, from families to friends. These places are well-worn and well-loved. And their stories continue to be written, day by day, season by season, year by year.
CONCIERGE | THE CAPE RESORTS MAGAZINE
