YARMOUTH - Renovations on the 65 rooms at the Rodd Colony Harbour Inn will begin in the new year. The owners of Rodd Hotels and Resorts will be investing millions of dollars to reopen the inn.
Company president Mark Rodd says the property was examined by engineers this fall while they were in town to check on work being done to the Rodd Grand Hotel.
“We came to the conclusion that the business is there to take the step and open the Rodd Colony again,” he says.
Although plans do include reopening the Colony’s restaurant, that section will not be immediately addressed.
“I can’t say that it’s going to be open for this summer, but it’s something we are looking at,” says Rodd.
Renovations include roofing issues that will be addressed in the spring. All of the windows and exterior siding will be replaced and new heating units, similar to what is installed on the Rodd Grand, will be added to the Rodd Colony.
The cost of the Colony renovations, excluding the restaurant, will be in close to $2.5 million.
The target date for opening is this summer.
Rodd used to manage the Colony (1997-‘99) and says back in the heyday when both ferries were running, they employed a staff of about 65.
“So, we’re hoping that we’ll get those numbers back,” he says.
Both properties will have a coastal “feel.”
“Yarmouth is a coastal destination and we’re going to encompass that in our design.
“We’re hoping to deal with local artists from the area in terms of pictures and so forth,” he says.
Continued ferry service between Yarmouth and Maine was “hugely important” in the decision to reopen the Colony.
“Without the ferry we would not be undertaking this project,” says Rodd.
The 65-room hotel closed in January 2011, after operating for 40 years. The owners cited a slumping economy and no ferry service in its decision to close.
Early on, the hotel was used several times to house visitors in town for events because extra capacity was needed – such as teams here for the World Junior A Challenge in 2012.
The Colony restaurant stayed open after the hotel closed, but it too closed in 2013.
In early 2017 furnishings and items inside the hotel were donated to SHYFT Youth Services, which provides services and assistance to homeless and at-risk youth. While based in Yarmouth, the services are provided to youth in Yarmouth, Shelburne and Digby counties.
Meanwhile, $2 million in renovations are taking place at the Rodd Grand Hotel. Upgrades are planned to refresh and modernize guest rooms, fitness facilities, meeting spaces and common areas in that facility.
Read more about the former Rodd Colony Harbour Inn
Oct. 26 Owners of former Colony Harbour Inn in Yarmouth considering reopening in 2019
Closed Yarmouth hotel provides support to local organization as building's future is pondered