When we first learned The Nevada would be put on the market, we easily made the decision with our long-time partners Chris and Liz to put in an offer. As full-time residents, it has been a quiet fixture in our lives for the 40+ years we’ve lived in York. From our teenage days seeing it on our way to high school, to later years with our own teenage children, or even walking by it after a long day of work at the Cutty Sark (the hotel where Michelle worked at the front desk before we opened our first business and a decade before opening nearby Stones Throw in 2015), The Nevada has always been there.
Fast forward to 2021 and the reported plans of potential buyers to turn The Nevada into condos. We know this iconic building holds a special place not just for us, but for thousands of others — and we wanted to make sure it would be leveled-up rather than just… leveled. After making this promise to the original owners, they graciously accepted our offer.
Soon after purchasing the property, it quickly became clear that nearly the entire structure needed to be re-built and replaced — but we felt passionately that the curvy shape, inspired by the original owner’s time on the U.S.S. Nevada, should be reflected in the new Nevada. So, our team got to work and embarked on a mission to build something new while preserving its character.
We raised the frame of the building 3.5 feet out of the flood zone to protect it from the climate crisis, as Maine’s air and sea temperatures are shown to be rising, something certainly visible to anyone who has seen how Long Sands has changed over the years.
We also added a third story to make the rooms more spacious, collaborating with NYC-based architectural design firm CR Design to purposefully convert the property from a motel into a proper hotel, adding a restaurant, check-in lounge, outdoor deck spaces, and bright indoor hallways. To keep things local, we commissioned two local artists – Daniel Dellapasqua and Kyle Nelson – to create original paintings and digital art inspired by mid-century Long Sands, building our own little gallery throughout the hallways. Both Kyle and Dan also happen to work with us at Stones Throw, by the way – they’re multi-talented!
It is in this spirit that we want to acknowledge the importance of change if we want to see Long Sands, our town and the state of Maine grow sustainably. We can look to the past for inspiration while trying new things to make the future even better. After all, no one would argue that old polluting A/C units are better than the modern, energy efficient heat-cooling pumps that we installed at The Nevada. This is the same approach we took when designing the new shoreside rooms at The Viewpoint: thoughtful change built for new and memorable experiences. We can't forget that the Nubble Lighthouse was new at some point, too!
With The Nevada, we’ve built a hotel — and a thoughtful guest experience from booking to check-out — to last. We’re proud of how we’ve balanced this nod towards the 1950s while looking towards the 21st century and beyond. We can’t wait for you to come experience the new Nevada with us.