Inn at Perry Cabin

Inn at Perry Cabin is a historic luxury hotel on Maryland's Eastern Shore in the town of St. Michaels. Although the present hospitality business dates from 1980, the property's identity is rooted in a much older building and landscape. The original manor was constructed in 1816 by Purser Samuel Hambleton, a War of 1812 Navy veteran who had served as an aide-de-camp to Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry. Hambleton designed the house to evoke Perry's cabin aboard the USS Niagara, giving the property the name by which it is still known. The site was among the early land grants made by the English Crown in the colonial period. Over the following centuries, it passed through several uses and forms, including a private residence, a working farm, and a riding academy. This layered history distinguishes the hotel from a purpose-built contemporary resort and has remained central to its positioning as a Chesapeake Bay heritage property. In 1980, St. Michaels businessman Harry Meyerhoff and his sons Tom and Jack converted the property into a small six-room hotel with a restaurant. The venture established the modern lodging operation. In September 1989, Sir Bernard Ashley acquired the property and initiated a two-year expansion. That work transformed the small inn into a 41-room luxury hotel, substantially increasing its capacity while retaining the historic manor as the architectural centerpiece. Orient-Express Hotels acquired the property in May 1999. Under that ownership, the hotel underwent a major redevelopment program completed in 2003. The $17 million project, designed by Cooper, Robertson & Partners, added three buildings and 38 guest suites, increasing the total room count from 41 to 79. The expansion combined historic preservation with the space and facilities expected of an upscale destination hotel. In March 2014, Orient-Express Hotels changed its corporate name to Belmond, and the property was rebranded as Inn at Perry Cabin by Belmond. The Belmond affiliation placed the hotel within an international collection of luxury hospitality, travel, and leisure properties. Belmond was subsequently acquired by LVMH, although the hotel continues to be identified primarily by its local historic name. The property was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in 2018, reflecting recognition of its architectural and historical significance. It has also had a place in popular culture: the hotel served as the location for the main wedding reception in the 2005 film Wedding Crashers, starring Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn. Inn at Perry Cabin's appeal therefore combines historic architecture, Chesapeake setting, luxury accommodation, and association with film and regional heritage.

The history of Inn at Perry Cabin begins with the colonial-era land on which the property stands. The site was one of the original land grants made by the English Crown in the New World and later developed through a succession of residential and agricultural uses. Before becoming a hotel, the property functioned at different times as a private home, a working farm, and a riding academy. The surviving historic identity of the property is centered on a house built in 1816 by Purser Samuel Hambleton. Hambleton was a War of 1812 Navy veteran and had served as an aide-de-camp to Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry. The house was designed to resemble Perry's cabin aboard the flagship USS Niagara. The building that formed the original inn is now the north wing of the manor house, and the connection to Perry's naval career supplied both the property's name and much of its later historical character. The modern hotel began in 1980, when Harry Meyerhoff and his sons Tom and Jack converted the property into a six-room inn with a small restaurant. This conversion shifted the site from private and institutional uses into commercial hospitality. In September 1989, Sir Bernard Ashley purchased the property and undertook a two-year expansion. The result was a 41-room luxury hotel, substantially larger than the original Meyerhoff operation. Orient-Express Hotels acquired the inn in May 1999. Its most significant redevelopment under that ownership was completed in 2003. The $17 million program was designed by Cooper, Robertson & Partners and added three new buildings together with 38 guest suites. The project increased the total inventory from 41 rooms to 79, creating a larger destination hotel while preserving the historic manor as the anchor of the property. The ownership group's corporate identity changed in March 2014, when Orient-Express Hotels adopted the name Belmond. The St. Michaels hotel was consequently renamed Inn at Perry Cabin by Belmond. The new naming connected the local property to Belmond's broader luxury-travel portfolio while retaining the Perry Cabin name, which carried the strongest historical association with the site. The hotel received further institutional recognition in 2018 through induction into Historic Hotels of America. Its profile was also enhanced by its appearance in popular culture: the main wedding reception in the film Wedding Crashers was filmed at the property. Across its development, Inn at Perry Cabin has therefore evolved from a historic private estate into a small inn and then a larger luxury hotel, while continuing to market its architectural heritage and Chesapeake setting as central parts of the guest experience.

• 2018

  Historic Hotels of America induction

  [1]Inn at Perry Cabinen.wikipedia.org

  The hotel was inducted into Historic Hotels of America in recognition of its historic character.

• 2014

  Rebrand under Belmond

  [1]Inn at Perry Cabinen.wikipedia.org

  Orient-Express Hotels changed its name to Belmond, and the property became known as Inn at Perry Cabin by Belmond.

• 2003

  Expansion reaches 79 rooms

  [1]Inn at Perry Cabinen.wikipedia.org

  A $17 million improvement program added three buildings and 38 suites, raising the total room count from 41 to 79.

• 1999

  Orient-Express Hotels acquisition

  [1]Inn at Perry Cabinen.wikipedia.org

  Orient-Express Hotels acquired the property in May, adding it to its luxury hospitality portfolio.

• 1989

  Sir Bernard Ashley acquires the property

  [1]Inn at Perry Cabinen.wikipedia.org

  Sir Bernard Ashley purchased the inn and began a two-year expansion that converted it into a 41-room luxury hotel.

• 1980

  Property becomes a six-room hotel

  [1]Inn at Perry Cabinen.wikipedia.org

  Harry Meyerhoff and his sons Tom and Jack converted the property into a six-room hotel with a small restaurant.

• 1816

  Original manor house is built

  [1]Inn at Perry Cabinen.wikipedia.org

  Purser Samuel Hambleton built the original house, designing it to resemble Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry's cabin aboard USS Niagara.

A historic Chesapeake luxury hotel that combines an early nineteenth-century manor, destination-resort accommodation, and Belmond-style heritage hospitality.

• Hotel lodging · 1980

  Historic Manor Accommodation

  Guest accommodation in and around the historic manor whose original north wing dates to 1816. This lodging offer is the clearest expression of the property's heritage positioning, linking the hotel experience to Samuel Hambleton's architecture and the site's association with Commodore Perry.

• Luxury hotel lodging · 2003

  Guest Suites

  The hotel's expanded suite inventory was created through the redevelopment completed in 2003. The program added 38 suites and new buildings, increasing the total property inventory to 79 rooms and giving the historic inn the scale of a destination luxury hotel.

• Food, beverage, and events · 1980

  Dining and Event Hospitality

  The property has offered restaurant and reception functions since its conversion into a hotel. Its dining and event role is also reflected in its use as the setting for the main wedding reception in Wedding Crashers, although detailed current restaurant and event product specifications are not established by the supplied sources.

• 2014

  Adopt the Belmond identityStrategy

  Background

  Orient-Express Hotels changed its corporate name in March 2014 as part of a broader corporate rebranding.

  Action taken

  The property was renamed Inn at Perry Cabin by Belmond, preserving its local historic name while adding the new group identity.

  Aftermath

  The hotel became more visibly associated with Belmond's international luxury hospitality portfolio.

  Source

• 2003

  Expand from a small inn into a destination luxury hotelStrategy

  Background

  After Orient-Express Hotels acquired the property, the hotel required greater capacity and facilities while maintaining its historic architectural identity.

  Action taken

  The company completed a $17 million improvement program designed by Cooper, Robertson & Partners. Three buildings and 38 guest suites were added, increasing the room count from 41 to 79.

  Aftermath

  The redevelopment established the property as a larger luxury hotel rather than a small six-room inn, while retaining the historic manor as its defining feature.

  Improvement program cost. $17 million (Completed in 2003)

  Source

1. 1Inn at Perry Cabinen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Historic Hotels of Americahistorichotels.org
3. 3Belmond official websitebelmond.com