ROCKLAND, Maine — The new owners of the historic Lindsey Hotel say operating the inn will not be just a job but a lifestyle.
Brett and Megan Thompson purchased the lodging place at 5 Lindsey St. on March 20 through their Zephyr Studio Inc. for $1 million.
The couple said they were looking for an opportunity to run a family business. And now they will be running a business out of the building built nearly 200 years ago.
“We have an 8-year-old son and we wanted to show him what can be done if you follow your dream and work together,” Brett said.
Brett has been a contractor, and Megan was in marketing. They moved to the midcoast last year from Washington state. Brett said as soon as they walked in the door of the inn, they knew the Lindsey Hotel was the right place for them.
“This is an entirely new venture for us. We’re excited to work together,” she said.
She said they are investing in their future but also investing in Rockland.
“We’re so excited by this opportunity to offer old-fashioned hospitality,” she said.
They will be living on-site.
“This is not just a job, it’s a lifestyle,” Megan said.
Brett said: “We like the energy in Rockland. It has a very entrepreneurial spirit. There are people doing some very cool businesses. Part of what we’re excited about this is building up relationships and weaving ourselves into the community, build partnerships, and doing cool events with them.”
The couple plan to have some exterior facade work done. The plan is to open the hotel in mid-May. And the couple plan to have it operate year-round.
The three-story Lindsey Hotel has nine rooms.
The historic property was originally built in 1835 and first was the home of Captain George Lindsey. The property has been a tavern and inn over the years. The only exception was when the Camden & Rockland Water Co. used it as its corporate offices until it was sold in 1994 when the utility relocated to offices on Route 17 in Rockport. After the water company sold the Lindsey Street property it was converted into the nine-room inn that it has been for more than 30 years.
The hotel’s website states that when John Lindsey purchased 100 acres in downtown Rockland for “a mere $33”, his son George built a family home. After living in the home for several years, Lindsey undertook the project of expanding his personal residence into a local tavern and inn and livery stables in 1839. The expansion of the property was primarily completed by Lindsey, who hauled materials, burned lime, and made the bricks himself. A few years later, Lindsey sold the inn and its successor owners continued operating it as an inn.
This story appears through a media partnership with Midcoast Villager.