Connecticut's Historic Lighthouse Inn to Receive $1 Million Restoration.

Business Editors

NEW LONDON, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 1, 2001

The 99-year old Lighthouse Inn in New London, Connecticut will undergo $1 million in restorations to fully restore the hotel to its original grandeur. Upon completion of the renovation it will be renamed The Lighthouse Inn Resort and Conference Center. The Inn was purchased recently by New London-based McGrath Hotels, LLC from Eldorado Hotels and Resorts.

Jim McGrath, owner and president of McGrath Hotels, noted, "We're pleased to join the New London community with the purchase of this local landmark and are very excited to begin a comprehensive restoration project. We look forward to presenting a beautifully restored Lighthouse Inn to the people and visitors of New London and Southeastern Connecticut in the year of the hotel's 100th birthday." Renovations began September 4 and are expected to be completed by the end of this year.

A member of the prestigious Historic Hotels of America, the Inn was built in 1902 as the summer home of steel magnate Charles S. Guthrie, who called it Meadow Court for the variety of wildflowers surrounding it. The mansion was designed by noted architect William Emerson of Boston and was built overlooking Long Island Sound. Renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, who designed Central Park, designed the formal grounds. The Mediterranean-style mansion formed a half circle, giving each room a view of either the gardens or the sound.

In 1927 it began operating as an inn and was renamed Lighthouse Inn, inspired by the nearby New London Lighthouse at the mouth of the Thames River. The Inn became a focal point for social events and a retreat for film stars, including Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. The Inn is now a popular destination for leisure travelers from the New York metro area.

The comprehensive restoration will include virtually every aspect of the hotel, interior and exterior. "While the historic design and decor of the Inn will be retained, substantially upgraded amenities will be added to ready the hotel for the 21st century," noted Marylis McGrath, director of the design project. Enhancements will also include a redesign of the landscaping to reflect its historic origin and technological upgrades including high-speed internet access for guestrooms and meeting rooms.

The Inn features 52 guestrooms and suites, each uniquely appointed with elegant antiques and period decor, including armoires and four-poster beds with canopies. A grand carved wooden staircase in the lobby, fireplaces in the lounge, dining and living rooms, and Victorian marble floors in the lobby create a charming and intimate ambience. Original wood beams and hand-carved chandeliers adorn the lobby and dining room.

The Inn's award-winning Mansion Restaurant, overlooking Long Island Sound, serves fine American and Continental cuisine in an elegant setting, while the Meadow Court Lounge offers casual fare in an English pub atmosphere. The Inn accommodates banquets of 200 and receptions of 300, and is used for social receptions, weddings and bar mitzvahs, as well as corporate meetings. In Spring 2002 an elegant 4,000 square-foot outdoor tent will be added to host events on the grounds of the two-acre great lawn. Additionally, flexible meeting rooms accommodate groups of 10 to 75.

Lighthouse Inn guests enjoy a private community beach just steps away from the hotel, along with sailing and sportfishing at Ocean Beach. The Mystic Seaport and Aquarium, Historic Downtown New London, Foxwood and Mohegan Sun Casinos, Eugene O'Neill Theater Center and the U.S.S. Nautilus Museum are popular attractions nearby. Business travelers will find Pfizer, Electric Boat, Millstone Power Station, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, Connecticut College, the U.S. Navy Submarine Base and the Port of New London convenient to the Inn.

The hotel is a member of Historic Hotels of America, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. It was selected for membership in the National Trust of Historic Hotels based on its historic integrity, architecture and ambience, representation of American heritage and local recognition for historic significance.

The purchase of the Lighthouse Inn is the first for McGrath Hotels, LLC. Owner and President Jim McGrath was previously Chief Operating Officer of Meyer Jabara Hotels and Vice President of Operations for Bristol Hotels & Resorts. He is a hotel industry veteran of 20 years. McGrath Hotels, LLC will pursue future hotel acquisitions and hotel management contracts in the Northeast United States.

Reservations at the Lighthouse Inn may be made by calling 1-888/443-8411. For further information, visit the Lighthouse Inn website at www.lighthouseinn-ct.com.