The Pridwin Hotel and Cottages is a classic American resort hotel that has been providing guests a unique experience on Shelter Island since 1927. The nearly 10-acre site on Crescent Beach was selected for its protected waters, gentle bay breezes, and for its breathtaking water views. Spectacular hiking is available nearby on the trails of the 1500-acre Mashomack Nature Preserve, one of the crown jewels of the Nature Conservancy.
The Pridwin is a timeless classic, a piece of America that many thought had died out, honest and decent, even magical.
Named after the shield (“Prid’win”) of the legendary Celtic hero, King Arthur, the Pridwin Hotel was built from 1924 to 1926 by an English concern named the Queens Company Ltd. After the Queens Company Ltd. ran out of money and defaulted on their payments, Francis Myers, one of the building contractors, acquired the property. He completed construction and opened for business in 1927, operating the business until his death in 1947. Byron Nurse, who had been a former manager of the Biltmore Hotel in New York City, purchased the Pridwin and operated it until his death in 1951. His spouse, Lorraine Nurse, inherited the property and together with William Fraser, operated the hotel until it was purchased by the Frost, Mobius and Petry families in 1961.
Frederick and Mildred Frost had been guests of the hotel since 1930. They learned it was for sale while they were vacationing one Labor Day with their daughter and son-in-law (Richard Petry).
In 2022, in partnership with Cape Resorts, the Petry family unveiled the newly-renovated Pridwin—ready for another century of service to Shelter Island.
Postcard of The Pridwin Hotel and Cottages, dated 1948
Related Stories
Jump a Little Higher
In her 20s, Molly Barthel enjoyed cruising the waters of Long Island Sound with a group of friends on a small wooden boat. “We had the time of our lives...”
A Tradition Returns
“A friend approached me while I was out to dinner one night,” says Glenn Petry, co-owner and chief nostalgia officer of The Pridwin. “She told me: You have to bring back the cookouts..."
Dishes and Holloware
When Congress Hall was renovated in 2001, an excavation of the foundation produced a true find: a box that dated back to the late 19th century.
The Key to Hospitality
In 2010, on the corner of Broadway and Perry Street, a contractor who'd been widening Cape May's drainage system spotted a key inscribed with the initials A.K.
The History of Congress Hall
For more than two centuries, Congress Hall has offered hospitality to locals and visitors alike. It began life in 1816 as a simple boarding house...