The Mainstay Inn

Hotel Description

The Mainstay Inn was originally known as "The Clubhouse," a 19th century pleasure palace, where gentlemen gathered in an elegant setting for gambling and other amusements. Since 1976, visitors have been able to enjoy the same grand spaces, with fourteen foot ceilings, and museum quality antiques.

The six spacious guestrooms are furnished with splendid antiques, much as they were in the 19th century, but now all have private bathrooms with tub and shower. All guest rooms have central air conditioning and most have designated parking spaces. The building known as The Cottage became part of the Mainstay in 1981.

Built as a private summer home in 1870, the Cottage is joined to the Inn by a brick walkway transversing a lovely garden with a Victorian fountain. The six rooms in the Cottage, all with queen or king sized beds, have private baths, and central air conditioning, and most have designated parking spaces. Two rooms have private porches overlooking the garden.

Luxury Hotel Accommodation

The Cardinal Gibbons Room is named for the first American Cardinal who used the mansion as a Catholic retreat for several summers. This spacious room has twelve-foot ceilings and is furnished with a stunning, museum quality matching double bed and dresser, which have been in the building since 1872.

The wallpaper is hand silk-screened by Bradbury and Bradbury and the carpet is a fine hand woven oriental. This room is on the second floor of the Inn and has a bath with tub and shower. Quiet central air conditioning with individual control, a 15inch flat panel TV and wireless access. Parking is provided.

The Henry Sawyer Room is named for Cape May's Civil War hero who was captured by the Confederates, but on the eve of his execution was traded in a prisoner of war exchange for the son of Robert E. Lee.

This is our largest room with three windows overlooking Stockton Place and Columbia Avenue. The wallpaper and border are hand silk-screened and the carpet is by Karastan. The two double beds, each with matching marble topped dressers, were part of the original furnishings of Jackson's Clubhouse.

The bath has a tub and shower and parking is provided. Quiet central air conditioning with individual control, a 15inch flat panel TV and wireless access. This room is on the second floor front of the Inn.

The Henry Ford Room celebrates America's famous industrialist who once raced automobiles on our beaches against Louis Chevrolet. This room is smaller than our other rooms but it is popular because it has a private back porch with two oak rocking chairs. It is furnished with a beautiful queen sized Renaissance Revival bed and other high quality Victorian antiques.

This room is located on the second floor of the Cottage and has a large bath with tub and shower. Quiet air conditioning with individual control, a 15inch flat panel TV and wireless access. Parking is on the street.

The President Harrison Room is named for President Benjamin Harrison who spent several summers in Cape May, making Congress Hall Hotel his summer White House. This room is decorated in shades of rust and green with a hand made oriental rug and a queen sized Renaissance style walnut bed.

The bathroom is quite large and at one time served the entire house. The original wood framed tub and pedestal sink are still in place. A shower has been added for your convenience. Quiet central air conditioning with individual control, a 15inch flat panel TV and wireless access. The room is on the second floor of the inn. Parking is on the street.

The General Grant Suite commemorates the visit of President Ulysses Grant to Cape May after the Civil War. This spacious suite has a bedroom with a king sized brass bed and a separate sitting room with high quality period antiques. Carpets are hand loomed orientals. The room is light and airy, eight windows in total, and a bath with tub and shower.

Quiet air conditioning with individual control, a 15inch flat panel TV and wireless access. Parking is provided. This third floor suite is '''our most private room in the inn but the staircase that leads to it is challenging.

The Stonewall Jackson Suite salutes the famous Confederate general who visited Cape May many years before the Civil War. This large suite has a king-sized bed and antique wicker furniture combined with comfortable traditional pieces.

There is a large bath with tub and shower and parking is provided. There are nine windows, which make this room especially light and breezy. Quiet air conditioning with individual control, a 15inch flat panel TV and wireless access. It is located at the rear of the second floor of the inn.

The Windsor Room honors Wallis Warfield, the Duchess of Windsor whose family vacationed in Cape May. This room is quite large with twelve-foot ceilings and a lovely bay window overlooking the garden. The three-piece birds-eye-maple bedroom suite with queen sized bed really belongs in a museum.

The wallpaper is by Scalamandre and the carpet is a Karastan. The tiled bathroom has a tub and shower and a fabulous oversized sink. Quiet air conditioning with individual control, a 15inch flat panel TV and wireless access. This room is located on the first floor of our Cottage and parking is provided.


The Henry Clay Room overlooks Columbia Avenue with six eight-foot windows. This room commemorates the visit of statesman Henry Clay to Cape May. He was so beloved, ladies often pursued him on the beach seeking a lock of his hair. This room has a peacock theme with Bruce Bradbury�s famous hand screened peacock border and an oil painting of a peacock done by Tom�s great-aunt.

The spectacular queen sized Victorian bed was here in the 1870�s, as was the matching marble topped dressers. There is a bath with tub and shower and parking is provided. Quiet central air conditioning with individual control, a 15inch flat panel TV and wireless access. It is located on the second floor of the Inn.

The Clara Barton Room commemorates the Cape May visit of the famous Civil War nurse and founder of the American Red Cross. This is a large room with ten-foot ceilings and a bay window overlooking the garden.

There is a high quality queen sized Victorian bed with matching marble-topped dresser and other fine antique pieces. The bath is small but it is popular because it has a large two-person shower with dual showerheads. Quiet air conditioning with individual control, a 15inch flat panel TV and wireless access. This room is on the second floor of the Cottage. Parking is on the street.

The Bret Harte Room is named for the famous writer of Western novels who visited Cape May for a journalists convention. This is one of our most requested rooms because it is large, with museum quality queen sized bed and matching dresser, and it has a large private veranda with oak rockers and a lovely hammock.

There are ten-foot ceilings and four large windows facing the ocean breezes. Quiet air conditioning with individual control, a 15inch flat panel TV and wireless access. It is located on the second floor front of the Cottage. There is a bath with tub and shower and parking is provided.

The Lillie Langtry Room honors the famous British actress and mistress of the Prince of Wales who shortened her visit to Cape May when her presence was discovered by too many adoring fans. This sunny room has five large windows overlooking Columbia Avenue.

There is a king size bed and beautiful seating area facing the ocean beaches just a block away. Quiet air conditioning and heat with individual room control, a 15inch flat panel TV and wireless access. The bath has a shower and parking is provided. It is located on the third floor of the Cottage which is quite a climb for some people.

The Commodore Stephen Decatur Suite is named for the famous naval hero who visited our city many times even before the American Revolution. This suite has a museum quality Victorian queen sized bed with matching dresser and a separate sitting room with lovely Victorian furnishings.

The wallpaper is a beautiful blue and the carpets are by Karastan. The bathroom has a shower and the window offers a glimpse of the ocean. This room is light and airy with six windows on all four sides of the third floor of the Cottage. Quiet air conditioning with individual control, a 15inch flat panel TV and wireless access. Parking is provided. The stairs to the suite are rather steep.

Address:

The Mainstay Inn
635 Columbia Avenue
Cape May
NJ 08204
USA - New Jersey