The historic White Elephant Hotel, a hub of activity during the Nantucket Wine Festival, is located on historic Nantucket Harbor and has been host to guests since the 1920s.
The White Elephant was originally an assemblage of old houses and buildings that Elizabeth Temple Ludwig began gathering in 1917 on a prime spot near the Children’s Beach.
An Unattractive White Elephant of a Building
The building was officially purchased in the 1920s by Ms. Ludwig, who dreamed of transforming the property into a fine harborside hotel. Friends of Ms. Ludwig did not share her vision and often jokingly referred to the structure as an “unattractive white elephant of a building.”
Thus, the initial gag-name of “white elephant” stuck, but Ms. Ludwig assured her friends that the White Elephant would someday be a wonderful hotel capturing the calm grandeur of Nantucket.
As her lodging business prospered, additional buildings were soon added, including a dining room, lounge, and several harbor-side cottages.
In the early 1960s, a new owner, Sherburne Associates, dismantled the original White Elephant. The wings were moved to a nearby location where they still house summer employees.
Rooms With A Better View
The current main building was re-designed and built to give the rooms a view of the ever-changing Nantucket Harbor. It is recorded by the Historic American Buildings Survey of the U.S. Department of the Interior for its archives at the Library of Congress. The cottages, moved to a new location adjacent to the main building, form what is known today as the Captain’s Court.
Renovations Continue With New Owners
The fall of 1999 marked yet another turning point for the White Elephant. Stephen and Jill Karp, Boston natives, purchased the property and extensive renovations were completed before its June 2000 re-opening.
The Karps, who have vacationed on Nantucket since 1969, aimed to restore the White Elephant as Nantucket’s premiere harborside hotel.
The “new” White Elephant’s rooms and suites are more spacious; most have harbor views. Both the lounge and restaurant were refurbished and now include an extensive wine room where guests may view the hotel’s impressive selection.
Though the White Elephant continues to evolve into the 21st century, it maintains the historical charm of Nantucket.
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