The Beach Motel, Southampton

By Rebecca Dumais

Southampton, Ontario is known for its mesmerizingly glorious sunsets, powdery soft sand along Lake Huron, and an idyllic beach vacation destination – and now, an intimate boutique place called The Beach Motel.

Husband-and-wife owners Dane and Samantha Buttenaar have travelled the world, experiencing a variety of accommodations, from hostels to luxury overwater villas. Their favourites were always the small boutique properties, no matter if they were in Thailand or Madagascar. They had always wanted to run a motel of their own in which they could combine their favourite aspects of their travels.

The motel, which opened in March 2022, offers a personal, guest-focused experience that the couple felt was needed in Southampton, and they were determined to be the ones to offer such an experience.

When an opportunity to buy a rundown property in their hometown arose – and the price was finally right after staying on the market – they knew they could turn this vacancy into a cozy getaway that’s just steps away from the beach.

Arriving at The Beach Motel, you’ll pull into the courtyard and in classic motor inn style, you’ll have an immediate view of the rooms and access to the reception area. "We wanted to create that cozy feel, That’s why all of the rooms face into the courtyard and then we have the second-floor deck, which in the summer, creates more of a family vibe,” explains Dane.

There are 17 suites to choose from to create your memorable beach town getaway. Choose from single- and double-queen suites, single king suites, a beautiful corner king suite and a spacious two-bedroom single queen suite with a kitchenette and living area. Stepping through the door of your temporary holiday home, you’ll find thoughtful touches and luxe amenities such as European-plush Sealy mattresses, Manchester Mills 300-count sateen weave linens, Monarch Cypress Green Earth Eco towels, and more. A Nespresso coffee machine is at the ready when you wake up each morning.

Room details are equally as thought out, with fine room finishings such as custom wallpaper displaying sights of Southampton in the imagery in select suites, soft cork flooring throughout, shiplap walls and comfortable, relaxing furnishings. A convenient desk allows for getting a bit of work done, or to journal about your day.

Additional carefully planned details include the stone concierge desk, which was templated from a painting of Lake Huron. The metal portion of the design is to resemble Southampton’s sandy shores.

Larger groups of travellers will want to book The Beach House. Inside there are two units, one upper level with a full backyard and one lower level with access to the front yard. The three-bedroom units offer one queen bed per room, a full kitchen, a dining room, a living room and a full bathroom with a tub and shower. Perhaps you’ll want to challenge the other guests in the common area with an energetic game of ping-pong.

Part of any great getaway is a spa experience. The Beach Motel’s Wellness Spahhh on the second floor has two treatment rooms designed to relax you deep into vacay mode.

Upstairs in this two-level motel are the indoor lounge and outdoor deck, which are also accessible by a separate staircase. The rooftop patio is a favourite of Dane and Samantha. They encourage everyone to enjoy its comfortable seating around the fireplace or a seat at the bar top tables to relax with a beverage and healthy nibbles.

Helmed by Chef Carey McLellan, the menu offers an intimate serving of locally sourced ingredients with a healthy farmto-table approach. McLellan’s dedication also includes personally driving to various farms within a 30-40 km radius for the ingredients she needs regularly. “We were fortunate to have Chef Carey fall into our lap,” says Dane. “We wanted everything to align with the motel and with as small a footprint as we can for waste. That was important to us.”

The lounge offers guests a complimentary continental breakfast daily and a well-thought-out menu offering fresh dishes made with local ingredients. “Our chef is very talented so we get a good draw from the popularity of her food,” Dane says. There are also board games and a turntable with a selection of vinyl records to get a playful vibe going.

Realizing and building a dream destination in their hometown, Dane says that he hopes The Beach Motel continues to be a pillar business for the town and hopes that it’s “seen for years to come as the gold standard for accommodations in Southampton.”

Speaking of gold, between this gem of a motel and those golden sunsets, it’s a dream come true for everyone.

For more info, visit TheBeachMotel.ca