Welcome

Welcome to Wequassett Resort and Golf Club

A Brief History

Over 400 years ago the Wampanoag Indians began coming to the place they called Wequassett during the summer months. They cut trees, cleared land, pitched their wigwams and planted corn. Once settled, the Wampanoags took full advantage of this idyllic setting; they swam in the bay’s clear water, caught fish, chipped arrowheads from colored stones on the shore and gathered quahog and periwinkle shells for wampum. When the seasons changed, it was the general custom to break camp and move inland from Wequassett’s shore to the relative warmth of the forest where deer and game provided nourishment through the winter months.

The Indian name Wequassett means “crescent on the water.” Interestingly enough, the sand-spit called Clam Point extends out around the Cove in the shape of a crescent. The Wampanoag Indians paid great attention to the first appearance of every new moon. They began their ecclesiastical calendar at the first appearance of the first crescent moon of the vernal equinox. Whether Wequassett was named for the shape of the sand-spit, or for the new crescent moon or for that moon’s reflection on the water remains a mystery.

Among the many buildings that comprise the present Resort are two noteworthy historic structures. The lovely “Square Top” or Eben Ryder House serves as the centerpiece of the complex, the location of twenty-eight Atlantic and Thoreau’s. This home dates back to the early 1800s and was originally in the nearby town of Brewster; for many years it housed the West Brewster Post Office and general store.

About 1907, the house was sold. The owner had it flaked down and moved to its current site on large flatbed trucks. At the entrance to the Resort, the current registration building, the Warren Jenson Nickerson House, dates back to about 1740. The house was originally built in the hollow of the southeast side of the Cove and in the mid-1800s it was moved to become an original part of the present Resort compound.

Over 85 years ago, Wequassett opened as a vacation retreat. Today, we are proud to accommodate travelers from around the world, as well as a variety of national and international business meetings and conferences. Wequassett is Cape Cod’s only Five-Star resort and a Legend within Preferred Hotels and Resorts, an association of luxury, independent hotels around the world. The Resort offers world class accommodations, dining and recreational facilities in a relaxed atmosphere with warm personal service.

We hope that your visit will be most enjoyable and that you will return to Wequassett for many years to come. Our staff is dedicated to serving you; please feel free to call upon them at any time during your stay. The following information will acquaint you with the services and amenities of the Resort, as well as nearby attractions. Thank you for choosing to stay at Wequassett.

Mark J. Novota Managing Partner