Chatham Bars Inn: Your Private Gateway to the Cape Cod National Seashore

To stand on the shoreline of the Cape Cod National Seashore is to see the Atlantic as it was centuries ago: wild, salt-sprayed and infinite. While many visitors navigate traffic to reach the park’s famous dunes, guests at Chatham Bars Inn enjoy a different experience: a seamless transition from the classic luxury of our estate to the vast, open horizon of the National Seashore’s protected wilderness. Whether you are stepping onto our private boat launch or getting behind the wheel of a luxury vehicle, you are following a path of preservation championed more than sixty years ago by a president with a deep love for these waters.

A Presidential Vision & A Tapestry of History

The Seashore’s existence is closely linked to President John F. Kennedy. In the summer of 1961, Kennedy signed legislation protecting this forty-mile stretch of coastline from the threat of overdevelopment. He pioneered the “Cape Cod Model,” which allowed the federal government to preserve a national treasure while respecting the local heritage of the Outer Cape.

Kennedy knew these sands held the echoes of American history. This is where the Pilgrims first anchored the Mayflower in 1620 and signed the Mayflower Compact. It is also where Guglielmo Marconi made history in 1903 by sending the first transatlantic wireless message to Europe. By protecting this land, JFK ensured that these milestones of culture and technology would always have a home amidst the dunes.

Discovery by Sea: Our Private Dock

At Chatham Bars Inn, the ocean is your backyard. Our private dock is an ideal access point for maritime discovery, allowing guests to bypass the crowds and head straight for the water. From here, our fleet of custom boats and U.S. Coast Guard licensed captains are ready to take you to the offshore reaches of the Seashore that land-bound visitors never see.

A complimentary boat launch takes guests directly from the Inn to the secluded sands of the National Seashore’s outer beaches. It is a world of nesting shorebirds, sunbathing seals and total tranquility, offering a perspective of the coastline that can only be truly appreciated from the water.

Adventure by Land: The Lexus Partnership

For those who wish to explore the Seashore’s northern reaches, our exclusive Lexus partnership offers a premier vantage point. Through the Lexus Drive Program, guests can borrow a luxury vehicle to explore the Cape’s scenic backroads in style.

The journey reaches its peak at Race Point in Provincetown. As part of the National Seashore, this iconic area is one of the few places in the country where oversand driving is permitted. Behind the wheel of a Lexus, guests can experience the thrill of driving directly onto the sand, navigating the dunes to find a private stretch of beach where the Atlantic meets the tip of the Cape.

Accolades and Enduring Beauty

Today, the Cape Cod National Seashore is recognized for its ecological and recreational significance. In 2021, it celebrated its 60th anniversary, continuing to serve as a sanctuary for diverse wildlife, from piping plovers to great white sharks, as well as the millions of visitors who explore its trails and beaches each year.

For guests of Chatham Bars Inn, the National Seashore is more than a nearby destination. The Inn’s private beach looks directly out onto North Beach Island, a shifting barrier beach that is part of the National Seashore. Whether you are exploring the Marconi wireless site or simply watching the seals from our private beach or your oceanfront suite, the Cape Cod National Seashore is a reminder of why this “curved arm” of Massachusetts remains one of the most beloved places in the world.