(York County’s Division of Financial & Tourism Improvement)

YORKTOWN- At York County’s annual Distinguished Enterprise Affair, Yorktown Seashore Resort earned the 2023 Distinguished Enterprise Award, introduced by the Financial Improvement Authority (EDA) and the Division of Financial and Tourism Improvement (ETD).

This award is introduced to rising companies that make vital investments in York County.

“I’m flattered and fairly grateful for this honor, and for the entire help York County has
supplied to us over the previous few years,” stated Matt Bowry, managing companion of M.A. Bowry & Firm and proprietor of the property, “It truly is a testomony to the entire onerous work of my group members, all coming collectively to make this mission successful.”

Yorktown Seashore Resort, previously the Duke of York, is the one waterfront lodge within the Higher Williamsburg space.

In 2021, Bowry, alongside along with his buyers, grew to become the official proprietor of the property. They’d massive renovation concepts, deliberate in phases over the following few years, however the very first change was to the identify.

“I knew this is likely to be controversial with a few of our legacy visitors who had been coming right here for generations,” Bowry stated, “However I felt strongly that we wanted potential visitors to know proper off that we’re a waterfront lodge; the truth is, we’re the one one within the Historic Triangle.”

The following transfer additionally turned heads for longtime visitors and locals alike. Bowry determined to demolish the restaurant area and create a contemporary foyer as an alternative.

“The restaurant facility was in disrepair and wanted super work,” Bowry stated. “Plus, our parking is proscribed, and the restaurant was competing with the lodge for out there spots.”

Yorktown Seashore Resort now boasts a completely renovated first ground of the primary and largest constructing on the property, new home windows alongside the entrance façade, a recent coat of paint, and refurbished pool the place the previous plastic balcony furnishings was swapped out for high-end matching chairs—providing the optimum beach-gazing expertise.

(York County’s Division of Financial & Tourism Improvement)

“My fiancée, Ferren Wolfe, is an inside designer, and he or she’s been remarkably necessary to the renovation,” Bowry stated. “Her imaginative and prescient and expertise are actually making it what it’s. I can’t wait to see her concepts for overhauling the visitor rooms come to fruition.”

A brand new breakfast space and market will open quickly.

Along with upgrading the rooms, Bowry stated he has excessive hopes of with the ability to convey again the rooftop sundeck that was a part of the unique lodge within the ’70s.

Bowry credit the revived lodge’s success to his group, the group and the County workers.
“I’m solely a small a part of the success we’ve skilled,” Bowry stated. “Our group, particularly longtime workers members Leelee King and Gill McCauley, have been so tremendously instrumental to our efforts to convey this lodge again to life. County workers has additionally been very useful and supportive from the start.”

(Yorktown Seashore Resort)

Monetary help supplied by the EDA allowed Bowry to improve the home windows and exchange the balcony chairs. Moreover, Bowry stated the various occasions held on the waterfront assist to bolster his enterprise and others by bringing much-needed publicity to the world.

“The County is concentrated on continuous enhancements to the Historic Space, from Riverwalk Touchdown to the seaside picnic space and up the hill on Essential Avenue,” stated Kristi Olsen-Hayes, director of the County’s Financial & Tourism Improvement Division. “Our EDA can be targeted on retaining the long-standing companies in our legacy industries. So, serving to Mr. Bowry revive the growing older lodge, and selecting Yorktown Seashore Resort as this 12 months’s award winner, made excellent sense. We’re excited to see this tourism asset refreshed and thriving once more.”