The White Elephant hotel was originally an assemblage of old houses and buildings that Nantucket resident Elizabeth Temple Ludwig began acquiring in 1917 on a prime spot near the beach. She dreamed of transforming the property into a harborside hotel, but friends did not share her vision and jokingly referred to the structure as an “unattractive white elephant of a building.” Thus, the unofficial name stuck. In the 1960s, the property was renovated and eventually evolved into a spacious inn with fifty-three light-filled guest rooms and suites, most with working fireplaces and water views, as well as eleven garden cottages.
Above: Thoughtful touches at the White Elephant hotel, such as harbor-view wicker chairs for lounging and nightly turn-down service that includes a box of chocolates, let guests know that their comfort is of utmost importance. Hedges brimming with colorful flowers, perfectly manicured lawns, and hydrangea bushes with melon-size blooms surround the inn with color and life.
