One of Newport’s historic inns and a Doris Duke Historic Preservation Award-winning property is entering a new chapter.
After more than 28 years of stewardship, the Samuel Durfee House, a storied hospitality property in Newport’s Yachting Village, is for sale. The offering includes three distinct buildings at 352 Spring Street and 9 Bowery Court, representing one of the city’s most unique hospitality and residential investment opportunities to come to market in recent years.
At the heart of the offering is the Samuel Durfee House, an English Federal Period residence built in 1803 and operated for decades as a successful bed and breakfast. The property also includes an award-winning three-bedroom, three-and-one-half-bath barn residence and a separate two-bedroom, one-and-one-half-bath cottage situated on its own individually taxed parcel. You can also learn more about the property by watching this short video.
Just moments from Bellevue Avenue, Thames Street, Newport Harbor, and the city’s famed waterfront, the property offers an exceptional combination of historic significance, income potential, and residential flexibility in one of Newport’s most desirable neighborhoods. Simply put, the location is second to none.
According to research commissioned through the Newport Historical Society, the house at 352 Spring Street was constructed between 1802 and 1805 by Newport housewright Samuel Durfee, with architectural historians identifying 1803 as its likely year of construction based on its English Federal design. The property remains one of the last surviving examples of this architectural period in Newport.
Historical records show that Samuel Durfee purchased the land in 1801 from his parents-in-law, Elisha and Mary Anthony, before constructing the home. In 1806, Durfee sold the property to Benjamin Rathbone, beginning more than two centuries of continuous ownership by a succession of Newport families.
The property’s barn was added during the late nineteenth century, first appearing on the 1893 Newport City Atlas. More than a century later, following an extensive restoration completed by the de Pinho family, the barn received the prestigious Doris Duke Historic Preservation Award in 2016, recognizing the exceptional craftsmanship and commitment to preserving Newport’s architectural treasures.
For owners Michael and Heather de Pinho, however, the property’s greatest significance has never been found in its structure alone.Â
“This property has been a labor of love and such an important part of our lives,” said Michael de Pinho. “We raised our son here. We celebrated holidays here. We welcomed guests from all over the world into our home. This was a property we invested in with our love, our wallets, and our sweat, blood, and tears. Every improvement we made was done with the hope that this place would continue to tell its story for generations to come.”Â
Over more than 25 seasons operating the Samuel Durfee House Bed & Breakfast, the de Pinhos built a reputation for exceptional hospitality while welcoming thousands of visitors to Newport.Â
“We built so many incredible relationships within these walls,” said Heather de Pinho. “That’s what we’ll miss the most. The experiences, the conversations, the people we met from around the world, and the memories we created here are something we’ll never forget.”Â
The offering presents an exceptionally rare opportunity within Newport’s tightly held real estate market.
Unlike many historic properties throughout the city, the Samuel Durfee House is not subject to Historic District Commission review for exterior alterations, providing future ownership with unusual flexibility while preserving the property’s historic character.
Equally significant is the property’s existing Transient Guest Facility license, allowing the legal operation of short-term guest accommodations (less than 30 days for 5 rooms), a valuable entitlement that is increasingly difficult to obtain in today’s regulatory environment. The inn’s hospitality use is grandfathered within a residential zoning district, making it one of only a handful of opportunities of its kind in Newport.
Beyond the inn itself, buyers acquire a fully restored barn residence recognized nationally for historic preservation, a separate cottage with its own tax parcel, and more than ten off-street parking spaces, an amenity seldom found in downtown Newport.
Listing agent Tyler Bernadyn of REMAX Results, and current President of the Newport County Board of Realtors, believes the combination of history, operational flexibility, and location makes the property unlike anything currently available.
“This is one of the most unique properties to come to market in Newport in years,” said Bernadyn. “Where else can you purchase a legal hospitality business, an award-winning historic barn residence, and a standalone cottage, all on one property in the heart of
downtown? Opportunities like this simply don’t come along very often. It’s the type of property that rarely trades.”
The property’s location further enhances its appeal. Owners and guests alike can walk to Bellevue Avenue, the International Tennis Hall of Fame, Newport’s renowned restaurants and shops along Thames Street, and the harbor waterfront in just minutes while enjoying the quiet residential character of the Yachting Village.
“For nearly three decades, an incredible local family carefully balanced preservation with thoughtful modernization, investing substantially in mechanical systems, exterior restoration, infrastructure, and long-term maintenance while protecting the property’s historic integrity,” Bernadyn added. “Now, they hope its next chapter will be written by someone who appreciates this address as much as they have.”
Some properties are simply transactions. Others become part of the fabric of a community.
The Samuel Durfee House has been a home, a business, a gathering place, and the backdrop for countless memories. For more than a quarter century, guests arrived as visitors and often departed as friends, leaving behind stories that became part of the property’s remarkable legacy.
As the Samuel Durfee House enters the market in the year leading up to America’s 250th birthday, it offers far more than three historic buildings on a coveted parcel of downtown Newport real estate. It offers the opportunity to become the next steward of one of Newport’s most distinctive downtown properties. For more information on this listing including an investor package for qualified buyers, please contact Tyler Bernadyn of REMAX Results at 401-241-1851 or TylerB@resultswithremax.com.
