In 1975, John Fager built Fager’s Island on 60th Street on the bay. The restaurant, with its open-air atmosphere and decks, live plants and picturesque sunset views, was different than anything else in Ocean City at the time, and it was a success, quickly evolving from a seasonal venture to a year-round destination.
The all-suites Lighthouse Club Hotel — two bridge crossing from fager’s Island restaurant, The Edge — was built in 1978. The building, modeled after the Thomas Point Shoal Light on the Chesapeake Bay, hosted three different restaurants until Fager bought the building and converted it into a hotel in 1988. Still, even with the success of the restaurant next-door, opening a bayside hotel was a risk.
Today, the Lighthouse Club is a mainstay of Ocean City’s midtown bayside and is geared toward couples looking to experience a more intimate, quiet side of town. 23 elegant suites in total sit upon the wetlands, with sweeping views of the Isle of Wight Bay beckoning guests to step onto their balconies or the lower wraparound porch, where the water is just steps away.
Amenities include a fitness and massage room, and access to the pool at The Edge next door, but it’s the details in the hotel’s Clubroom that set the Lighthouse Club apart from other luxury accommodations.
The Edge hotel boasts suites that are each decorated according to a different theme, but the Lighthouse Club is similarly marked by John Fager’s affinity for travel and collecting pieces from around the world. The furniture in each suite is custom-made, and the decor in the Clubroom and other common areas throughout the hotel is interesting, eye-catching and luxurious.
Not only is the Lighthouse Club a destination for couples looking to experience the peace and tranquility of Ocean City’s bayside, but it’s also a clear choice for those who appreciate all the little details that work in tandem to make a vacation so enjoyable.
