The Mansion at Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club

Elegant and classy, the Mansion at Ocean Edge Resort is actually the historic 1912 Nickerson Mansion, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Situated behind a vast, green, and beautifully landscaped lawn, The Mansion has the look of an English manor home with an off-white stucco facade and rich oak trim and detailing. The lobby takes the place of the former billiards room and maintains charming original details, such as a dark wood beam ceiling with carved busts of Shakespeare characters. The stairways feature elegant carved wood banisters, and in the hallways, dark floral carpet shares the space with oak wainscoting and cream-colored striped wallpaper strewn with black-and-white pictures from bygone eras. Elegant period furniture is used throughout. While the decor feels dated to some, most find it part of The Mansion’s Old-World charm. 

Guests should note that the rooms are not located in The Mansion itself, but in the two adjoining wings. The resort grounds are split between those surrounding and in The Mansion, and those on the nearby sister site, The Villages, which sits across Cape Cod's 6A road, and it's a less pricey alternative to The Mansion. With the resort’s many on-site activities and venues, The Mansion draws a variety of travelers, including families, couples, and groups of people attending weddings and functions.

The Mansion at Ocean Edge Resort sits on a sprawling resort across the way from its sister property, the less-expensive The Villages. Situated right along 6A mid-Cape town of Brewster, the Mansion itself sits back from the road beyond a gigantic, estate-style lawn. While there’s so much going on at the resort that guests are encouraged to stay, The Mansion is also well located for visiting Cape Cod attractions and shops. Guest should note that the size of the grounds and the two separate areas means that some resort features can be about a 15-minute walk from The Mansion.

• Five-minute walk to Brewster’s Main Street
• 13-minute walk to Cape Cod Rail Trail
• 15-minute walk to Blueberry Pond (kayaking and paddle-boarding) 
• Eight-minute drive to Cape Cod Museum of Natural History
• 20-minute drive to Chatham
• 50-minute drive to Provincetown
• One-hour-and-40-minute drive to Boston Logan International Airport

Guests can choose from one room, two-bedroom, or three-bedroom units. Even the smallest of The Mansion quarters are spacious -- the Deluxe Room is 480 square feet and has either a furnished balcony or patio and either a king bed and a pull-out couch or two queen beds. Rooms reflect the historic surroundings, with neutral colors and subtle patterns such as striped wall-to-wall carpeting and plaid cream-colored wallpaper. White wainscoting and white furniture offer a subtle Cape Cod beach feel. Sitting areas are made up of couches and wicker chairs. Entertainment units and desk areas have flat-screen TVs with cable and premium TV, and they're flanked by shelving units with books and other Cape Cod-themed items. 

Bathrooms are neutral but tastefully decorated with patterned wallpaper, white furniture, and nice lighting, such as hanging pendant lights. In the Deluxe Rooms, spacious vanities and sink areas double as dressing rooms, and they sit separate from bathrooms which includes vanities, generously sized shower/tub combos, and alcoves with toilets and shelving. Rooms come complete with soap dispensers and high-end Tommy Bahama individual toiletries.

Each room includes a Keurig coffeemaker, free Wi-Fi (which guests say is fast), an in-room safe, a mini-fridge, an iron and ironing board, and a hairdryer. Rooms also have furnished balconies or patios with views of the estate. Rooms are air-conditioned with wall-mounted units, which some guests complain are noisy. Some guests also complain of hearing upstairs neighbors through the ceiling, and suggest trying to get a room on the top floor. Rooms here are not located in the Mansion itself, but in two adjoining wings. While a few guests complain of a musty smell, they generally find The Mansion buildings and the grounds extremely well-kept and clean.

The Presidential Suite includes lots of extras, such as an en-suite washer and dryer and a full kitchen with a bar seating area, microwave, and full fridge. 

The beautiful private Bay Pines Beach is one of the Mansion’s signature features that guests from the nearby sister property don’t have access to during the day. Situated on the warm, gentle waters of Cape Cod Bay, Bay Pines Beach is much larger than most of Cape Cod hotels' private beaches, and features a generously wide swath of sand and beautiful blue water. It’s popular with the Mansion guests but remains uncrowded, and guests are offered full beverage and food service in addition to a chair and a towel. The Bay Pines Beach is opened to both Mansion and Village guests in the evening, when people gather to roast s’mores by the bonfires.

Another highlight is the 18-hole championship golf course that has its own Clubhouse, Golf Pro Shop, and casual Linx Tavern and Bar. Guests can also eat at several other on-site eateries, including The Ocean Terrace, a fun outdoor spot with gorgeous views of Cape Cod Bay. Bayzo's Pub has a sophisticated, English pub feel with dark wood furniture, brown leather chairs, and red brick accents. It sometimes features live music and often plays Massachusetts team games on its four TVs. The breakfast buffet, which isn't included in the daily rate, gets decent reviews. 

This property is home to volleyball courts, basketball courts, and several outdoor tennis courts. In the summer, the resort offers golf and tennis sports camps and a kids’ club for 4- to 9-year-olds. Special events such as s’more making by the bonfire, movie screenings by Arbor Pool, and a Beach Walk and Oyster Tour all occur regularly in summer months.

Of the five pools on the premises, the two indoor pools are opened year round. The pools are well-kept, and the Bay Pines heated outdoor pool, the only outdoor pool on The Mansion premises, has a hot tub and Snack Cabana. It’s surrounded by stylish wood lounge chairs with navy fabric and white and navy striped beach towels. Some guests complain that the outdoor pools can get too busy during the summer.

The fitness area is small but functional, with nice wood floors, cardio equipment, weight machines, and free weights. An attached locker room has showers and a tiny sauna. There is a petite on-site spa that can fit two people, but it still offers a range of services including facials, waxing, and body wraps.

The resort also has a range of meeting rooms and outdoor venues. A business center provides faxing, copying, and printing services, and meeting rooms are outfitted with AV equipment. There's free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, and guests say it’s fast.

The 5,000 square foot Mansion Ballroom and Rooftop Terrace, which opened in 2009, can host up to 300 guests and is frequently used for weddings. Some guests complain that on weekends where there are too many weddings, the area feels overrun and too busy, with on-site parking filling up and distracted staff (some guests recommend asking how many weddings are going on before booking a room).

A range of other services are available for hotel guests, including concierge services, laundry, and dry cleaning services. Every year, the hotel takes students from overseas to work at the resort, and guests frequently comment on how friendly and helpful they are. Note that The Mansion charges a mandatory daily resort fee.