Those in East Hampton, N.Y., who prefer everything from a quiet breakfast to late night table service are in luck. After last summer’s drama, in which Scott Sartiano tried to buy The Hedges Inn and make it into a Hamptons outpost of Zero Bond, much to the dismay of locals, new proprietors have taken ownership — and they plan to keep much of what makes the hotel beloved the same.
Andrew and Sarah Wetenhall, owners of The Colony Hotel in Palm Beach, Fla., since 2016, have purchased The Hedges Inn from the Cumming family, with plans to be open after some minor updates for this coming summer season.
Sarah Wetenhall says it’s hard to think of something that isn’t appealing about owning the property, which was originally built in 1873 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in East Hampton.
“It is ideally situated as the closest inn to Main Beach in East Hampton, but also walking distance to the village. Its location, its historic nature and frankly its untapped potential to be open and of service to the community are really what attracted us,” she says. “It is the cornerstone of East Hampton village. In a lot of ways, it reminded me of The Colony and its prominent position right in the village. There are a lot of similarities.”
The Cummings and the Wetenhalls have known each other for years, having been connected by mutual friends. Despite running The Colony in Florida, the Wetenhalls are very much part of the Hamptons community, having lived between New York, Palm Beach, Fla., and Sag Harbor for decades. Sarah is on the board of the Southampton Hospital Foundation, is a member of the Ladies Village Improvement Society and is a trustee of the East Hampton Historical Society, Andrew is also on the board of the Southampton Hospital Association.
Eventually, their friendship with the Cummings turned into a conversation around the purchase of the hotel.
“The Hedges has long been more than just a property; it has been a cherished part of our family history, filled with memories and experiences that span over 30 years,” says John Cumming. “As we transition into a new chapter, it is of great personal importance to entrust this legacy to someone with deep appreciation for the unique charm and history of East Hampton to ensure that the essence of The Hedges will be maintained. The Wetenhall family exceeds that wish. Under their stewardship, I am confident that The Hedges will not only sustain its historic significance but also evolve to meet the needs and expectations of both locals and travelers.”
Sarah and Andrew Wetenhall
Courtesy of Capeheart Photography
“I am thrilled that Sarah and Andrew Wetenhall have purchased The Hedges Inn and will be bringing their expertise and commitment to excellence to our town, just as they have done with their wonderful hotel in Palm Beach,” adds Jerry Larson, the mayor of East Hampton Village. “I eagerly anticipate working closely with them, both now and in the years ahead, to ensure that this historic gem continues to be a source of pride and enjoyment for all, preserving its legacy as one of the Village of East Hampton’s most treasured landmarks.”
In the five months before Memorial Day, the Wetenhalls plan to do some minor changes to the hotel, with a few more extensive updates planned for after the summer 2025 season.
“Our plans are, frankly, to make it the very best version of what it already is,” Sarah Wetenhall says. “The historic nature of The Hedges is so key to the history of East Hampton village. So we hope of course to preserve it, to restore it a little bit and to make it of service to the community.”
They plan to open a three-meal-a-day restaurant, which Wetenhall says is hard to find in East Hampton, as well as bring hits from The Colony, like their trivia night, to The Hedges.
“It’s a big hit and we feel like the community members of East Hampton will be excited to experience some of those similar things,” she says.
“We won’t be making any physical changes necessarily to the property in advance of opening [this summer],” Wetenhall adds. “We’ll be coming in with our staff and operating our excellent luxury hospitality experience on the existing physical plants for the summer season of 2025.”
After Labor Day, they will close down to do some restoring to the guest rooms — “I wouldn’t call it a renovation, I think that’s frankly kind of too big of a word,” Wetenhall says. “We’re going to be refreshing the guest rooms, bathrooms, painting, carpeting, adding new furniture, making it look beautiful.”
Previously, The Hedges’ dining options weren’t open to the public, so Wetenhall is excited to bring The Colony’s hospitality touch, which has earned them the distinction of number-one hotel in Florida by Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards. Offering a full service restaurant is also in keeping with the inn’s history.
“If you dig back into the history, Mrs. Caroline Hedges was known for her breakfast,” Wetenhall says. “She used to always offer these delicious breakfasts to her guests, and so we’re really keen to, in that spirit, offer breakfast, lunch and dinner, which is a rarity in East Hampton village.”
