Summer Destination

History

Development of Yarmouth as a Summer Destination

As the 1800s came to a close, more and more people from the cities began to look toward the shore to offer a place of rest and respite from their urban dwellings. West Yarmouth, with its hundred of acres of rural land and large stretches of sandy beaches, was a prime target for developers who moved in to create summer communities with the names Englewood, Hyannis Park, and Colonial Acres.

Bathers at Bass River

Large hotels were built to accommodate the summer trade and West Yarmouth cottages were marketed to those who lived in urban environments. "Cottage" communities also sprang up, especially along Route 28. Offering small, cabin-like dwellings, the cottages provided vacation accommodations for those who were not able to afford a summer at one of the large, grand hotels. As America's population became more mobile, especially after World War II, cottage communities gave way to motels, and businesses sprang up to cater to the growing tourist trade. Undeveloped acreage between Route 28 and Route 6A gave way to new residential housing, and the modern town that we know today began to emerge.