Cape May’s Peter Shields Inn Sold After 16 Years
The owners of the historic Peter Shields Inn & Restaurant announced this week that the beloved inn and restaurant will soon transition to a new ownership group led by Carl and Megan Messick.
In a statement shared online, the current owners said the decision comes with “both joy and sadness” after spending the last 16 years restoring and enhancing the property while building what many consider one of Cape May’s premier dining destinations.
Cape May’s Peter Shields Inn Sold After 16 Years
The announcement also confirmed that operations at both the inn and restaurant will continue uninterrupted during the transition. Existing reservations, special events, and gift cards will still be honored as the two ownership groups work together to ensure a smooth handoff.
For longtime Cape May visitors, this news marks the end of an important era for a property that has become deeply tied to the town’s upscale dining scene and beachfront hospitality.
What makes this transition especially interesting is who is taking over.
Carl Messick is no stranger to the property. Before opening the popular Grana BYOB in Cape May, Messick spent more than a decade serving as Executive Chef at Peter Shields Inn. Now, he’ll return to oversee both restaurants under the new ownership structure.
The property itself carries a massive amount of history.
The mansion that now houses Peter Shields Inn dates back to 1907 and was designed in the Georgian Revival style by Philadelphia architect Lloyd Titus.
The home was originally built for Peter Shields, a wealthy businessman and former president of the East Cape May Land Company.
Located directly across from the beach on Cape May’s prestigious Beach Avenue, the property has stood out for decades thanks to its massive white-columned exterior and oceanfront location.
Interestingly, the building is tied to one of Cape May’s most ambitious early development projects. Peter Shields was involved in the construction of the massive Hotel Cape May project in the early 1900s, though the venture famously collapsed shortly after opening.
Over the years, the mansion evolved into the luxury inn and restaurant people know today. In the 1980s, it was converted into a bed and breakfast before later becoming one of Cape May’s top fine dining destinations known for weddings, romantic dinners, and oceanfront views.
For many visitors, Peter Shields has become more than just a restaurant. It’s one of those landmark properties that feels tied directly to the identity of Cape May itself.
Now, another chapter begins.