Experience the Charm of Chatham, MA
Chatham is a quintessential Cape Cod seaside town, where New England charm blends with natural coastal beauty. Located on the southeastern tip of the Cape, Chatham is surrounded on three sides by sparkling waters, pristine beaches, and picturesque coves filled with fishing boats and sailboats. The salt air, ocean breeze and endless views instantly set the tone for relaxation, and the town’s historic lighthouse, working wooden drawbridge, colorful country gardens, and winding scenic roads create a postcard-perfect setting. Just down the street from Pleasant Bay Village Resort, Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge remains an untouched home to seals and shorebirds and offers coastal walking trails through sand dunes to the crystal clear ocean.
Beyond its peaceful, natural beauty, downtown Chatham is a welcoming and lively area with a vibrant Main Street. It is easy to spend the day strolling down Main Street through locally owned boutiques, art galleries, and restaurants serving some of the freshest seafood in New England. Whether you’re enjoying a famous lobster roll, catching an outdoor concert at the local park, exploring a local craft fair, or browsing the quaint shops, there’s a laid-back yet sophisticated energy that helps Chatham feel both relaxing and special. Visitors can explore sites like the Chatham Lighthouse, watch seals floating off the fish pier, take a scenic boat tour, or soak in the breathtaking ocean views. With its welcoming small-town coastal charm, Chatham offers an unforgettable Cape Cod vacation.
Our tranquil heated pool is tucked behind a swaying bamboo forest, surrounded by colorful gardens and mature Japanese plantings. The outdoor pool, complete with a gentle waterfall, offers a spacious area with well-spaced lounge chairs and umbrella-shaded tables for ultimate relaxation. Overlooking the pool, a spacious hot tub invites guests to unwind. Guests have access to an outdoor shower, and fresh pool towels are provided. Tucked into the gardens, a ping pong table and shuffleboard court provide fun for both kids and adults. A poolside lunch, including refreshing beverages and ice cream treats, is served during the months of July and August. The spacious outdoor setting is perfect for a relaxing day by the pool.
At the center of the property, a small playground sits among the pine trees, just beyond the beloved koi pond. This picturesque pond, featuring a cascading waterfall, offers serene spots to sit with a book, take in the tranquil atmosphere, or feed the always-hungry Japanese koi fish. Complimentary fish food is available from the front desk for guests who enjoy feeding the fish.
Throughout the hotel, from the lobby and breakfast room to the guest rooms, cottages, and gardens, guests can discover eclectic antiques and locally crafted artwork—reflecting the family’s deep appreciation for art and timeless design.
With a warm welcome from our friendly front desk team—proud locals of Cape Cod—the Gamsey family and their team look forward to making Pleasant Bay Village Resort your home away from home.
View our property map HERE.
Step into our enchanting Cape Cod Zen-style gardens, commonly described by guests as a “hidden oasis” and a “peaceful retreat.” The gardens, which began as a vision of the owner in the early 1980s, have since transformed into a flourishing paradise filled with swaying bamboo, colorful plantings, secluded sitting areas, and the soothing sounds of cascading waterfalls.
A passion for rare and unique trees led to many journeys across the country by the owner to personally select unique and exquisite Japanese maples and specimen trees, many of which now create the resort’s signature tranquil ambiance. With the artistic guidance of local talent, the gardens have matured and expanded, featuring multiple waterfalls, winding stone paths, colorful gardens, beautiful rock formations, and a stunning koi pond.
The large and peaceful koi pond—a guest favorite for its mesmerizing fish and calming reflections-is surrounded by colorful plantings and fed by a calming waterfall. The pond is home to over 100 multicolored koi fish, some at least 10 years old and over one foot long. The front desk offers free fish food and guests of all ages enjoy the pleasure and relaxation of feeding the koi, describing it as “quite relaxing,” and noting that “they love to eat.” During the warmer months, as you walk up to the waters edge, it’s hard to miss the friendly, large, and hungry fish. In the colder months a top water heater is used to keep the pond from freezing completely and an air bubbler provides oxygen for the hibernating fish.
Today, the resort’s seven acres of gardens provide a true escape, where guests love to “wander and unwind” amid swaying bamboo, unique marble statues, and handcrafted pottery. Visitors cherish the “magical and serene” experience of the sunlight filtering through the trees, the sounds of a gentle trickle from water features, and quiet corners perfect for relaxation. Whether you’re sipping a drink on your private deck by the koi pond or enjoying a peaceful breakfast under the shade of the trees, the gardens at Pleasant Bay Village Resort offer a truly rejuvenating retreat.
The hotel offers a popular, delicious cooked to order, take out a-la-carte breakfast. Menu options range from a simple bowl of fruit to eggs benedict or blueberry pancakes, a guest favorite. Breakfast may be enjoyed poolside, in the breakfast room, in the gardens, in the comfort of your private room or on the road as you head out for the day. The restaurant is open to all guests, and no reservation is necessary. Breakfast is offered from the beginning of June until the end of September.
A creative poolside seasonal lunch is served seven days a week, July through thru August. Guests can enjoy table service in a laid-back garden setting at any poolside table or lounge chair.
Both the breakfast and lunch menu items and prices change yearly and are provided as examples.
Beer and wine are served poolside during lunch and also offered at the front desk during lobby hours. Snacks, including ice cream treats & beverages are also available from the front desk. All meals and beverages can be charged to your room. During lobby hours, free coffee, decaf and hot water for tea are always available.
The History of Pleasant Bay Village Resort
The history of the current owners, the Gamsey family, owning this property goes back to the early 1950s.
Aaron Gamsey and his son, Howard, enchanted by the natural beauty of Cape Cod were searching for properties to begin a new venture in the lodging industry. In 1953, the Gamsey’s purchased this small cottage colony with lots of potential near the peaceful waters of Pleasant Bay in Chatham. At that time, there were only 4 buildings and the property looked a lot different than it does today. Aaron and his wife, Celia, set forth with plans to develop the property from a few rustic cottages to a seasonal lodging destination. Howard, a musician and art collector, continued to live in New York City, traveling the country as a professional saxophone player as well as exploring art galleries and auction houses.
During the 1950s and 1960s, buildings were added to the hotel offering vacationers a variety of lodging options and the FIRST in-ground pool on Cape Cod was installed right here at Pleasant Bay Village Resort!
After the passing of his father in 1968, Howard moved to Chatham permanently and took over the responsibilities of running the hotel. He became the sole owner in 1970 and began the transformation of the unique resort into what it is today. With the combination of Howard’s vision, he and his wife Judy’s hard work, and the expertise of a gifted gardener, the property evolved from a simple motel to a boutique award-winning property.
Howard had a true passion for nature and art that led him to meet a local master gardener in the early 1980s. The gardener was planting a unique garden in front of a local art gallery. Howard was truly enamored with his work and arranged for him to begin creating the exquisite gardens at Pleasant Bay Village Resort.
After the passing of Howard in 2004, the business is now in its third generation of management by the Gamsey’s. Howard and Judy’s son, Joshua, is now the General Manager and along with his wife, Cheryl, and brother, Noah, they carry on with the legacy of running the unique property along with Judy’s continued involvement. Howard’s vision lives on with his children’s shared enthusiasm for the gardens and their dedication to improve the accommodations at the hotel. Over the last several years, extensive improvements have been made throughout the property. The main building was expanded to accommodate a larger lobby and an additional dining room. The pool area was redesigned with custom bluestone by a local artisan and enlarged to incorporate a new in-ground hot tub as well as provide additional lounging space for guests. The family has moved toward a green property with the use of solar panels to generate approximately 25% of the annual electricity. A solar thermal system assists with heating the pool, and non-toxic cleaners are used in addition to practicing energy and water conservation, as well as offering guest recycling.
The family has always dedicated themselves to their home, business, and employees, believing a local and knowledgeable front desk staff along with happy workers is essential for a successful business on Cape Cod. All of the family members and many of the staff at the hotel are true Cape Cod locals and have lived on Cape for over 25+ years. The front desk staff all live year round on the Cape, some are Gamseys, others also have deep roots in the area. We take care of our guests like they are part of our family and we hope you will make Pleasant Bay Village Resort your favorite place to stay on Cape Cod.
