If you drive up the hill toward the highest point in St. Andrews, the horizon shifts. The sparkling waters of Passamaquoddy Bay fall away behind you, and suddenly, you are face-to-face with a giant: The Algonquin Resort.
With its iconic red-tiled roof and Tudor-style timbering, it looks less like a hotel and more like a sentinel guarding the coast. But to the locals and travelers who have walked its halls since 1889, it’s simply “The Castle.”
The story of The Algonquin is one of resilience. The original wooden structure was a marvel of the late 19th century, drawing the elite from Boston and Montreal who sought the “healing” salt air of New Brunswick. But in 1914, disaster struck. A massive fire tore through the kitchen, reducing the wooden dream to ashes in hours.
Instead of retreating, the town and the owners doubled down. They rebuilt within a single year, this time using fireproof concrete and the distinctive red tiles we see today. It wasn’t just a hotel anymore; it was a fortress of luxury designed to last forever.
Walking through the lobby today, you are walking in the footsteps of history. Franklin D. Roosevelt found solace here; Princess Diana once graced its dining rooms. But not every famous guest has a checkout date.
The Algonquin is legendary for its “permanent” residents. The most famous is the Jilted Bride, who is said to haunt Room 473. Local lore says she was left at the altar and died of a broken heart, and today, guests occasionally report the sound of soft sobbing or the sight of a woman in white wandering the halls. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, there is an undeniable magic in the air as the sun sets over the manicured gardens.
Today, The Algonquin balances its storied past with a vibrant present. You might spend your morning on the world-class golf course, where the ocean spray catches the light as you tee off. By afternoon, the sound of children laughing echoes through the three-story waterslide, a modern contrast to the quiet elegance of the Aveda Spa.
As evening falls, the patio at Braxton’s fills with the scent of fresh Atlantic lobster and woodsmoke. The hotel has seen over a century of change, but its core remains the same: it is a place where time slows down, and every guest—whether a world leader or a family on a weekend road trip—is treated like royalty.
