SAYBROOK POINT HISTORY
truly a special place in history.
Saybrook Point, at the convergence of the Connecticut River and the Long Island Sound, has always been an important gathering place. The Algonquins made their homes here. European colonists later settled here. Hollywood legends played here, including the infamous Rat Pack. Katherine Hepburn even lived down the shore. No doubt, Old Saybrook—and its landmark Saybrook Point Resort—has a colorful and fascinating history. Step back in time to discover Saybrook’s journey from the past to the present.
OLD SAYBROOK’S HISTORY UP TO SETTLEMENT
For generations, this scenic area was home to Algonquin Indians, and then the Pequot, who harvested the rich waters where the river and sound meet and established a thriving culture. In 1623, the Dutch, in a tug-of-war with the British over land and access to the lucrative fur business that stretched up the river to Quebec, settled in Saybrook Point to establish a permanent colony.
YALE BEGINS IN OLD SAYBROOK
The town grew, and by 1701, it was such an important location that a group of scholars chose it as the birthplace of Yale University, then called the Collegiate College. The religious and political leaders spent 17 years learning in the spot that is now Cyprus Cemetery in Old Saybrook before moving to New Haven in 1718. Today, the place of the university’s founding is still marked, and Saybrook College is the name of one of Yale’s 12 residential colleges, a tip of the hat to the university’s place of birth.
THE PEASE HOUSE (1871–1956)
The go-to fancy restaurant and hotel at Saybrook Point during this era, the Pease House ran a 25-room operation right along the train line. The House was a staple among Old Saybrook residents, hosting characters like Barbara Maynard, who is the namesake of a room at the Tall Tales Guesthouse.
THE ERA OF TERRA MAR (1957–1980)
In 1957, a group of investors decided to replace the Pease House with a new resort and marina called Terra Mar. During this time, the inn was known to have some lively regulars, including members of the Rat Pack and others who would take their yachts from the Hamptons up to the Point.
SAYBROOK POINT RESORT & MARINA IS OPENED (1980–present)
Owned and operated by the Tagliatela family since 1980, the Saybrook Point Resort & Marina has adapted and changed over the years, winning numerous awards for its often best-in-class green practices, including the first Connecticut resort to be named a Certified Energy Hotel in 2007. In 1980, Louis and Mary Tagliatela bought the unoccupied and dilapidated Terra Mar Hotel and Yacht Basin at an auction. Nine years later, the Tagliatelas replaced Terra Mar with Saybrook Point Resort & Marina.
Today, Louis and Mary Tagliatela’s son Stephen runs the property, along with their daughter, Tricia Tagliatela, who oversees the resort’s decor and ambiance, and their son Louis Jr., who oversees capital projects. The resort now includes The Spa, the property’s full-service spa that opened in 2012, as well as Fresh Salt, a restaurant designed by Peter Niemitz, which opened with strong reviews in 2011. The destination employs more than 260 hospitality professionals and is among the town’s top employers and economic engines.
