Cape Cod Dune Shacks Once Occupied By Thoreau, Tennessee Williams Available To Lease

CAPE COD, MA — Ever wanted to live like Henry David Thoreau or Tennessee Williams? Now, there are eight opportunities to achieve at least a slice of their life on Cape Cod.

The National Parks Service has requested proposals for eight historic dune shacks within the Cape Cod National Seashore.

These dune shacks are located within the Peaked Hill Bars National Register of Historic District in Provincetown and Truro, are offered under a lease term of 10 years. Proposals are due on July 3 at 5 p.m.

Though these dune shacks' history is colorful, it will take a particular type of person to want to live in them.

The shacks will be leased "as-is with all faults", and whoever decides to lease them is expected to occupy and maintain the property as a traditional dune shack. So hold your horses on that summer coffee stand at the dunes idea.

Routine maintenance will also be an expectation of the lessee, as will taking on the "cost and implementation of all repairs, and replacements needed to occupy the buildings including items such as roof replacement, carpentry repairs and addressing any/all fire and life safety code issues," according to a news release.

Add limited running water, plumbing, electrical fixtures and, of course, the remote nature of the dune shacks to the list of potential negatives for interested parties.

Yet, those latter points could also serve as positives for a person seeking out a particular type of experience.

The Dune Shacks of Peaked Hill Bars Historic District occupies approximately 1,960 acres within CCNS outside of Provincetown and Truro.

Through the 1920s and 50s the shacks were used by Coast Guardsmen who worked at the nearby Peaked Hill Coast Guard station.

Cape Cod locals who hoped to escape the Provincetown tourism and seek out solitude also frequently utilized the shacks, as did writers and artists, who often sought out Cape Cod for work retreats.

According to an article published by the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, figures such as Jackson Pollock, Tennessee Williams, E. E. Cummings and the aforementioned Thoreau have stayed in these shacks.

But it won't just be a pitch for a photo or painting series that lands you the shacks in 2023 and beyond.

According to the NPS:

"Evaluation criteria include compatibility of the proposed use of the property with respect to preservation, protection, and visitor enjoyment of Cape Cod National Seashore; the compatibility of the proposal with historic qualities of the property; the bidder’s financial capability of carrying out the terms of the lease; and the ability and commitment of the Offeror to conduct activities in the park area in an environmentally enhancing manner through, among other programs and actions, energy conservation, waste reduction, and recycling."

More information on the process, including how to apply and specific locations of each shack can be found at the link here.