Proposals Sought For Former Galilee Hotel Site

NARRAGANSETT, RI — The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management is looking to redevelop a South County eyesore.

The Lighthouse Inn, a Galilee standby, has sat empty for years. On Friday, the DEM announced it was offering a request for proposals for the property, in partnership with the current owner, PRI X LP. The five-acre land parcel is in a prime location, directly across the street from the Block Island ferry and at the center of both the commercial fishing and tourist industries.

The DEM and property owners said they are looking for proposals that will meet the needs and interests of locals, the commercial fishing industry, the town and the state as a whole.

"This RFP presents a unique opportunity to develop this property to further complement and support Rhode Island’s commercial fishing industry," said Terry Gray, the acting director of the DEM. "DEM is committed to working on a plan for the property that preserves and enhances the Port of Galilee as an asset that serves and supports Rhode Island’s commercial fishing interests. Galilee is home port for almost 200 fishermen in Rhode Island’s commercial fishing fleet and home to many critical industries that bring fresh seafood to markets locally, nationally, and globally. The opportunity to use this site to grow that industry is totally aligned with DEM’s commitment that Galilee remain a vibrant working waterfront for the commercial fishermen who berth there and the many commercial crews up and down the Atlantic Coast that do business there."

According to a 2017 URI study, commercial fisheries made up for more than 3,100 jobs and $538 million in gross sales. As the largest port in the state, Galilee contributes the most, the DEM said, accounting for 48 million pounds in landings in 2019 valued at about $68 million.

Proposals will be accepted until Nov. 15.

The Lighthouse Inn, abandoned and looking worse for wear, was built in 1967, according to the Narragansett Times. A classic seaside hotel, it offered guests an indoor pool and basic amenities during its 50 years of operation.

While it remained operational, reviews posted leading up to the hotel's closure were far from stellar. Guests on Yelp and TripAdvisor complained of seagull droppings, unclean rooms and a general "musty smell throughout the entire building."

The 50th anniversary year was the last in operation for the quaint lodging, and the hotel did not reopen for the 2018 summer season.

In 2017, the owner proposed knocking down the building to expand the 300-space parking lot — mostly used by Block Island ferry-goers — to accommodate 544 vehicles. That proposal was ultimately shelved, leaving the property standing but not operational for the past four summers.