Newport's Historic Stella Maris Inn Sells For $1.75 Million

NEWPORT, RI – Paul Leys considers the historic Stella Maris Inn as one of Newport’s most iconic properties given its history, seaside location and the number of visitors who have stayed at the 12-bedroom mansion any time over the past 30 years.

No matter if people knew the name of the property which sits at 91 Washington St., Leys – the co-owner of Gustave White Sotherby’s International Reality – said Thursday that everyone knew of its importance to the Newport community.

This week, however, after being on the market for more than a year, the Stella Maris sold for $1.75 million, becoming the fourth property in The Point neighborhood to sell for at least $1.5 million this year.

The 10,000 square foot residence is located on an acre of land and includes stunning views of Newport Island, Goat Island and Narragansett Bay. But despite the breathtaking views that can be seen from the home's front porch, Leys points to the original handywork that was put into the residence when it was built in 1861 that makes it stand apart.

“I really like the detail that the property has inside,” Leys said on Thursday. “(The former owners) painted up all the rooms in different colors and put different feels to the rooms but they didn’t ruin the detail of the house – all the woodwork, the moldings and the fireplaces – it’s all still in place for these new (owners) to work with.”

The home, which is constructed with Connecticut stone and includes black walnut interior finishes, boasts 12 en suite bedrooms. The property, which was commissioned in 1853 and originally named Blue Rocks, was used in a number of forms before it was transitioned into an inn more than three decades ago.

Leys said that the residence, which was once used as a convent in the 1920s, will be restored to a single family home by the new owners.

Nuns from the Sisters of Cluny convent renamed the property, Stella Maris, which means Star of the Sea, before the mansion was turned into a bed and breakfast in 1990. The property is now listed on the National Registry of Historic Places and each of the bedrooms is named for historical figures including James Joyce, Lady Augusta Gregory, Oscar Wilde and Peig Sayers.

But the sale, Leys said, represents the place where the real estate industry in Newport finds itself despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

“It’s just a good indicator of what’s going on with this market right now,” Leys said. “It is a strong real estate market right now and this sale is just truth of the market in Newport right now.”