A Final Salute to Ted Conklin, the Heart Behind the American Hotel

For more than 50 years, Ted Conklin owned the American Hotel, welcoming generations of patrons, both loyal regulars and first-time visitors. In an interview with this Hamptons.com author years back, Mr. Conklin detailed his journey to owning the American Hotel and then upgrading it to the museum-quality hotel/restaurant it is today.

Mr. Conklin explained how the American Hotel rose from the ashes of Sag Harbor’s original hotel, The Howell Inn. Both the Howell Inn and the Phelps Hotel were destroyed in the great fire of 1845. In 1846, the present Hotel building opened, wisely built of bricks, many of which you still see today. Ted had a credo: “Whoever walks through the door is treated like a guest in my house, but I demand some respect for the home.”

Mr. Conklin revealed that in 1972, the hotel was sold to him by the Young family. They lived upstairs in what is now the eight guest rooms. The Young family also ran the restaurant downstairs. At that time, Ted Conklin’s father ran a successful brass business in Westhampton. In 1972, when Ted purchased the hotel and property, he was 22 years of age.

He emphasized that the building and interior looked nothing like they do today. It now has an American museum quality. He chuckled, recalling that in 1972, his friends thought he was not doing the wisest of moves, even as he recalled, “… I purchased the hotel at a very good price.”

It was then that Mr. Conklin began the process of bringing the American Hotel back to life as a hotel and fine-dining restaurant. With great detail and fanfare, the upstairs rooms were restored and furnished with the best period antiques Ted could acquire. Slowly, the hotel was transformed into the masterpiece it is today.

At one time, the wine list consisted of 2,500 bottles of wine, and at the time (2007),  the $8,100 per bottle of “Domaine de la Romanee Conti, 1990” was the costliest. Ted believed the wooden floor was from the original timbers. He was proud of the job he did of finding the right blend of carpets, paintings, hurricane candles, and framed prints to adorn the walls. Most visitors can never get enough of the great prints of the old great sailboats that adorn one of the dining rooms. Also, there are pictures of the American Hotel in the twenties, with another that must be from the era of the Great Civil War.

Ted added another room with an atrium glass ceiling, which is extremely pleasant to dine under. This hotel has a tradition of being a wonderful place for so many families and couples to have special gatherings. It has had its share of romantic dates, big-time parties, and fantastic lunches. Ted Conklin leaves behind a tremendous legacy.