Lark Hotels has added four new properties along North Carolina’s southern shore to its Lark Independents collection: The Beach House and The Starlite Inn in Carolina Beach as well as The Admiral's Quarters Motel and The Sand Dunes in Kure Beach. The independently owned boutique hotels will now be managed and operated by Lark, growing its portfolio of Lark Independents to 18 properties throughout the United States.
These newest additions to the Lark Independent roster build on the company’s recent investments in the Southeast region, joining three previously announced Lark Independent projects around Asheville, N.C.: Asheville River Cabins (opened in 2022), The Radical (opening summer 2023) and Zelda Dearest (opening summer 2023) and the first Lark Hotels branded guest house in the South, Blind Tiger Asheville (opening summer 2023).
Rob Blood, the founder of Lark Hotels, introduced the Lark Independent program in 2020, after opening and operating more than 30 Lark Hotels on the East Coast and California. Lark Independent provides boutique properties with support services including hospitality operations, brand development, human resources and revenue management.
The Beach House is an oceanfront inn with 21 rooms and suites within walking distance of the Carolina Beach Boardwalk. In the same coastal community, The Starlite Inn is a newly remodeled property with midcentury modern furnishings.
In the neighboring town of Kure Beach, The Admiral’s Quarters was originally established in 1984 as the south building on the property. The architecture has been maintained to give the motel a retro feel, while the property has been updated with fresh colors, new flooring and furniture, new kitchens and new appliances. The Sand Dunes is a family-owned beachfront property with a variety of room types. The Sand Dunes also has a large swimming pool.
“We are thrilled to join Lark’s family of independent properties, and look forward to working alongside their team of hospitality experts in this next chapter for our very special coastal hotels,” said Erik Hemingway, owner of The Beach House, The Starlite Inn, The Admiral's Quarters Motel, and The Sand Dunes. “The team at Lark truly understands the needs of independent hotels, and is committed to preserving the qualities that make our family-owned hotels so unique for years to come.”