Innkeeper's Story

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Carroll Villa

from Carroll Villa Hotel Inn

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The Carroll Villa, now a 21-room bed and breakfast
hotel, is a unique and special building in a city
famous for its buildings. Here where once there
were many Victorian hotels in Cape May, now there
are only five. Each has its own special charm and
ambiance. For its part, the Carroll Villa offers
a wonderful combination of a grand, historic
building with an unpretentious and creative
atmosphere. Built in 1882 as a seaside escape for
families, the Carroll Villa was built in the
Italian Villa or American bracketed villa style.
It presents an imposing, sweeping porch, tall
front windows, a symmetrical facade and a cupola.

When the present owners, The Kulkowitz Family,
purchased the Carroll Villa in 1976, there were 34
rooms and 8 bathrooms. As became true with all
restoration projects in Cape May, the Carroll
Villa came to reflect the personalities and
histories of the members of the Kulkowitz family.

The Kulkowitz Cape May History begins in 1974 when
Harry Kulkowitz first saw the Carroll Villa
(actually he was there playing poker with the
owner at that time) and recognized the potential
for a marvelous restaurant. The Mad Batter is now
famous throughout the country and serves award
winning breakfasts, lunches and dinners on its
front porch, on the Garden Terrace and in the sky-
lit dining room. The latest addition is a double-
faced fireplace that warms up the chilly months.

Harry’s son Mark and his wife Pam turned their
attention to the hotel. Once, guests had been
happy to stay in rather spartan rooms, sharing
baths down the hall but expectations had started
to change with the spread of bed and breakfasts
providing more gracious accommodations for their
guests. Mark and Pam commenced the renovation of
the hotel, enlarging rooms, adding private baths,
furnishing the rooms, wall to wall carpeting,
ceiling fans, air conditioning and heat.

The Carroll Villa is a place for people who like a
fun in an unpretentious atmosphere while staying
in a unique and very special place. We think of
the Carroll Villa as our home and of our guests as
our friends. An overwhelming number of our guests
are repeat customers who come back to us year
after year.

In all, it has been an exciting 32 years since
Harry first played poker at The Carroll Villa.
Each year brings it new ideas and taps into our
creative energies.

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