Lark Hotels has added four properties along North Carolina’s southern shore to its Lark Independent collection, The Beach House and The Starlite Inn in Carolina Beach, and 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 hotel properties throughout the U.S.
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, NC, Asheville River Cabins (opened in 2022); The Radical and Zelda Dearest (both opening this summer); and the first Lark Hotels branded guest house in the South, Blind Tiger Asheville (also opening this summer).
Rob Blood, founder, 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 Lark’s signature support services and more than a decade of expertise in hospitality operations, personalized service, creative brand development, human resources, revenue management and more, according to the company.
“We’ve built the Lark brand on perfecting vacation travel for our hotel guests, from Cape Cod and Maine to Nantucket and Stowe,” said Blood. “As we continue to grow the Lark Independent portfolio, our team seeks out destinations poised to offer unrivaled experiences for all types of travelers. Much like the beach towns and mountains of the Northeast, we were instantly drawn to North Carolina’s natural serenity, contemporary urban settings and adventurous Blue Ridge Mountain towns. North Carolina is an ideal destination, and we look forward to working with our hotel partners there to bring the Lark spirit to life for their loyal guests and future travelers.”
Located by the shore in Carolina Beach, The Beach House is an oceanfront inn featuring 21 rooms and suites. In the same coastal community, The Starlite Inn is a newly remodeled property.
In the neighboring town of Kure Beach, The Admiral’s Quarters was originally established in 1984, as the south building on the property. Its owners took great pride in creating a quiet, casual oasis. The Sand Dunes is a family-owned property featuring a swimming pool.
“We look forward to working alongside their team of hospitality experts in this next chapter for our very special coastal hotels,” said Erik Hemingway, owner, 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.”
