The Roundtree Springs Up In Amagansett

To some, it was known at Gansett Green Manor, a stalwart from an era gone by that maintained a robust business as a popular wedding venue. Come last July, it found new ownership in Sylvia Wong and the WTI Inc. real estate group, who acquired the property for $6.175 million. Now, after six months of updating, the property plans to opens its doors on June 1 as The Roundtree.

Just a stone’s throw from downtown Amagansett, where weekenders flock to shops and watering holes, the hotel will offer five cottages, and a combination of 10 rooms and suites housed throughout a 100-year old barn and main house, starting at $595/night on weekdays this summer, while weekend rates start at $795/night.

Wong called discovering the property serendipitous. “I passed on this property initially as it was smaller than what we were looking for, but it stayed on my mind because of its beautiful setting, near the ocean and yet in the midst of farmlands, but I was also intrigued by the history. It was the homestead of one of the first four families that settled in Amagansett,” she related.

“I happened to have a free day on a Saturday in March 2019, so I hopped on the Jitney to come out east to take a look. I fell in love with the tranquility of the place immediately. It was so peaceful and quiet, yet walkable to the beautiful village center. It feels like an undiscovered gem surrounded by nature,” Wong said.

Like the nearby Reform Club and The Baker House, The Roundtree feels as if you’re staying at a friend’s beach cottage, albeit with maid service, and strikes a chord of modern design not seen in competitor properties. “Everything at The Roundtree, from furniture pieces to the ceramics in the guest rooms, was carefully selected as if they were for our own homes,” Wong said. “We want this to be a happy place where guests can relax and recharge.”

A former executive at IBM Corporation and a seasoned traveler, she looked to her past experiences to shape the property’s concept, calling for, what she describes as, “genuine hospitality and understated luxury.” However, some details from the Gansett Green Manor still remain, including the lemonade stand.

“When my 10-year-old nephews stayed there last year, they set up a lemonade stand at the front of the hotel to raise funds for a charity that focuses on children’s cancer,” she recalls. “They managed to raise several hundred dollars and felt really good about the whole experience. I am sure this wonderful memory will stay with them forever, so that planted the seeds for our Lemonade Stand program. We hope the program will give the children of our guests or local residents the opportunity to do good and build their entrepreneurial skills at the same time, and experience first-hand the joy and fulfillment of doing good.”