The Cape Codder Tuesday, May 7, 1996

Eastham's Eagle Wing Motel Takes Off Under New Owners
By Debi Boucher Stetson

EASTHAM - A Route 6 motel that had seen better days is seeing better days again.

Ever since Gerry and Mary Orris bought the Eagle Wing Motel a year ago, it has been a beehive of activity, as the couple make one improvement after another, leading one vendor to observe, "Nothing's the same but the name."

The motel, located about a quarter-mile north of the Orleans-Eastham Rotary, had fallen on hard times despite its 40-year history as a lodging house. The Orrises decided it had potential. "

It's such a great location." Mrs. Orris said, leading a visitor to the back of the building, where the sound of peepers and the call of birds drowns out the hum of the highway. "We just had to help it a little." "A little" is something of an understatement: the couple has not only redone every single one of the motel's 19 rooms, but also installed a new septic system, repaved the driveway and parking areas, remodeled the office and house, built a new deck along the back of the building where guests can sit, redid the sign out front and painted the exterior with a new antique teal color scheme.

They have also installed a new electronic telephone system and established a home page on the Internet - both applications of Mr. Orris' technology background.

Their work represents not only a change in fortunes for the motel, but a change in lifestyle for its new owners.

The Orrises formerly lived in Sudbury, where Mr. Orris commuted to his job at Digital and Mrs. Orris was a nurse at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. The recent downsizing of Digital made Mr. Orris more than a little nervous, especially because his unit was hard-hit by layoffs. He began thinking he'd rather preempt any downsizing that might involve his job, and, at the urging of close friends who had bought a hotel in Hyannis, the couple began to consider making that kind of move themselves.

After looking at properties in Yarmouth, they decided that area was not for them, and began exploring the Lower Cape. The Eagle Wing, which was in foreclosure, presented itself rather suddenly, and the Orrises decided to go for it.

"We saw it April I and passed papers on the 20th," Mr. Orris recalled. Ever since then, the couple have been working steadily to improve the property.

"I call it Sherman's slow march," Mr. Orris said wryly, describing how he and his wife began at one end of the building and gradually remodeled every room. By early summer last year, they had four rooms open, and by midsummer had opened five more. It was only after Labor Day that all the rooms were complete, with new paint, new curtains, new carpeting, new floral bedspreads and pictures - Impressionist reproductions - on the walls. All the while, they worked with the American Automobile Association to ensure they were doing the remodeling in accordance with the association's standards, and were rewarded last fall with a two-diamond Triple A rating.

The motel also has a pool, and cable television, refrigerators, heat and air-conditioning in the rooms. It is also totally non-smoking, an amenity the Orrises feel is in keeping with the times, and reflects their own concern for health.

This year, the couple tackled a couple of big jobs: the new septic system and improvements to the driveway and parking area that solved a recurring drainage problem.

Mr. Orris credited the Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank with enabling the improvements to go forward. Bank officials, he said, "understood what we were trying to do here ... "We're serious about making this a nice place for people to stay."

The couple joined the Eastham Chamber of Commerce soon after buying the motel, and say they have met many helpful and friendly people in town. "Just walking the dogs I've met a lot of people," said Mrs. Orris, referring to the motel's two resident poodles, Misty and Pepper, whom the couple jokingly refers to, she said, as "our vicious attack dogs - they'll lick you to death."

Curious about the history of their new home and business, the Orrises have done some research and learned that the main building, which is now their living quarters and which is flanked on both sides by the guest rooms, was built in the late 1800s in Orleans, and was moved to Eastham in the 1950s, when it was expanded and became a motel.

"I'm sure if the building could talk, there'd be a lot of interesting history," said Mr. Orris.

The building is thought to be part of the old Higgins Tavern in Orleans, where the Old Tavern Motel & Inn now stands, and indeed the main building of that establishment looks very similar. But local historian Noel Beyle said it is unclear whether the building actually came from that site, though he is fairly sure the building originated somewhere in Orleans. There was an Eagle Wing Inn in Orleans, where Post Office Square is now, he said, but that building, was moved to Monument Road.

The name came from a clipper ship sailed by the famous Capt. Linnell of Orleans.

Whatever its history, the Eagle Wing appears to have a bright future ahead as the Orrises enter their second season at its helm.

Mr. Orris said he is optimistic, but like any good businessman, cautiously so. "The real proof of the pudding will be a good, successful season, and the continued support of our neighbors," he said.