Ready to take a virtual tour of one of the top hotels on the Ocean City Boardwalk?
Thatโs coming, but first, a little history lesson on Ocean Cityโs famous Commander Hotel is in order. Because in addition to their new, giant beach chair (more on that down below), the Commander has a rich and unique history that dates back to the 1930s, and lots of modern amenities today that make it special, too.
A brief origin story of the Commander
The original Commander opened on Ocean Cityโs 14th street on Memorial Day of 1930. Today the hotel is almost 88 years old, even if the current Commander building has been reconstructed and remodeled in the decades since its grand opening. 88 years ago, the Commander boasted Ocean Cityโs first elevator, in-room telephone service and a sweeping front porch overlooking the Boardwalk. The hotel was complete with a full dining room and 62 rooms, and a weekโs stay including three meals a day cost just $95.
When visitors sought haven at the Commander during World War II, the windows would be covered at night by black-out curtains due to the danger of enemy shelling by off-shore submarines. After the war, a North Wing was added to the hotel. The dining room at this point could seat 400 people, and in the 1950s, visitors traveled from all over Maryland and beyond to attend a Commander Clambake complete with lobster, corn-on-the-cob and steamed clams.
The Commanderโs famous Clambakes came to an end after the March Storm of โ62, but from 1979-93, the Commander Boardwalk Cabaret Dinner was one of the hottest shows in town.
In 1998, the new building was erected and today includes beachfront rooms and suites, an indoor and outdoor pool, a separate cabana with suites overlooking the pool and two on-site restaurantโs โ Ocean City traditions Grotto Pizza and Fractured Prune.
A look inside
Now, a virtual tour of the Commanderโs interior, before we head outside to the beach and Boardwalk.
Commander Fun Fact: Theyโve got mermaids. College students dressed in mermaid attire (tails and all) inhabit the Commanderโs pool on select summer days. โThey swim around in the pool with the little girls and they do a game, and theyโve got a pirate to go with them,โ said Marketing & Sales Director Carissa Scaniffe. โItโs really cute, the kids love it.โ This and other summer activities for both kids and adults can be found here.
A look outside
Of course, youโll want to save the indoor pool for a rainy day when thereโs so much to do outside.
