History

Service since 1978

About THE BEACHCOMBER

Rest assured, you are in exactly the right place
The Beachcomber has been voted “One of the Best Seaside Dining Spots in New England” by Yankee Magazine, “Best Raw Bar, Best Outdoor Dining, Best Specialty Cocktail and Best Entertainment” in the Cape Cod Life Readers’ Polls, “Best Bar on the Cape & Islands” by Boston Magazine, one of the “Best Bars in America” by Esquire and #10 on the Travel Channel’s “Twenty-One Sexiest Beach Bars in the World” list. With an outdoor bar overlooking the Atlantic and an indoor bar in the heart of a former U.S. Lifesaving Station, it does not get any more authentic than the Wellfleet Beachcomber. Bring the whole family down to the Beachcomber for some lunch or dinner. We have a great kids’ menu with burgers, grilled cheese, fish & chips and more. We’ve been here long enough to know that those kids will be bringing their own kids here before you know it. How many of us were kids hearing our own folks ramble on about the ‘Comber in the 70’s & 80’s? Please note that starting at 9-10 p.m. during the week and at 8-9 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, the Beachcomber is 21+ only.
Awesome Image
1978

HISTORY OF THE COMBER

History Of The ‘Comber In 1872, the first federally constructed and staffed lifesaving stations emerged as part of the Department of Treasury and became the U.S. Life Saving Service. Built in 1897, the Wellfleet Beachcomber was one of the nine Life Saving Service stations built on the Outer Cape (Race Point, Highlands, Peaked Hill Bars, Pamet, Cahoon’s Hollow, Nauset, Orleans, Chatham, and Monomoy Point). In 1953 Russell Gallagher, who had summered at Cahoon Hollow Beach as a child, bought the old station and converted it into a small Inn, and dubbed it the Beachcomber. One of the rooms inside was finished with driftwood and nautical bric a brac, that was “combed” off the beach. Mr. Gallagher operated the Beachcomber for 25 years and in 1978, sold the business to the current owners. In August of 1961, President John F. Kennedy created the Cape Cod National Seashore through purchasing and eminent domain over 43,500 acres of ponds, woods and beachfront along the Atlantic–facing Eastern side of Cape Cod in the towns of Provincetown, Truro, Wellfleet, Eastham, Orleans, and Chatham. Included in this area is 8,000 acres (12.5 square miles) of the Town of Wellfleet. By virtue of a “Grandfather” clause, the Beachcomber was/is allowed to remain within the National Seashore as a privately held commercial property (only of eleven at that time). The Beachcomber, located in the dunes on Cahoon Hollow Beach, offers a panoramic view of the Atlantic Ocean. This brings us to our assertion of being “Cape Cod’s only oceanfront restaurant and club.” So, even though there are several restaurants, and other businesses on the water (either Nantucket Sound, or Cape Cod Bay), the Beachcomber remains as truly the only oceanfront (Atlantic side) restaurant on Cape Cod. Put the Beachcomber on your list of places to visit when on Cape Cod…… you won’t be disappointed!
“Best Outdoor Dining, Best Specialty Cocktail, and best Live Entertainment on the outer Cape” - Cape Cod Life readers poll – June 2006
“Best Raw Bar on the outer Cape”- Cape Cod Life readers poll.
“Chosen as one of the Best Seaside Dining Spots in New England” -Yankee Magazine, April 2002
“2006 Best of Boston Award – Best Bar Cape Cod and the Islands” - Boston Magazine – July 2006
“One of the best Bars in America” - Esquire Magazine – June 2008
“Number 10 on the 21 Sexiest Beach Bars in World” - Travel Channel