It was on this day in July of 2014 that we greeted our very first guests at the Dogfish INN. It was on this day 10 years ago that our basecamp of all things Dogfish Head planted roots in coastal Delaware. And it’s on this day that we’re celebrating a decade of good times and fireside chats with 10 INNteresting facts about our quaint corner of downtown Lewes. Let’s dive INN, shall we?!

1 – Mother Nature, Let’s Do This sign

Just before the INN opened in 2014, Dogfish Head founder Sam Calagione painted this very phrase on the wall with his son Sammy. ‘Mother Nature, Let’s Do This’ has been a rally cry for the Dogfish INN, highlighting our love for the outdoors. When we began renovations on the cottage earlier this year, we preserved this part of the wall and had it framed so it still sits above the fireplace in its original spot, greeting guests whenever they walk into our lobby.

2 – Submarine Helmets

The two submarine helmets that hang on either side of our ‘Mother Nature, Let’s Do This’ motto above the fireplace have also been here since the beginning. Leave it to Sam to find the perfect accent to highlight Dogfish Head’s nautical roots! They light up green and red, mimicking the lights seen on boats. The red light designates the vessel's left, or port, side, while the green light designates the right, or starboard, side.

3 – Rowboat & Oar

Seen hanging above the fireplace right by the ceiling is a long oar, and outside by the firepit is an old rowboat. The original Dogfish Head brewpub in Rehoboth Beach was the former home to these two decorations and when construction started on the new Brewings & Eats building in 2017, we knew they needed a home in our off-centered world, so they sailed on over to the INN where they still live today.

4 – Firepit Compass

The firepit at the INN has been a central meeting point since the beginning, where we’ve held tons of Fireside Chats over the years. We recently updated the area, adding pavers that depict a compass that points in the direction of four locations that are important to Dogfish Head: Rehoboth Beach, where Dogfish Head originally opened and where Brewings & Eats and Chesapeake & Maine stand today; Milton, where the Dogfish Head Brewery has been since 2002; Lewes, where the Dogfish INN is located; and Southport Maine, where the inspiration for Dogfish Head’s name and logo originated.

5 – City Lights Library

Founded in 1953 by poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Peter D. Martin, City Lights is one of the few truly great independent bookstores in the United States, a place where booklovers from across the country and around the world go to browse, read, and just soak in the ambiance of alternative culture’s only “Literary Landmark.” The people behind the landmark San Francisco bookstore curate, hand-stamp and replenish the Dogfish INN’s City Lights Library with books such as Fahrenheit 451, Grapes of Wrath, and The Catcher in the Rye. Guests are invited to borrow books from the shelves in the lobby to read during their stay.

6 – Lightship Overfalls paintings

Delaware fine artist Steve Rogers, a signature member of the American Society of Marine Artists, has created a treasure hunt of sorts. Somewhere on the walls of each room of the Dogfish INN, he’s painted the historic Lightship Overfalls. A National Historic Landmark and one of only 17 lightships remaining, the Lightship Overfalls is docked just a few hundred feet away in Lewes Harbor. While the subject is the same, each painting is unique in composition and color, creating a unique experience in every room.

7 – Wooden portraits

Woodworker and craft beer fan Brian Kolakowski has been exhibiting his artwork since 2001. Located above the stairs heading up to the Sweet!, the wood burnings he’s made for the Dogfish INN are signature pieces meant to draw in viewers, provoke thought or memories, empower or just produce a silly smile. Among these sixteen portraits, you’ll find recognizable faces such as Albert Einstein, Abraham Lincoln, Muhamed Ali, and even Kermit the Frog.

8 – Off-Centered Shark & Shield

One of our newest additions post-renovations is an updated front desk. When you walk into the lobby, you might not notice any sort of design on it. That’s because the green Dogfish Head shark can only be seen when standing off to the side. The more off-centered you stand, the more of the design you’ll see!

9 – Vesuvio Motel sign

Before it was the Dogfish INN, it was the Vesuvio Motel! We’ve made a lot of changes over the years, but the original Vesuvio Motel sign has always had a home in the INN. It was formerly the backdrop to the City Lights Library, and now hangs on the wall just outside the Cottage Sweet!

10 – Priority Bicycles

If you’ve visited us at the INN, you’ve likely ridden a Priority Bicycle, which have been part of our fleet for years. Our pals at Priority, who also celebrated their 10-year anniversary this year, called on none other than Sam Calagione to test ride their beach cruiser before it was available for sale. As an avid bike-rider, they asked Sam to share his feedback and help them perfect the design, making it super comfortable and rideable. It’s safe to say this worked out for everyone, and we continue to not only provide Priority Bicycles to our guests, but also host their Bikes & Beers event at our Milton Brewery every year!

It’s been an INNcredible decade at the Dogfish INN and we’re so thankful to everyone who has stayed with us, joined us for a Fireside Chat, or just popped in to say hello over these past 10 years.

Cheers to many more memories at the Dogfish INN and we hope to see you soon!