Portland Regency Hotel and Spa – History and In The News

This just in…The Portland Regency Hotel and Spa, a member of the Historic Hotels of America, will soon be featured on The Travel Channel, as they highlight the Top Six Summer Weekend Getaways in Maine. The production company will be in Portland, Maine, on Thursday, July 2nd, for filming and will run the series from July 17th through September 17th on The Travel Channel.

Great exposure for a fine hotel, however, there is a lot more to this great destination located at Twenty Milk Street, Portland, in the heart of the Old Port.

Built in 1895, the building has served many different purposes including The State of Maine Armory, a civic auditorium for concerts, home for soldiers, sailors, and marines, a public bath house, and a surplus warehouse.

Once considered one of the best armories in New England, the building over the years would play second fiddle to other newly built armories after the war, and was “de-commission” and left abandoned by the National Guard in the 1950’s. Shortly thereafter when the City of Portland took back the property, there was support to destroy the property and create a parking garage, as the property was so close to Portland’s working waterfront.

Thankfully there were many who opposed the project, like veterans who trained in the building, and The State of Maine eventually sold the property, which would serve as a warehouse owned by the State Paper Company in the mid-1980’s. In 1987, the Portland Regency Hotel opened its doors with 95 rooms, the same number today. According to public records, the property at 20 Milk St, Portland, was purchased for $100,000 on February 1, 1989, and currently is assessed for tax purposes by the City of Portland at $7.09 million.

While the hotel has been updated, the charm of the original armory is restored throughout most of the interior and exterior. For those from Portland who may not necessarily have the chance to stay overnight at the hotel, certainly drop in for a happy hour at The Armory Lounge, the hotel bar featuring lovely woodwork, a mahogany bar, and a wonderful atmosphere. Next time you’re near The Portland Regency, stop in for a drink and admire the surroundings.