Suitcase Confidential #3:The Pink House

June 26, 2021

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For decades, the Pink House in Newbury, Massachusetts, has sparked the imagination of both local residents and travelers. Because of its enigmatic location, in the middle of a salt marsh, as well as the extraordinary play of light over its surroundings, it has become a muse of artists and a favorite subject for social media shutterbugs. Thanks to its defiance of time and weather, the home has attained local-celebrity status; it has even appeared in a Honda commercial and inspired a clothing line. The Pink House has also been the butt of some wild rumors—chief among them that it’s a spite house (spoiler alert: it’s not. We’ll tell you why).

On your next trip to coastal Massachusetts, plan to make a stop along the Essex National Heritage Area’s Scenic Byway to see the Pink House. If you can, drive over just after sunrise, when raptors like snowy owls and red-tailed hawks perch on her cupola, before winging off over the marsh for a snack. Or time your visit as the setting sun angles through the home’s windows and she gives you a knowing wink that says, “Sometimes a house is more than a home.”

Robin Catalano

Robin Catalano believes in the power of storytelling to connect communities and cultures. She’s applied her creative approach to writing for magazines, books, blogs, websites, and a wide variety of marketing projects, and has published more than 75 articles and 1,000+ blog posts. As an editor, she has worked on more than 350 books for publishers including Penguin Random House, Workman, and Simon & Schuster. She has also served as a book coach for independent authors, helping them take their ideas from concept to print. An avid traveler and travel writer, Robin lives, reads, and writes voraciously in upstate NY.