York Beach: Here's what's new at Short Sands Beach, Wild Kingdom and more in 2025

YORK, Maine — With summer just around the corner, York Beach is gearing up for a season packed with exciting changes, fresh attractions, and beloved traditions.

The Purple Palace, one of York’s longtime institutions, has changed hands, introducing a new menu featuring Mexican breakfast and burritos. Meanwhile, Short Sands Beach will see major upgrades, including new volleyball courts and enhancements to Ellis Park’s pavilion.

For the first time, the Nevada Hotel is offering surf lessons, while the ViewPoint Hotel's luxury spa—overlooking the iconic Nubble Lighthouse — welcomes guests for its first full summer.

On Route 1, music fans can catch Jakob Nowell, son of Sublime’s Bradley Nowell, headlining the town’s annual craft beer festival, Oddity by the Ocean.

York’s Wild Kingdom welcomes new critters, while the Parks and Recreation Department gears up for its annual road races and artisan market.

Here’s a look at what’s coming to York this summer.

Mexican food coming to ex-Purple Palace spot

The Purple Palace on Railroad Avenue, a longtime breakfast staple known for its $3.95 specials, has sat empty for the past two summers due to a family dispute. Now, new owner Bill Shaheen is set to breathe new life into the space in 2025.

The paint on the building will no longer be purple, and the 17 seats inside will be replaced with an area for food prep for a new Mexican breakfast and burrito spot.

“It’s kind of a work in process,” Shaheen said.

While the new restaurant has yet to be named, it will operate as an extension of Molly O’s, featuring matching awnings and siding when it opens this summer.

Shaheen said he hopes the new eatery can also serve fried dough, as well as Mexican breakfast sandwiches in the morning and burritos in the afternoon.

“Do some fried dough and some muffins in the morning. Hopefully, we do some doughnuts,” Shaheen said. “Then break into some Mexican food, which is all takeout.”

Shaheen, husband of U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, purchased the building earlier this year for $500,000, expanding his real estate holdings to four adjacent properties, including Molly O’s, Bill and Bob’s Jewelry, and a former ice cream shop.

That vacant ice cream shop will also see new life — it’s set to become a sub shop, leased by the owners of Moe’s Italian Subs. Though Shaheen has no involvement in the business, he expects it will not retain the Moe’s name, adhering to York’s local ordinances, which prohibit national chain openings.

York hoteliers unveil new surf lessons and luxury spa

The ViewPoint Hotel and the Nevada Hotel, operated by Joe Lipton and Michelle Friar, have earned spots in TIME and Esquire for their luxury appeal— hosting high-profile events like Lady Gaga’s sister’s wedding.

Now, both properties are rolling out exciting new amenities for the summer season.

The ViewPoint Hotel, which overlooks the historic Nubble Lighthouse, will have its new spa open for its first summer in 2025. The spa is located in its own separate building, offering guests scrubs, massages, facials, waxing, and other services.

Meanwhile, at the Nevada, Lipton is introducing surf lessons through Long Sands Surf School, led by Luis and Jessi Gattgens, veteran instructors with over 20 years of experience teaching in Costa Rica.

York has long been known for surfing, with local shops like Liquid Dreams offering lessons.

The lessons at the Nevada will cost $125 and be for a half-day, or 3.5 hours, designed to get beginners standing up and riding within the same session. Each lesson includes real-time video and photo feedback to build confidence and improve technique.

“These classes mix surf theory, hard work and, obviously, fun,” Jessi Gattgens said.

Other hoteliers in York are continuing to upgrade their facilities. At the Grand View Hotel, owner Jimmy Asprogiannis’ work on building eight new units is in the works, though those will not be open until 2026.

At the Anchorage Inn, several upgrades have been implemented since last season, including a brand new sun deck at their office building for guests to enjoy this season.

York’s Wild Kingdom unveils new reptile house for 2025 season

York’s Wild Kingdom is gearing up for its summer season, opening May 24 with a new reptile house replacing the former gift shop. The exhibit will feature snakes, a tegu lizard, and a resident arachnid — a tarantula.

Located at Short Sands Beach, the zoo and amusement park span 82 acres, with a main entrance off Route 1 and an exit leading guests onto Railroad Avenue, just a short walk from the shoreline.

York’s Wild Kingdom also features a variety of animals ranging from pregnant goats set to give birth in the coming weeks to Moxy the tiger and the park’s two lions. Fennec foxes, gibbons and other animals are on display in the zoo area, which is adjacent to its amusement park with rides and food.

“We look forward to a summer where families can enjoy the Maine outdoors, our animals and time together,” said Samantha Sauls, general manager of the park.

Ellis Park sees new volleyball courts, return of concerts

Each summer, visitors to Short Sands Beach find themselves drawn to Ellis Park, where its gazebo, pavilion, and parking lot serve as familiar landmarks along the shore. This year, the Ellis Park board of directors is adding to the experience, overseeing the construction of brand-new volleyball courts near the basketball court.

“Hoping they’ll be up by the end of the month,” said David Bridges, Ellis Park board of directors chairman.

While the volleyball courts were announced last year, construction is only now underway. The park also saw the addition of a new children’s playground last season, and further upgrades are continuing. Park Superintendent Corey Hawthorne said that work is being completed this year on the pavilion, which doubles as a wedding venue.

Ellis Park’s summer concert series will once again bring live entertainment to the gazebo every Thursday through Sunday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., featuring a variety of acts, including an Elvis Presley impersonator on July 11 and Aug. 22, as well as the Beatles tribute band All Together Now on Aug. 29.

“Ellis Park is such a nice place for the town to enjoy,” Hawthorne said. “It’s really such a treasure of the town.”

Brewers bring music festival, 'best in show' dog competition

Jakob Nowell, the son of the late Sublime singer Bradley Nowell, will be headlining the fourth annual Oddity by the Ocean craft beer festival on Route 1 in Cape Neddick on June 7. Nowell has taken over for his father as the lead singer and guitarist of Sublime, having performed with them at shows like Coachella.

Nowell will be performing at the festival in York with his other group Jakobs Castle. Other acts slated to perform include Spray Allen, featuring the bassist for Sublime, Eric Wilson, and the Roots of Creation’s Grateful Dead project, Grateful Dub.

The festival is hosted by Cape Neddick’s Odd by Nature Brewing and features four hours of live music and unlimited craft beer. Brewers from around the world, from as far as Japan, come to the festival as vendors to share their beer.

York’s other local breweries, SoMe Brewing Company and York Beach Beer Co., are also ramping up for a summer of live music and events. Both are owned by the Rowland family, with SoMe located on Route 1 and York Beach Beer Co. at Short Sands Beach.

SoMe will host its third annual “York’s Best in Show” dog show on June 8. The brewery’s parking lot will be shut down for the afternoon to make room for the show, which will include categories like “senior dog,” “mutt,” “doodle,” “trick” and “costume.”

“At the end of the day, it’s just being able to raise money for local rescues,” Dave Rowland said, “And being able to get together and drink beer and watch a bunch of dogs do fun stuff.”

Both breweries host regular live music at both locations. York Beach Beer Co. will also host makers’ popups on selected weekends.

Rowland said his team is eager to bring back a special beer they created last year with the help of the University of New Hampshire’s Sustainable Seafood Systems. It is a gose-style beer that features dried kelp harvested from the UNH program’s farm.

Parks and Rec brings movies, York Days, races and bonfire

York’s Parks and Recreation Department is gearing up for a vibrant summer season, packed with community events, celebrations, and outdoor fun.

The highlight is York Days, a week-long festival kicking off July 25 with the Lighting of the Nubble and running through the following weekend. The festivities include the return of the York Days Wellness Fest on Aug. 2, featuring yoga, meditation, reiki, and martial arts at York High School. Parks and Recreation Events Coordinator Nick Darby said that the department is partnering with Welcome Haven and Rise Wellness Collective to organize the event.

That same day, the York Days Craft Fair begins at the York Beach Ball Field, featuring food vendors, photographers, pottery makers, and artisans selling their goods from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Aug. 2 and 3. The American Legion Post 56 will provide food, and the festival will wrap up with fireworks at Short Sands Beach at 9 p.m.

Parks and Recreation will also host three movie nights this summer at the York Beach Ball Field. The department plans to post an online survey allowing residents to vote on which films will be shown.

For runners, the department will hold two road races— Four on the 4th, scheduled for July 4, and the York Days Road Race on Aug. 3. Proceeds will support the Old York Historical Society and the York Youth Cheerleading program, respectively. The Four on the 4th will be preceded by a bib pickup party at York High School on July 3 from 3 to 5 p.m., featuring live music and food.

Closing out the season, the department will host its annual Beach Bonfire Benefit at Long Sands Beach, where guests can enjoy the bonfire between 9 and 10 p.m.

"A summer sendoff," Darby said.

Darby also encouraged residents and visitors to look forward to events honoring York’s first responders.

On Aug. 5, National Night Out will take place at Bog Road Field, where York police officers will engage with the community. Kids will get the chance to explore police vehicles, enjoy food, play games, and bounce in an inflatable house.

Later in the month, the York Village Fire Department will host its 109th parade and muster, with the parade traveling from Woodbridge and York Street to the York Public Library. The muster, a firefighter competition featuring tactical challenges, will be held at Moulton Park.

“I’m just really excited to see people out, getting into the community, and enjoying the nice weather,” Darby said. “York, Maine, in the summer is the best place on earth.”

Historic Nubble Lighthouse to be lit for summer

Tourists flock each summer to the Nubble Lighthouse located across from Sohier Park. The lighthouse will be lit up as a part of York Days, from July 25 until Aug. 3, allowing people to see it lit up as it would be during the winter holidays.

Brenda Knapp, chair of the Sohier Park Committee, said York is lucky to have the lighthouse still well intact. It was last rebuilt in 1879, and she said the town is fortunate it has not seen significant damage from storms.

Knapp said the Sohier Park Committee works closely with Parks and Recreation on plans to protect the Nubble and improve Sohier Park. A major project is in the works to fix damage to the park from major storms in 2024 that will eventually go before voters. The project, as presented to the Selectboard in January, would include changes to parking, benches greenery and walking paths.

This summer, guests can enjoy a scavenger hunt at the Nubble’s gift shop, according to Knapp. The game leads guests to investigate items that allow them to learn about the Nubble, like why the lighthouse has two bells.

“We have an opportunity to serve our guests and residents who come,” Knapp said. “They can sit by the ocean, they can look at the gorgeous lighthouse and just breathe and take it in.”