• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
Hotels

This Is Where Oprah Winfrey Stays When She Visits the Jersey Shore

By
Regan Stephens
Regan Stephens
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Regan Stephens
Regan Stephens
Down Arrow Button Icon
August 24, 2019, 7:00 AM ET
"Beach butlers" cater to the guests on this private beach area of the Jersey Shore.
"Beach butlers" cater to the guests on this private beach area of the Jersey Shore.The Reeds at Shelter Haven

Oprah Winfrey has often been spotted on glamorous vacations: from hiking in the mountains of Maui, Hawaii; to truffle hunting in Umbria, Italy; to cruising around the Spanish island of Ibiza on one of the world’s biggest yachts.

But the media mogul and tastemaker has also been known to visit the sleepy beach towns of New Jersey. Longtime partner Stedman Graham is from Cape May County, at the southernmost tip of the state’s coast, where fresh seafood and wide swaths of sandy shores abound and beach cruisers are the preferred method of transportation. When visiting Graham’s family, the couple stay at The Reeds at Shelter Haven.

The lobby at The Reeds at Shelter Haven.
The Reeds at Shelter Haven

Situated in Stone Harbor, on the quiet bayside of the barrier island Seven Mile Beach, about 15 miles north of Cape May, the award-winning luxury hotel is exactly the kind of place in which you’d imagine the megastar would feel at home. Designed with white oak floors and soothing blue accents, many of its rooms and suites have views of the Shelter Haven Basin, and some come with fireplaces and soaking tubs.

The resort is open year-round, and the list of amenities reads like a roundup of Oprah’s Favorite Things. During the summer months, gratis water activities on the bay include kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding, and beach butlers assist with the biggest hassle of any beach day: shuttling guests to the sand in an electric golf cart, and setting up resort-branded chairs, towels, and umbrellas. On the hotel’s rooftop, the garden sundeck hosts complimentary yoga in the mornings, plus a plunge pool for taking a dip any time of day.

A guest room at The Reeds at Shelter Haven.
The Reeds at Shelter Haven

Last May, The Reed’s two-level Salt Spa opened, offering beyond-the-basic treatments like the brine light inhalation lounge (with a Himalayan salt waterfall and light therapy, meant to promote relaxation and enhance overall well-being), flotation therapy, and a private hammam (Turkish bath) tiled with glimmering floor-to-ceiling mosaics.

A private hammam, or Turkish bath, tiled with floor-to-ceiling mosaics.
The Reeds at Shelter Haven

The hammam services include a mud treatment that begins with an essential-oil-infused body scrub and warm mud application on the heated marble massage table, and ends with a steam room and gentle shower. Classic massages and manicures are also on the menu.

There are plenty of dining options on the property, including the scene-y Water Star Grille with its front-row views of the boat-dotted bay and evening sunsets, and Wafflewich, the sweetshop specializing in made-to-order ice cream sandwiches on fresh-pressed waffles.

The Roof Garden at The Reeds at Shelter Haven.
The Reeds at Shelter Haven

But given The Reeds’ prime location in downtown Stone Harbor, it’s easy to stroll around the quintessential Jersey Shore town. Boutiques selling sundresses and coastal home decor line Third Avenue and its side streets. Stop for a smoothie at Green Cuisine, sample fried shrimp at Quahog’s Seafood Shack, and don’t miss the saltwater taffy at Fudge Kitchen. (You’ll be greeted by friendly staff offering samples of small-batch-made vanilla and chocolate fudge, hand-whipped in copper kettles. Say yes to both flavors.) Less than a mile from the hotel is the Wetlands Institute, where you can explore some of the 6,000-acre preserve on an educational guided tour of beaches and dunes.

While the Jersey Shore has endured a dip in reputation thanks to the eponymous MTV show the entire state of New Jersey would prefer to forget, the quaint town of Stone Harbor and idyllic Reeds at Shelter Haven prove this destination is worth a visit.

And if it’s good enough for Oprah, it’s good enough for the rest of us.

More must-read stories from Fortune:

—Where you should eat, visit, and stay on your trip to Copenhagen
—This tiny Caribbean island grows 44 types of mangoes
—Your next getaway: Tulum is out, this island is in
—New Zealand’s hottest destination is one you’ve never heard of
—Listen to our audio briefing, Fortune 500 Daily
Follow Fortune on Flipboard to stay up-to-date on the latest news and analysis.

About the Author
By Regan Stephens
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in

Middle EastMilitary
Trump pledges retaliation after 3 Americans are killed in Syria attack that the U.S. blames on the Islamic State group
By Samar Kassabali, Bassem Mroue, Seung Min Kim and The Associated PressDecember 13, 2025
38 minutes ago
InvestingStock
There have been head fakes before, but this time may be different as the latest stock rotation out of AI is just getting started, analysts say
By Jason MaDecember 13, 2025
3 hours ago
Politicsdavid sacks
Can there be competency without conflict in Washington?
By Alyson ShontellDecember 13, 2025
3 hours ago
Investingspace
SpaceX sets $800 billion valuation, confirms 2026 IPO plans
By Loren Grush, Edward Ludlow and BloombergDecember 13, 2025
4 hours ago
PoliticsAffordable Care Act (ACA)
With just days to go before ACA subsidies expire, Congress is about to wrap up its work with no consensus solution in sight
By Kevin Freking, Lisa Mascaro and The Associated PressDecember 13, 2025
4 hours ago
PoliticsDonald Trump
Trump couldn’t insult his way to victory in Indiana redistricting battle. ‘Folks in our state don’t react well to being bullied’
By Thomas Beaumont, Isabella Volmert and The Associated PressDecember 13, 2025
4 hours ago

Most Popular

placeholder alt text
Economy
Tariffs are taxes and they were used to finance the federal government until the 1913 income tax. A top economist breaks it down
By Kent JonesDecember 12, 2025
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Success
Apple cofounder Ronald Wayne sold his 10% stake for $800 in 1976—today it’d be worth up to $400 billion
By Preston ForeDecember 12, 2025
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Success
40% of Stanford undergrads receive disability accommodations—but it’s become a college-wide phenomenon as Gen Z try to succeed in the current climate
By Preston ForeDecember 12, 2025
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Economy
The Fed just ‘Trump-proofed’ itself with a unanimous move to preempt a potential leadership shake-up
By Jason MaDecember 12, 2025
23 hours ago
placeholder alt text
Economy
For the first time since Trump’s tariff rollout, import tax revenue has fallen, threatening his lofty plans to slash the $38 trillion national debt
By Sasha RogelbergDecember 12, 2025
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Success
Apple CEO Tim Cook out-earns the average American’s salary in just 7 hours—to put that into context, he could buy a new $439,000 home in just 2 days
By Emma BurleighDecember 12, 2025
1 day ago
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Success
  • Tech
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Environment
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Health
  • Retail
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Features
  • Commentary
  • Mpw
  • CEO Initiative
  • Conferences
  • Personal Finance
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map

© 2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.