At 1 p.m. on May 27, the new Boothbay Harbor Oceanside Golf Resort and Coastal Prime Restaurant opened to a crowd of almost 400, just about the same time the sun made a welcome appearance.

The opening, invitational event for members of the Boothbay Harbor Country Club was met with high expectations. Paul Coulombe, who owns the country club, purchased the Rocktide Inn and Restaurant on Jan. 31, and entirely restored the property over the winter.

Coulombe welcomed the crowd, who enjoyed hors d’oeuvres and cocktails on the newly rebuilt and enlarged deck. He started by introducing his brother-in-law, Russ Armstrong, who was in charge of overseeing the rebuild, saying, “You’ll never see him in that coat and tie again, so take a good look.” He said it was a “blisteringly cold winter day” in February when he and Armstrong walked around the deck of  his newest acquisition. He asked Armstrong what he thought they should do. Armstrong told him, “Whatever you want to do, I can do it.”

“So I held him to it,” Coulombe said. “And in a matter of 14 weeks, which is impossible, we basically gutted it.”

Over the next few months, Coulombe said he kept asking his brother-in-law if he was sure he could get it done by spring. “Russ said, ‘Oh yeah, I’ll get it done.’ But I was here yesterday and it still wasn’t done. But it is today,” he added, with a smile.

Coulombe thanked other members of the new Oceanside team, including Executive Sous Chef Ed Yarmosh, Restaurant Manager Amy Redfern and Chris Burton, owner of Clear Stream Construction, who oversaw much of the reconstruction and “did all the heavy lifting and hard work, and got everyone here who could walk and talk and breathe, who wasn't employed somewhere else this winter, working on this project.”

Coulombe also thanked country club employees Melissa Neel and Michelle Amero. “Melissa is in charge of everything,” he said. “She does it all and she was here making sure it all happened. I completely lied to her. I told her it was going to be an easy winter. And Michelle Amero writes letters for me that come out better than what I speak. I told her we were in dangerous, uncharted territory today, because she usually writes my speeches, and she didn't write anything for today, so I'm winging it.”

Coulombe paid $3.75 million for the property, and has now put a total of around $10 million into it. The restoration, or rebuild, of the new business began in a spot no one but the lobsters and fish will see. Coulombe said many of the pilings beneath the restaurant and deck were replaced, and steel reinforcement was added.

New docks with around 600 feet of dockage, built by Fuller Marine Services, have replaced the old ones. “The most important thing about the addition of new dockage will be to service local people who just want a place to tie up for a couple hours,” Coulombe said. “There aren't a lot of places in the harbor that can accommodate that.”

Around 75 people were hired to work on the property over the winter. “My original plan was to keep it exactly the same, because of time. But after looking around I decided we needed to start over.”

The kitchen of the restaurant is entirely new, heat and hot water systems have been replaced and new air-conditioning units have been installed.

Four of the previously rented rooms at the inn have been turned into offices, and 12 will be used for staff housing. There are 75 newly renovated  rooms for rentals, with all new carpeting and flooring, furniture, mattresses, bedding and linens, and upgraded bathrooms. Each room is outfitted with a refrigerator, coffee pot, drinks and snacks, and luxurious bathrobes.

The new deck over the harbor has been embellished with all new furniture, fire pits, gas lanterns and large umbrellas over tables.

There will also be a fleet of boats available for guests, including a 52-foot Morris sailboat and a 37-foot Hinckley that will be used to take hotel guests and BHCC members on excursions, and a launch that will transport people from their boats on moorings, and from one side of the harbor to the other.

Amero said she’s proud of her employer’s fortitude. “People may not realize that Paul doesn't just invest money in these projects. He invests ... time, energy, heart and soul. He is driven by his love for the area.”

One of Rocktide’s owners, Susan Miller, whose mother and stepfather, Melanie and Welles Steane, started the business in 1963, was at the event. She was pleased with the transformation, but had mixed emotions.

“My family started this place, and this is the best piece of land in Boothbay Harbor,” she said. “I had a hard time letting the real estate go, but I had three partners, and we knew this was the right thing to do.”

Prior to the Saturday opening was a soft opening Friday night. Coulombe said he didn't really expect anyone, but 85 people showed up for dinner. He was feeling optimistic after a busy winter.

“We were very fortunate. Everybody collaborated. The town was supportive, and everybody was really great. Kudos to the town of Boothbay Harbor and all the town officials. They let us get done what we needed to get done.”