Shetland Park

Shetland Park, an office park on the waterfront by the Pickering Wharf area, has 5 large buildings on 35 acres. This property was formerly known as Pequot Mills, home to the Naumkeag Steam Cotton Co. Robert Lappin purchased the old complex in 1958. He has owned and run it for the last 53 years in his home town of Salem.

A recreated antique house called the Pequot House was built in front of Shetland Park. This house was built for the 1930 tercentenary of the settling of Massachusetts.

The Park soared in popularity when he added large windows to capture the view of the waterfront in the 1980's. In the past it had about a dozen manufacturers and businesses, but mostly empty buildings. The installation of pictures windows was the start of the transformation to an office park. It is home to both private businesses and public agencies and has 2,000 parking spaces in the center of the complex.

Robert Lappin was very involved in Jewish institutions and causes. He ran the Robert I. Lappin Charitable Foundation. The city park at the corner of Essex and Washington Streets is named in memory to his parents. Lappin Park was in the news in 2005 when cable network TV Land erected the Bewitched statue at this park.

Robert Lappin passed away on April 3, 2020 at the age of 98.

In May of 2008, the Registry of Deeds moved into space at the park as the new courthouse on Federal Street was being built. The Registry of Deeds will be moving to a smaller office in the Cummings Center in Beverly in late 2024.

Plans were being finalized in 2025 for redevelopment into 1200 mixed-income apartments. The project is set to include a 13-story hotel, a new academic building and gym for Salem Charter Academy School, a harbor walk, playgrounds and more. The project is expected to take 5-9 years and will not disrupt the flow of business in Shetland Park. Redevelopment is expected to generate over 1,000 union jobs as well as hundreds of jobs once construction is complete. A water taxi to the Salem Ferry as well as a shuttle to the Salem train station is also in the works. As of 2026, negotiations are still underway. For further information, visit thefutureofshetlandpark.com.

See Also

Vertical File in Salem Collection - Shetland Park

"Shetland Office park is not the old mill it once was" Salem Evening News, July 3, 1996, p. A1

"Shetland Park celebrates 50 years; Lappin transformed former Pequot Mills into waterfront offices" Salem News, Oct. 15, 2008, p. 1

"Businesses growing at Shetland Park" Salem Evening News, Mar. 14, 2001, P. A3

"Registry moving to Cummings Center" Salem News, Jan. 8, 2024, p.1

"Shetland Park project zoning weighed" Salem Evening News, Oct. 13, 2026, p. A01