[6] With the project being funded by Shorefast, the profits made from the inn are reinvested into the local community, helping to strengthen the once-struggling economy.

The first settlements on Fogo Island were mainly due to the abundant codfish in the area and the population was strongly tied to the cod fishing industry.

However, the local economy suffered significantly up until the 1990s due to international factory overfishing in the area and the population of Fogo Island also followed this downward trend.

This history of decline is what prompted Zita Cobb to return to Fogo Island after a successful career in the fibre-optics industry to create Shorefast.

The site of the building was chosen to have a minimal impact on the landscape since due to the unique climate on Fogo Island, the native species would take significant time to recover if damaged.

The inn is a steel-framed building but both the interior and exterior black spruce wood finishing are painted white which was intentionally designed to look like a Fogo Island saltbox house.