Jay Honeck
Touchdown! Greaser!
It's been a few months since I checked in here, and I thought I'd give y'all an update on how our island project has been progressing.
First, to recap, we built and operated the Alexis Park Inn & Suites in Iowa City, IA from 2002 - 2011. During that time, we built it into a pilot's dream destination, with each unit decorated to reflect a unique period of aviation history.
In 2010, we bought the Harbor Inn on Mustang Island, in Port Aransas, TX, with the idea that we would operate both motels, ultimately converting the Harbor Inn into a new aviation destination called "Amelia's Landing".
This plan proved to be unrealistic. Two motels 1300 miles apart were simply impossible to properly administer, so we put the Alexis up for sale, closing the sale on 2/28/11.
We started remodeling the Harbor Inn in earnest after the end of "The Season" here last November, and by last Friday we had completely gutted and re-built all of the rooms in our South building. We now have the following aviation themed rooms complete:
The Pan Am Clipper
The Red Baron
The Mustang
The Lightning
The Amelia Earhart
Additionally, in the North building we have redecorated:
The Wright Brothers
The Blackbird
The Reno Air Race
The Stearman
The Piper
Obviously, it's been a busy off-season! We've just lived through 60 straight 18-hours days, but we're getting it done. We're still a year away from the name change (I want all the aviation themes done before we start calling ourselves "Amelia's Landing"), but I am generally pleased with the progress we're making.
Now for the fly-in information. For the 100th anniversary of Naval Aviation, the nearby Corpus Christi Naval Air Station is planning a major airshow on 4/9 and 4/10/11. This seems like a PERFECT excuse to throw a fly-in, so here are the details:
Please note that not all of the motel has been remodeled yet. In fact, over half of the rooms have NOT been touched -- so if we get too many guests for this event, you may not be in one of the new rooms. They're still fine rooms, as island motels go -- but they are NOT aviation themed.
Questions? Fire away, or call, toll free, at 888-671-8088. (Bear with us if we don't answer right away -- we're in the middle of "Spring Break Madness", with 100,000 college students over-running the island this week!)
DO NOT BOOK ON LINE. You cannot book this rate on line.
First, to recap, we built and operated the Alexis Park Inn & Suites in Iowa City, IA from 2002 - 2011. During that time, we built it into a pilot's dream destination, with each unit decorated to reflect a unique period of aviation history.
In 2010, we bought the Harbor Inn on Mustang Island, in Port Aransas, TX, with the idea that we would operate both motels, ultimately converting the Harbor Inn into a new aviation destination called "Amelia's Landing".
This plan proved to be unrealistic. Two motels 1300 miles apart were simply impossible to properly administer, so we put the Alexis up for sale, closing the sale on 2/28/11.
We started remodeling the Harbor Inn in earnest after the end of "The Season" here last November, and by last Friday we had completely gutted and re-built all of the rooms in our South building. We now have the following aviation themed rooms complete:
The Pan Am Clipper
The Red Baron
The Mustang
The Lightning
The Amelia Earhart
Additionally, in the North building we have redecorated:
The Wright Brothers
The Blackbird
The Reno Air Race
The Stearman
The Piper
Obviously, it's been a busy off-season! We've just lived through 60 straight 18-hours days, but we're getting it done. We're still a year away from the name change (I want all the aviation themes done before we start calling ourselves "Amelia's Landing"), but I am generally pleased with the progress we're making.
Now for the fly-in information. For the 100th anniversary of Naval Aviation, the nearby Corpus Christi Naval Air Station is planning a major airshow on 4/9 and 4/10/11. This seems like a PERFECT excuse to throw a fly-in, so here are the details:
- We will provide a poolside seafood cookout on Friday, 4/9/11 for all fly-in guests.
- We will provide transportation to/from the airport.
- We will provide transportation to/from the airshow on Saturday. (If we get too many people, some of you may be recruited for driving duty!) Admission is NOT included.
- Cost for a single queen (with AOPA discount), just $79.95/night, with a delivered to the room breakfast each morning. There is a 2-night minimum stay for this event.
- Cost for a double-queen (with AOPA discount), just $99.95/night, with a delivered-to-the-room breakfast each morning. Again, there is a 2-night minimum stay for this event.
Please note that not all of the motel has been remodeled yet. In fact, over half of the rooms have NOT been touched -- so if we get too many guests for this event, you may not be in one of the new rooms. They're still fine rooms, as island motels go -- but they are NOT aviation themed.
Questions? Fire away, or call, toll free, at 888-671-8088. (Bear with us if we don't answer right away -- we're in the middle of "Spring Break Madness", with 100,000 college students over-running the island this week!)
DO NOT BOOK ON LINE. You cannot book this rate on line.
