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Revisit the Past at the Inn at the Pass

Mississippi Gulf Coast bed-and-breakfast beckons

By Angela Wibking

It’s been less than a year since sisters Phyllis Hines and Mimi Smith took the leap from just thinking about owning their own bed-and-breakfast to actually purchasing an inn. In October 1998 the sisters became the proud proprietors of the Inn at the Pass, an 1885 Victorian home in Pass Christian, a quiet beach community about 10 miles west of Gulfport and just an hour’s drive from New Orleans. Though both Phyllis and Mimi maintain full-time homes for their families in New Orleans, they also have strong ties to the Gulf Coast, having grown up in Gulfport and having had their own vacation homes in Pass Christian for years. So when the former owners of the inn decided to sell, they jumped at the chance to realize their dream.

Months of hard work later, the sisters are still having fun putting the finishing touches on their dream inn -- as well as mulling over long range plans for more rooms and renovations. But the Inn at the Pass is already a welcoming retreat that draws repeat business from all over the state – and the South. The area’s recent boom, thanks to glittering new casinos like the Beau Rivage that have opened in Biloxi and Gulfport in recent years, has raised the inn’s profile with bed-and breakfast patrons around the country and world as well. The white sand beaches, nearby harbor and antique shops also draw guests to the inn, which was once home to the town’s mayor and editor of the local newspaper.

Guests at the Inn at the Pass can choose from five rooms, all with private bath, in the main house or stay in the separate cottage nestled under a huge magnolia tree in the backyard. Rooms are named after flowers and past owners (like the long-ago Mayor Adam, whose name can still be seen inscribed on the front walk). The Rose Room, the Bluebonnet Room and the Hunt Room are on the first level and feature period antiques and original art. Guests who appreciate extra space will find the oversized rooms on the second floor especially inviting. Both the Adam Room, where we stayed, and the Magnolia Room are suite-sized with large, modern baths with Jacuzzi tubs added by Phyllis and Mimi. There are views of the gulf from the Adam Room and views of pink crepe myrtles and magnolias from the Magnolia Room. All rooms also feature cable television. Public areas of the inn include a charming foyer and the comfortable parlor that opens into the kitchen and separate dining room. (Architecturally, the house is of the center hall cottage design with Eastlake influences.) A favorite spot to relax is the wide front porch that overlooks the green lawn and, in the distance, the Gulf of Mexico.

The separate 425-square-foot cottage behind the house affords the most spacious and private accommodations at the inn. In addition to the large bedroom and sitting area, there is a full bath and an alcove with a small refrigerator and coffeemaker. The cottage is so appealing that one guest, whose keeps his boat docked at the Pass Christian harbor, reserves it annually for every weekend in June and July. Speaking of boats, it is interesting to note that Pass Christian is home to the first yacht club in the South and the second oldest in the U.S. and the inn is just a short walk from the harbor where various pleasure craft are docked. The town’s small friendly, downtown is also within a block of the inn. Here visitors will find upscale gift and clothing shops, a natural food store, restaurants, banks and churches.

Morning coffee is available at 7:30 a.m. and breakfast is served at 8:30 a.m. at the inn. Some mornings the fare includes cereals, baked goods, fruit and juice and on others cheese omelets with bacon and biscuits add a heartier touch. After breakfast or in the cool of the evening, be sure to stroll down Scenic Drive, which runs in front of the inn. This is surely one of the loveliest stretches of grand historic homes anywhere in the country. Many date from the 19th century and a few pre-date the Civil War and have been in the same families for generations. Strolling along the public walk under the spreading oaks with these grand houses on one side and the Gulf waters and sandy beaches on the other offers a rare glimpse of a luxurious Southern beach lifestyle not found anywhere else along the Gulf. Luckily, staying at the Inn at the Pass can make you feel like a part of that lifestyle – if only for a night or two.

Rates at the Inn at the Pass are $85-$115 per night, including breakfast. For reservations or more information, call (800)217-2588 or visit the web site at www.innatthepass.com.

Photos by Angela Wibking

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