Our Story

For all of our fellow boat owners and lake lovers, have you heard of what B.O.A.T. stands for? Bail Out Another Thousand. In our case, several times that. Truth be told I wasn’t much of a boat person until the pandemic, then it became a lifesaver of a safe and fun activity. 

Every weekend driving home after a long day on the lake Alex and I would pass the Obey River Inn and joke “we should buy that” and just keep driving. Well one day we stopped to peek in the windows. The next week we were seeking out the owner’s information. The next thing I know, Alex, with me in tow, had bought a motel.

If there was ever a year to take on a huge project, 2020 was it. It certainly does a number on your social life when you spend all nights and weekends up to your elbows in insulation, siding, and drywall dust. Was it our dream to own a motel? Not until September of 2020. 

Since then, it has become such a passion project for the both of us. Alex had the building and renovation skills (he went to building trade school) and he also runs a hardwood flooring company started by his dad. Shout out to Conner Brothers Wood Flooring! If you’re staying in one of our rooms, you’ll probably notice that quite literally the floors, ceilings, and some walls are all wood flooring ;) 

I, on the other hand, was less skilled in wielding a hammer or any piece of construction equipment for that matter. As a classically trained cellist and arts administrator, I spend my days working for the Bryan Symphony Orchestra and volunteering for many local arts organizations. I did, however, love the idea of designing and promoting a motel and have greatly enjoyed learning so many skills while working with Alex. I wasn’t a complete novice in the short-term rental industry. I had run a successful Airbnb out of my home for five years and now own a rental property in Cookeville. I was fully aware of the joys (and headaches) that can come with the hospitality industry. 

We “broke ground” on our motel renovations the first week of October in 2020 and set an ambitious goal of opening a boutique motel experience by April of 2021. It has been 6 ½ months of quite literally blood, sweat, and (a few) tears and I have never been more proud or put in more hard work to a project before. 

Alex and I are so thrilled to finally open in April – we will definitely be taking a weekend away to celebrate our months of hard work! The best part about this project for us will be getting to share our motel with guests and helping them to create memories of weekend and summer getaways with their families and friends! We are also looking forward to continuing to make improvements and additions to the motel in the years to come!