We recently took a 10 day Road Trip from Jacksonville Fla to Lafayette, LA mainly hugging the Coast straight down from Tallahasse to New Orleans and had planned 2 days along the Alabama Shore. Now I'd been down to the Gulf Coast many times as a kid in the 70's, but had not been back till last month. Boy!! was I in for a Surprise!!! What has "In the Name of Progress" done to the Gulf Shores? Condo's Everywhere!! and Those Stupid "Surf Shops" Everywhere!!! My Lord!! What have you folks done to that Place? Except for the place we stayed....The Original Romar House (built in 1927) . The Last of Old Alabama!!!
Now, there are still some of us who really despise a 30 Story View of countless other 30 Story Views. Thank Goodness, there are two fine Gentlemen, by the names of Jerry Gilbreath, who owns the Original Romar House; and treats it like his Child. And Mr. Darrell Finley, who has put his 100% Alabama "Being" into caring for his guests! and has done so for the last 17 years. We were 110% happy we found this place on the internet as we planned our trip.
As we pulled into town, pass the FloraBama, the Highrises kept a comin'...one after another, and those danged Surf Shops...Cookie Cutters, they are. We could hardly find the place amongst those Towering Giants, but when we pulled into their "Grassy" parking Lot, time just sorta slowed down! Darrell saw us pull in and came out and Greeted us. Welcomed us with a tour of the 6 Rooms and the Common Areas. We sorta had the Place to ourselves. We were put in the "Song Writer's Room" (every room is themed). It was decoder in a "Woody" theme and as very clean and modern (Thanks to IVAN), yet retained it's old Charm. The rooms had no TV's which actually was a Godsend, however the Living Room has a Flatscreen with Cable TV and Wi Fi. Breakfast was served between 8-10am and Coffee @ 7am. However, I get up @ 5:30a every morning to exercise, and Darrell got up and made Coffee just for me. Back to Breakfast, his recipes were his Grandmother's going back a 100 years, and those Peach Pancakes, were absolutely wonderful!!! There was even afternoon Wine and Cheese as well as a full array of Menus of local Eateries and Waterin' Holes. That is one one thing that will never change in the Deep South is the Food!!
We stayed 2 days there and were really sad to go. Every morning, we got up, walked past the beautiful Mermaid Pool to the Boardwalk to the Beach. That's another thing that Mother Nature will not let "Progress" change...are the Alabama Beach!! It's like Sugar!!!
So, you Wanderers out There!! You want to take a ride in the "Way Back Machine"? Take a good look @ The Original Romar House. We Did!! and We are Better because of it!! Thanks!! Jerry & Darrell, for Keepin' OLD ALABAMA~OLD!!!
Tom & Linda Metz
Oceanside, Calif
- Original Romar House Orange Beach
