Couple considers B&B a ministry to vacationers

By Laura Nation
07-30-2003

Treasure Island Bed and Breakfast, where Earl and Lillie Hardy have welcomed guests for three years, offers this view of the water. The big house sitting on the edge of Logan Martin Lake seemed destined for something more than a home for two people. After Earl and Lillie Hardy bought their home on Treasure Island five years ago, they realized there was far more house than they really needed. And what’s happened since, they say, has become a ministry for the couple. The Hardys decided to open their doors as a bed and breakfast, offering the comfort and relaxation they enjoy on the lake to those traveling through or staying in the area. “It’s the Lord’s doing. I believe that,” Mrs. Hardy said. Hardy is a retired Baptist minister and is also retired from the military. He’s a native of Alabama, and she’s living down South for the first time, transplanted from New Jersey, where the couple met. The Hardys say they’re completely happy with their choice of Logan Martin Lake for their new home. As a matter of fact, living on the water was the only stipulation Mrs. Hardy had about the move down South. Hardy jokes about leaving New Jersey, saying “I’ve lived in two foreign countries — Vietnam and New Jersey.” Hosting guests in their home they’ve never met in person hasn’t been anything but positive, the Hardys say. “So far, no one’s been like a stranger to us,” Hardy said. “And we’ve really enjoyed it,” Mrs. Hardy said. Mrs. Hardy said she’d been told you had to have a certain personality in order to operate a bed-and-breakfast establishment. “And I kept wondering, do we have it,” she said. She’d also been warned that you have to not care about other people touching your things. Mrs. Hardy laughs at the idea. “But that’s just not a problem — I don’t care,” she said. The Hardys say they’ve had nothing but good experiences with their guests, many of whom have become repeat visitors. Many of their guests are celebrating an anniversary or wedding, occasions for which the Hardys don’t mind customizing a stay. Visitors to their home include people from as far away as England and Berlin. The visitors from Berlin had traveled to Alabama for their annual holiday and frequently made trips to the United States for vacations. “They had been to more places in the United States than I have,” Mrs. Hardy said. “Every place we named, they had been there.” The Hardys’ guest list usually is a result of the Web site they have, where they’ve posted pictures and information about accommodations. The Hardys don’t take guests without reservations, and the inn has a no-alcohol-and-no-smoking policy. The Hardys often take guests out on their pontoon boat, which can accommodate up to 14 people. There is an extra boat slip available for guests who want to bring their own boats. There are four bedrooms, which can sleep two each. The anniversary room has a large private bath and Jacuzzi, and its own entrance to a deck overlooking the water. Decks and porches across the side of the house facing the water offer plenty of comfortable spots to take in the view of Logan Martin. In addition to the spacious living room upstairs that adjoins a dining area, both overlooking the water, there’s a large living room downstairs which offers a pool table and satellite television. Weekends are the busiest time for the Hardys, who refer to Mondays and Tuesdays as their weekends. Treasure Island Bed and Breakfast can be viewed on the Web site www.treasureislandbedandbreakfast.com.

[an error occurred while processing this directive]

RETURN TO TOP