Lakeside Inn stepping into a complete makeover under new owners

Lakeside Inn stepping into a complete makeover under new owners

By Frank Kyper

01/15/2004


	Morris the cat is a natural ambassador of friendship at the Marco Island Lakeside Inn. He is being held by Jackie Luper as she and Jason sit at poolside, backed up to Marco Lake. Photo by Sue Keller

"We anticipate we will total remodel, redecorate, remanage and remarket this hotel." Gayle Luper said. Luper and her husband, Burt, and their family are the new owners of the Marco Island Lakeside Inn, tucked away at the east end of First Avenue and backed up to Marco Lake.

The out-of-the-way 20-unit inn has been on Marco for over 20 years. It was purchased on Oct. 21 by the active, friendly family, who has also owned the Bungalow Beach Resort Inn at Sarasota for the past five years, as well as other properties.

"Bungalow Beach has been a very charming, award-winning hotel," Luper said. "We plan to duplicate our success here, catering to those who want a smaller, charming boutique hotel a hotel with a character all its own."

The day-to-day operation of the hotel is managed by the Luper’s son, Jason, and his wife, Jackie. Gayle travels to Marco from Sarasota for a few days every week to help in the transformation and redecorating of the hotel, while the more extensive changes are being planned by Burt.

"We also have other family members we can call in two other sons, two nieces and my sister to pitch in occasionally as needed," she continued. "We are carrying out numerous cosmetic changes, working in one available room at a time even as we are open and running for the season. The first thing we did was order in all new pillow-top beds, more of a romantic bed."

"While we are redecorating each room, we are having each room be just a little different," Jackie said.

"We don't want them to be carbon copies," Jason interjected. Jason, an accomplished painter, has opened a small art gallery of his works in the lobby. Eventually, it is planned that each unit will have some of his original paintings on the walls.

Sharing the front entrance of the hotel is the Busghetti Restaurant, known for its European Italian cuisine. "We own the lease on the restaurant, and it is run by Andre Constantin," Gayle Luper said. "Andre has already completed $150,000 in remodeling. We plan to go in there and make additional improvements. We are working together with Andre to finish it off."

They estimated that $500,000 in improvements would be completed. The inn consists of a two-story main unit housing 11 bedroom suites each with a kitchen and living area, the restaurant and the office. To one side is a separate long single story building housing nine poolside efficiencies. Both are set back with a quiet shaded parking area in the front and the pool is between the two buildings.

Landscaping will center around the cabbage palms that shade the front of the building, with new plantings adding to the tropical flavor. The pool deck will be extended back to the efficiencies, which will then have individual landscaped patios and entrances.

Redecorating the units will include new crown moldings. Hardwood floors will go in on the ground floor of the main building and carpeting on the second floor.

"We want to soundproof the rooms as much as possible," Jason said. "The carpeting will go down with extra padding. We will also add sound insulation to the walls. We are adding all wood plantation blinds to the windows."

French doors will be installed throughout the inn. The windows will be wrapped in molding and shutters. A dramatic change will occur to the front of the main building when the thorny plants that currently extend up to the second floor railing are cut back, decoration is added to the railing, and the vertical columns are extended to the roof and wrapped in white.

New awnings, a new sign and new irrigation will complete the first round of outside improvements. Inside, all new furniture of white wicker is already in place.

"We plan to make as many of the improvements as we can a few rooms at a time without disturbing our guests during the season," Gayle emphasized. "We will undertake some of the more extensive improvements after the end of the season.

"We also want to promote what there is to see and do on Marco Island first," she added. "We are already receiving twice as much traffic on our Web site."

Also sharing in the redevelopment is Morris, an exceptionally friendly 20-pound gray shorthair cat the Lupers found outdoors when they took over the inn. "We brought him in, and had him fixed up by the veterinarian, and he now welcomes all our guests."

The Marco Island Lakeside Inn can be telephoned at 394-1161. Its new Web site, with rates and other information, is www.marcoislandlakeside.com.