Southern Agenda

Pier Reviewed


It’s not walking on water, but it’s close. Moseying down the private pier at Rockport’s recently renovated Reel ’em Inn, guests can walk for a thousand yards over the Gulf of Mexico’s gentle waves. Custom benches and accent lighting give the pier a magical quality. Fishing for spotted sea trout, redfish, and black drum is stellar. Three young families recently finished a yearlong renovation on the 1950s-era motor court motel and pier, transforming them into a quiet retreat just south of Rockport’s bustling center. The renowned San Antonio–based architectural firm Lake Flato designed the nine rooms—four of which boast king-size beds and private waterfront cabanas—with a contemporary coastal feel, while accessories from Southern icons such as Turtlebox, Toadfish, and Duck Camp give the spaces a hip IYKYK vibe. “We’ve tried to bring a very modern look and feel to the place,” says James Reynolds, one of the revamped property’s owners, “while capturing all our great memories of old times on the Gulf.”

reeleminnrockport.com