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.”
Southern Agenda