Georgia Guardian's MAGNOLIA PLACE PROFILE

Marketplace

Locations in downtown Savannah and Tybee Island
(912) 236-7674

Innkeepers offer 'best of both worlds'
package for Savannah visitors

From Staff Reports

Seaside or park side? A walk along the strand or a carriage ride through the shady squares? Tough choice?

The Magnolia Place Inn offers guests a four-day "best of both worlds" package that includes two days in the historic downtown inn by Forsyth Park and two days in the Magnolia at Tybee Island.

"The concept of staying two days in our beautiful downtown inn and two days at the beach seems to appeal to a lot of travelers who are looking to extend their stays in and around Savannah, without wasting their time traveling to other destinations," said innkeeper Rob Sales. "Oftentimes, guests have a week-long vacation and this takes the bother out of spending that week in two, distant destinations."

Magnolia at Tybee is a newly built replica of an old Tybee beach house. The inn offers five full bedrooms and a warm, sunny breakfast room flanked by a cozy great room and wide wooden porches for rocking.

The historic Magnolia Place Inn at 503 Whitaker Street is the birthplace of Pulitzer prize-winning poet Conrad Aiken, and adopted home of best-selling author John Berendt, whose "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" renewed public interest in Savannah. Each of the inn's 15 bedrooms and two courtyard suites are surrounded by gardens and are furnished with antique queen or king-size beds. Jacuzzi bathtubs and working fireplaces are available in many of the expansive rooms.

The "sister inns" are owned and run by Jane and Rob Sales, and Rob's sister, Kathy Medlock. The Sales began looking for an inn in 1992. After five years searching the country and learning about successful bed and breakfasts, the Sales narrowed their search to the Carolinas and Georgia.

They purchased the Magnolia in September 1997, charmed by its cool, shady porches, gingerbread woodwork adorning the facade and the quiet setting overlooking Forsyth Park. Medlock was invited to join them to help manage the inn. The trio took over an inn whose occupancy rate had fallen well below the downtown Savannah average. They personally oversaw the preservation and restoration, remodeled the kitchen, added a laundry facility, installed a brick driveway and redecorated each of the bedrooms.

Two suites were added in the courtyard of the house next door. Favored by families and couples, the suites are spacious, with sitting areas and kitchens.

The inn's popularity grew even faster when the owners invested in a web site.

"We've seen an incredible amount of growth," Sales said. "In just one year, the number of internet-generated booking at The Magnolia Place Inn rose from 10 percent to more than 80 percent. At the same time, the inn's occupancy rate rose to more than 80 percent. With the addition of Magnolia at Tybee, honeymoon packages are also available for stays in both locations."

For more information, contact Sales or Medlock at (912) 236-7674, or visit both inns at their web site: http://www.magnoliaplaceinn.com.

Photo courtesy of the Magnolia Place Inn
The grand ivy-laden entrance of the Magnolia Place Inn on Whitaker Street.

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