Lodi bed and breakfasts, vacation homes get boost
With Lodi tourism numbers at an all-time high, bed and breakfasts and vacation homes are also on the rise.
“The dramatic increase in the number of vacation homes and bed and breakfasts in Lodi are a direct result of the increase in visitors to our area,” Visit Lodi! President and CEO Nancy Beckman said on Thursday. “Our overnight stays have increased significantly over the past couple of years. These new lodging properties are a great complement to our more traditional hotels and motels and offer the visitor more choices with respect to type of accommodation and location.”
Beckman says the increase in lodging properties is a testament to the amazing job that Lodi has done promoting the area as a premier wine country destination. She said as Lodi continues to gain recognition, there will be continued growth in the overnight market and predicted a correlating increase in hotels, B&Bs and vacation homes.
“When people are looking to visit Lodi they are looking for an experience, and I think when they stay in a bed and breakfast type it’s a popular way to fully experience our community,” Lodi Business Development Manager Adam Brucker said.
“You see this all over, but we’re seeing it more in Lodi and I see that as a real positive. I think people that are choosing that option are interested in a more authentic, more personal experience. Sometimes it could be more affordable but that depends on demand at any given moment.”
Lodi Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Pat Patrick agreed, pointing out that people like to have a unique experience when staying in a wine region so some may opt to stay in a bed and breakfast or boutique hotel.
In the past couple of years, bed and breakfasts and vacation rentals have opened their doors in the area, and Poppy Sisters Inn is the newest addition. The bed and breakfast has been open for almost a month and had its grand opening and ribbon cutting just last Thursday.
Local registered nurse Tricia Descent had always dreamed of having a bed and breakfast as she neared her retirement years.
“I was getting ready to leave nursing and I wanted to transition into something else. I’m not one that’s ever going to sit a round and do nothing while retired. I’ve wanted to do the bed and breakfast ever since I stayed at some bed and breakfasts in Europe when I was 19 or 20 years old.”
The original plan was for Descent and her sister to run the bed and breakfast together, but her sister passed a few years ago. Poppy Sisters Inn is a tribute to their dreams, Descent said.
“Back in the days when we were talking about what we’re going to be doing when retired one of the things she was passionate about was that the poppies were dying in California so we started repopulating,” Descent said. “We bought these big bags of poppy seeds and were repopulating the area and there was a little place that we went to with these local people that knew all the roads and they started calling us the crazy poppy sisters.”
Descent runs Poppy Sisters Inn with the help of her daughter, Katie, who covers for her when she is working part time as a nurse. Poppy Sisters Inn is a yellow 1907 Victorian home located at 533 W. Oak St. The house has five bedrooms and five bathrooms and four rooms are available for rent. Descent lives in the fifth bedroom. The house also includes large dining and living rooms and has a wraparound porch and an outdoor area for relaxation and eating. There is also a fire pit in the front yard.
Guests can also enjoy a homecooked breakfast every morning and an evening social hour.
Descent is also willing to assist guests in finding activities to do and places to visit during their stays in Lodi.
Rooms go for $150 per night with no additional rate on weekends or during special events.
In the short time it’s been open, the bed and breakfast has already had the opportunity to host a bridal party. Descent said.
“That worked out really well for them because the family that was in from out of town and the other family that lived in town all came in during the day before the wedding ceremony. Everybody was able to just come and be there and visit in a nice comfortable atmosphere where the family got to participate more with them.”
“A lot of people coming in, they want to go Downtown. They want to be able to have their meals Downtown and shop Downtown. I am just a couple of blocks from Downtown, so I think it gives you that atmosphere that once you’re there, you can just meander around in the area without even having to drive.”