A Tropical Paradise

The Reimagined Rosemary Beach Inn

By Jordan Staggs | Photography courtesy of Rosemary Beach Inn

Palm fronds cascade over walls and stairwells while hummingbirds sip from giant blooms, butterflies take flight, and wild rosemary climbs toward the ceiling. If this sounds like a scene from a tropical oasis, it’s because Katherine Boggs’s vision was to create an escape that evokes peace, beauty, and beachside respite at the Rosemary Beach Inn.

Boggs, a mural artist based in South Walton, Florida—those familiar with the area might know her work from Borago Italian restaurant—was recently commissioned to work her magic in each of Rosemary Beach Inn’s eleven guest rooms and suites. Her paintings also spill down the stairwells, inviting guests to explore further as they head up to their rooms from the ground floor, which also houses the Summer Kitchen Café. The beautiful artistic additions to the inn are just one part of a grander renovation helmed by innkeeper Cameron Fletcher and owners Miriam and James Dillon.

“We’re so excited to have Katherine’s work at the inn to bring a fresh look and beautiful addition to our guest rooms,” Fletcher says. “It’s added a lot of personality to all eleven rooms, along with new furnishings and tile, linens, and upgraded amenities.”

The recent updates were unveiled along with the murals at an Open House in late February when locals and visitors alike joined the Rosemary Beach Inn team to celebrate and tour the space. Each of the guest rooms and suites includes a smart TV with streaming apps available, complimentary Wi-Fi, Illy coffee pods with a Keurig, Rishi Tea with a Bodum kettle, a complimentary bag of Swell Snacks, a mini fridge, and Salt & Stone premium bath products. The lobby offers vending machines and a complimentary water refill station. Guests also enjoy the perks of staying in the heart of Rosemary Beach® with complimentary breakfast from the Summer Kitchen Café, access to the community fitness center and pool, and a complimentary beach chair setup on the private beach just steps from the inn.

Innkeeper Cameron Fletcher | Photo by Amanda Suanne

Views abound of the Gulf and charming Main Street overlooking the Rosemary Beach Town Center, ensuring picture-perfect moments for every stay, whether it’s a summer vacation or holiday escape when the town is covered in Christmas lights.

The Dillons opened Summer Kitchen Café in Rosemary Beach in 1999, soon becoming a favorite among locals and visitors. They later purchased the iconic building known as “The Pensione” on the corner of Main Street and Water Street. It became the Rosemary Beach Inn in 2015, sitting pretty in its brick-red glory across the sweeping green lawn from the beach. Running the inn and café has truly been a family affair ever since, as their children Kaitlyn, Cameron, and Aidan have all pitched in to work in the café from a young age, growing up playing on the lawn and enjoying family bonfires on the beach in this idyllic place they all call home.

Cameron, who returned to the family business a few years ago and assumed the role of innkeeper in 2024, is especially proud and excited to usher in this new season of life for the Rosemary Beach Inn. “This has been the dream job I never knew I wanted until now,” she shares. “I love coming here every day, meeting our guests, and making sure their stay is the best it can be.”

James and Miriam share that updating the inn with modern amenities has been a great endeavor. They hope this will entice guests to stay throughout the year, including larger parties or wedding parties who might wish to rent the entire inn for the weekend.

Throughout all the recent renovations, the building has retained its charm. Its facade remains unchanged, with the striped awning and vintage “Pensione” marquee keeping the nostalgia alive. Inside the lobby, guests can peruse a selection of photos and news clippings telling the inn and café’s stories from over the years. Seating nooks and porthole-style windows in some of the guest rooms lend to its unique, small-town inn appeal, while Boggs’s artwork breathes new life into each one. Cheers to the Rosemary Beach Inn on a decade of providing beautiful stays in the heart of Rosemary Beach, and we hope to celebrate it for many years to come!

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Visit TheRosemaryBeachInn.com or call (844) 865-5783 to book your stay, and follow @therosemarybeachinn for more news.