Page 84 - Discover South Mississippi - Fall, 2021

ACCOMMODATIONS
story by Gabbie Bowden photos courtesy of Christy Ryan
THE HEMINGWAY
THE STUFF THAT NOVELS ARE MADE OF
In the spring, frequenters of downtown Ocean Springs may have noticed a subtle change to the train-tracked beginning of Washington Avenue. Standalone gas lanterns and a red door mark The Hemingway, the new boutique hotel in town, named after and inspired by the infamous author Ernest Hemingway. After months of continued contact and legalities, owners Jessica and Joe Cloyd can officially say the Hemingway family approves of their project. “When we opened, we reached out to the Hemingway family and have been in discussions with their team about licensing and imagery,” says Joe. “We’ve just been granted a license by the family, which is an honor for us.”
The Cloyds are also co-owners of The Roost, another historic-building-turned-hotel in Ocean Springs. “We cut our teeth in the hotel business at The Roost, which we’re currently expanding for the third time,” says Jessica. They knew hospitality demand was high in Ocean Springs when 929 Washington Avenue came available and
decided to take the plunge into another historic revitalization. “When we were in the middle of the renovation, we knew that we wanted a hotel on the top floor. We were fixing a water intrusion and realized that sheetrock was covering the original 100-year-old brick. From there, the project shifted into a conversation about who will be
84 DISCOVER COASTAL MISSISSIPPI Fall 2021
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