Welcome to Lighthouse Inn

ROCKPORT, Texas (June 26, 2003) – History is being made in Rockport. Construction is about complete on the area's newest historic landmark, The Lighthouse Inn at Aransas Bay, and will open tomorrow.

The 78-room boutique hotel welcomes its first guests this weekend and is the "newest historic resort" on the Texas Gulf Coast. Dallas entrepreneur James "Rocky" Reese and his Heritage Holdings Inc. have invested $8 million to ensure the new project and its Victorian-era architecture will become established "history" on opening day.

The clean white lines of the inn and the towering lighthouse that dominates the structure are hard to miss along the waterfront. After nearly a year of construction the thoroughly modern hotel is ready to welcome visitors to enjoy its historic atmosphere on the shores of Fulton Harbor and Aransas Bay, a three-hour drive from Houston, San Antonio and Austin.

The inn was designed to fill a void in the Rockport-Fulton hospitality market and provide quality, upscale accommodations on the Texas Gulf Coast. This new resort 35 miles north of Corpus Christi should appeal to a variety of visitors, including business, leisure and extended-stay travelers from Texas and out of state.

"We've tried hard to create a new kind of resort, one that appeals to tourists while being a landmark that will make the Rockport community proud," Reese said. "With tourism being the leading industry here, The Lighthouse Inn should be a boost to the local economy as we attract travelers seeking a luxury experience on the Gulf Coast."

With on-property fishing available, as well as the resort's proximity to the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Goose Island State Park, and the 18-hole Bill Coore-designed Rockport Country Club, The Lighthouse Inn is especially tailored for outdoor enthusiasts. History buffs will appreciate the inn's proximity to a true Victorian treasure, the elegant Fulton Mansion, and the Texas Maritime Museum.

The Lighthouse Inn's 36 single rooms have two queen beds, while 42 suites include a full kitchen, king-size bed and sleeper sofa, and each room offers a private balcony with rocking chairs. Other amenities include a landscaped courtyard with a pool and hot tub; a fitness center with bay views; The Mercantile gift shop, and an intimate library.

Guests and area residents will also enjoy The Palm Room, a full-service restaurant and bar that sets a new standard for dining in the Aransas Bay area. The Palm Room offers a panoramic view of the bay, while serving breakfast, lunch and dinner in a comfortable atmosphere of attentive service and fine dining. The menu features certified Black Angus beef and has a strong emphasis on fresh seafood.

Business travelers have high-speed Internet access, and two spacious conference rooms, one with a private balcony overlooking the bay.

Getaway packages to introduce Lighthouse Inn offer lodging, meals and a wide variety of activities rolled into one inclusive price from $209 to $860 for two people. Packages include fishing and golf, romantic getaway weekends, try-your-luck casino cruise excursions, and family-style vacations designed to make it easy and affordable to enjoy Rockport and The Lighthouse Inn.

The Lighthouse Inn is in Rockport on the Texas Gulf Coast between the Copano and Aransas bays at 200 S. Fulton Beach Road, six blocks east of State Highway 35. For information and reservations call 866-790-VIEW (8439), visit www.lighthousetexas.com.

The Lighthouse Inn Debuts as Gulf Coast Landmark