The Original Romar House Bed and Breakfast Inn

Come to the Original Romar House: A Seaside Bed & Breakfast Inn

Blending styles from the Caribbean to Australia into a delightful atmosphere all its own!

As the golden sun disappears beyond the white sandy beach, another memorable evening begins at The Original Romar House, Alabama's first seaside Bed and Breakfast Inn. Listen to the palm trees rustle in the wind, smell the salty air, and feel the cool Gulf Breeze while sipping a tropical drink on the deck of the Purple Parrot Bar overlooking the beautiful Gulf of Mexico.

Wake up to rediscover romance in a charmingly historic atmosphere, as the sun streams through the stained glass windows of your individually appointed room.

After breakfast, take a morning swim in the heated pool or stroll along the beach collecting seashells, curl up in a cypress swing or hammock and read a book, or relax in the hot-tub whirlpool spa.

You are only minutes by car to gift shops, golf courses, seafood restaurants, marinas, entertainment, and the Foley Outlet Mall. Break away from your everyday world. Come be a part of history at The Original Romar House Bed and Breakfast Inn.

Relax in the sun or take a nap under the covered deck.
Relax in the hot-tub jacuzzi with stained glass windows.

The Original Romar House Bed & Breakfast Inn has five individually appointed rooms, one suite, and one guest cottage, all with private bath.

The Purple Parrot Bar is an honor bar open to our guests and their friends. Closed Sunday.

If you are looking for quiet ambiance, comfort, unusual surroundings, friendly service and a relaxed atmosphere on the beach for a romantic weekend or just a "night on the town," you will find it at The Original Romar House Bed and Breakfast Inn.

The living room has seating for relaxing or watching television, and the Antique China Cabinet that has all the China for breakfast, and an old oak telephone booth that is the guests' private telephone for their use. There are no televisions or telephones in this romantic Inn except in the living room, bar, and Parrot House Cottage, so people can get away from the everyday rush of life. If there is a special event on television or if you have to make or receive a telephone call, you can do it in the "common" area of the living room or bar.

The Purple Parrot Gift Shop includes the "World Famous Purple Parrot T-Shirt" from Jerry Gilbreath's Purple Parrot Bar in Belize and the Purple Parrot Bar in the Original Romar House. Plus, many other gifts such as mugs, hats, and Purple Parrot Watches can be purchased.

The downstairs hallway has cypress doors from New Orleans that open to all the rooms and the bottom of the hallway itself are doors turned sideways to "wainscoat" the hallway. It features two antique sconces that are dated 1870. They came from a house two blocks from the White House in Washington, D.C.. Many framed feature articles that have been written in newspapers and magazines are displayed for guests to read.

Evening view of the pool facing the Original Romar House and a view looking back towards the Gulf of Mexico showing the 300 foot lighted five foot wide wood walkway to the beach.

A picture of the sign at the entranceway to the walkway and a view of the end of the walkway where you can sit and read a book, look out at the waves of the gulf, or just relax.

Guests enjoying themselves around the swimming pool. The pool has a stone waterfall and seats in the water so that guests can sit in the pool and enjoy a cocktail while the therapeutical water jets shoot water on their backs.

Jerry Gilbreath, Proprietor
The Original Romar House Bed and Breakfast Inn

Jerry Gilbreath is a retired attorney from Laurel, MS, an entrepreneur, a businessman and a former politician. Jerry practiced law until 2005 when he "retired". He owns businesses in 3 states along with a bar in the Central American Country of Belize named the Purple Parrot at Ramon's Village Resort. Jerry developed a condominium named the Purple Parrott Island Resort on Perdido Key, Florida named after his bar in Belize in the 1990's. He is a retired Colonel in the Army National Guard serving 32 years as a Staff Judge Advocate Officer. Jerry served 8 years in the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1975 to 1983.

In 1990, Jerry Gilbreath traveled to Key West, Florida and saw all of the big houses that had been turned into Bed and Breakfast Inns, and he came back and opened the Original Romar House Bed and Breakfast Inn in 1991. The Inn also has a bar named...The Purple Parrot!

In 2004, Hurricane Ivan destroyed the downstairs part of the Romar House, and after fighting with the insurance company for four (4) years, Jerry opened The Original Romar House Bed and Breakfast Inn again on September 23, 2008.

The Romar House is the ONLY old, unique beach house standing in the Gulf Shores/Orange Beach/Perdido Key area that has not been bulldozed down to make way for a condominium. In it 84 year history, the grand old house is still standing despite numerous hurricanes and offers of Millions of Dollars to bulldoze it down to build a condominium.

Hopefully, the history, charm and romance of this old house will insure its continued operation as a 1920's beach house for years to come.

"Amidst sand and other sandcastles, the Romar B & B is truly a treasure."
Marcia and Nathanial Shelton (Birmingham, AL)

"Don't change a thing! Great time, great food, great hostess, couldn't have been better!"
Mike and Mary Saathoff (Sterling, IL)

"A special honeymoon place…everything was wonderful."
Terry and Lenah Schroder (Santa Rosa Beach, FL)

"How can you describe Heaven on Earth? Here!!"
Michael and Kacy (GA)

"This is like going home to be with mama."
Don and Verna Hale (Cullman, AL)

"Hemingway would have approved…so do we! We'll be back soon!"
Beth and Henry Bailey (Memphis, TN)

"Just arrived and have fallen under a spell."
Glen and Roxanne Fox (New Orleans, LA)

"Homey beach paradise…we'll be back. Thanks for the TLC!"
Lori and John Tortora (Pikeville, TN)

"Inspected, approved and highly recommended!"
Sarah Sonke, American Bed & Breakfast Association

Jerry Gilbreath, the proprietor of The Original Romar House Bed and Breakfast Inn has owned a bar in San Pedro, Belize, a small English speaking country in Central America for twenty years. The Purple Parrot Bar in the Original Romar House is named after that bar. The front and back of the bar itself is over 100 years old and is from an old Inn in New Hampshire.

Jerry Gilbreath, on the right in blue sweater, serves guests complimentary wine, serves another group of people staying at the Inn complimentary wine and cheese.

The Purple Parrot Bar is a full service Honor Bar with soft drinks and all kinds of Beer, and a full assortment of alcohol to just serve yourself and write it down on your personal tab to pay at the end of your stay.

Also, in the bar, is an antique buffet made out of "Tiger Oak" (if you look closely at the picture, you can see the stripes on the tiger's back). This is where you can serve yourself coffee, hot chocolate or hot tea in the morning and read the complimentary newspaper. Look closely at the old pieces of wood on the wall behind the buffet. This is "FREDDY" wood. It is old pieces of wood that washed ashore after Hurricane Frederick in 1979.

The Hot Tub Jacuzzi in front of the two stained glass murals is open until 10 PM. Guests can enjoy a dip in the Jacuzzi after dinner or on the cold nights of winter, or just to relax in the warmer weather. It is suggested that they stay in the Jacuzzi no longer than 30 minutes so the other guests can enjoy it.

Greg and Deborah are excited to be on the beach at the Original Romar House where dreams do come true.  Greg is a retired businessman in retail and hospitality and Deborah is a noted Author and retired Registered Nurse.  The Collard's have a deep love for people, sharing stories about family and good times.  Father and Mother to three wonderful children:  Barresa, Michael and Ricci.  Grandparents of one beautiful little girl and six rambucious boys.   

Both, Greg and Deborah want to make your stay at The Original Romar House a memorable one. They both ask you to come on down and join in the fun and total relaxation that the most surreal atmosphere of the Inn can give you.  Stop reading and give us a call....your room awaits you!

Greg and Deborah

Guests served a Full Southern Breakfast on the 75 year old pine table

Guests eat their breakfast on the outside deck under a canopy overlooking the Gulf of Mexico

A full southern breakfast is served on the 75 year old pine table made by an Italian carpenter and Mr. Roach, the original owner. Breakfast consists of fresh fruit, orange juice, cereal; ham and sausage egg casserole; bacon, ham or sausage on the side; cheese grits for the Southerners, and hash browns and potatoes for the Northerners; and hot biscuits. 

Guests enjoy their breakfast on the outside deck under a canopy to protect them from the sun overlooking the beautiful beach and Gulf of Mexico.