REDINGTON BEACH, Fla. — Staple hotels and motels that have been around for decades sustained serious damage from the recent hurricanes.
That’s the case with The Sails Resort Motel on Reddington Beach, which the Zaneta Cieslak family has owned for the past 33 years.
What You Need To Know
- Family-owned The Sails Resort Motel in Redington Beach Motel was destroyed by storm surge and is working to rebuild
- The first floor was completely gutted by Hurricane Helene
- Several longtime vacationers have pitched in to help out and a GoFundMe was also set up to cover some costs
The first floor of their beloved family business, just steps away from the sand, was destroyed by Hurricane Helene.
The frame of the French doors that were knocked off the hinges by storm surge is still visible in their beach suite room.
“It just gutted it. It gutted the walls. It must have been with the French doors and the sofa because that was sledgehammered open,” Cieslak said.
Every room on the first floor had a similar fate.
“It was horrific. Doors were torn half off. Windows were busted in furniture was on our neighbor’s property,” said Cieslak.
That wasn’t the only thing to get swept up in flood waters from their beloved family business.
Her father Ted’s car title was returned after washing up in someone’s yard more than four blocks away. But the same can’t be said for their other memories.
“My dad can be charming. Ted’s charming. Everyone loves Ted. He’s a great dad and the guests love him. So, the kids would always draw little thank-you notes, saying ‘Mr. Ted, we had a great time’ or ‘we’ll see you next year.’ And we had a little folder of the drawings and who did it but that washed away,” said Cieslak.
With the second-floor rooms still intact and work already underway, Cieslak said there are some moments they were able to hold on to.
“We actually lived on the property. So, when families would come with their kids, we would all become friends, so every year we would have the same friends come visit. So, we would hang out and run around the beach and be kids. So, we grew up with those families,” she said.
Family is how they would describe most of the guests who check in at the Sails Resort Motel.
Those same people want to help now.
“A lot of people have reached out, which is very moving,” said Cieslak.
That kindness is also being shown through a fundraiser they set up to make up for the costs insurance won’t pay for.
Cieslak says she’s confident they’ll reach their goal.
“We’ll start again on the bottom floor,” she said. “Do as many updates as possible. Get the pool fixed up, the sunning deck, the landscaping the rooms of course and then start renting early next year. If not sooner.”
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