The Charming Original Romar House Offers History Along with Seaside Views

By: Jim Hannaford

Visiting the Original Romar House is like stepping into another world, and it’s one that Jerry Gilbreath created piece by piece. A retired lawyer and developer from Laurel, Miss., Jerry has left his mark in a lot of different areas, and this particular one’s very close to his heart.

Built in 1924, it’s the oldest remaining structure in Orange Beach, and that’s just part of its story. 

Motorists swishing by on the busy Perdido Parkway may barely notice it, but that little yellow house in Romar Beach holds a lot of history. 

“I have a lot of properties in different places, but this one’s a lot more than an investment—it’s personal,” Jerry says. 

He visits his pride and joy every few months and enjoys mingling with his guests who find the warm, comfortable home a relaxing and refreshing alternative to bustling hotels and high-rise condos. His recent stay coincided with an open house and weekend celebration calling attention to the anniversary of the house’s construction a century ago.

“We had 150 people come by for the open house, and many of them said they had been passing by this place for years and wanted to stop in and see what it’s all about,” says Jerry. “What makes it unusual—or special, maybe—is that it’s almost like a museum inside.”

Indeed, old photographs fill a scrapbook on display inside the inn, and framed copies of articles about the house hang prominently. You’ll also see some of Jerry’s personal mementos and memorabilia. It’s obvious that he’s the kind of guy who’s seen a lot and done a lot and loves to share his memories. 

There are a total of seven guest rooms, including those in an adjoining cottage, and there seems to be an interesting tale behind the origin of every feature and furnishing. Despite its humble origin a hundred years ago, the Original Romar House has matured with an elegance that reflects its owner’s more worldly aesthetic. Some of the decorative items—such as the brass lighting fixtures, stately wooden doors, and richly colored stained glass windows—came from mansions in New Orleans, which is another of his favorite places.

“Jerry is very eclectic, and the house is Louisiana-inspired because he loves Louisiana,” says Lilia Bard, who manages the B&B. “It’s charming and it has a lot of history because it’s 100 years old, but another thing that sets it apart is it doesn’t have that same beach vibe as the other places around here. When you walk in, you almost feel like you’re walking into Grandma’s house or like you’re coming home.”

A more tropical element at the Original Romar House is an exotic bird with purple plumage. It’s been a recurring motif for Jerry since he opened a bar called The Purple Parrot at Ramon’s Village Resort in San Pedro, Belize, in 1984. He later developed the Purple Parrot Village Resort in Perdido Key and uses the same moniker for both the gift shop and bar area at his B&B. 

“I like the name because it implies that it’s jungle-y,” Jerry says.

Just steps from the Gulf of Mexico, the house began its life as a modest getaway for two business associates from Mobile and their families. What you see when you drive up was originally the rear of the house while the front of it faced the sand beach and open waters. 

Have you been wondering how Romar Beach got its name? Here’s the answer: Romar comes from the first letters of the last names of Spurgeon Roche and Carl “Zeke” Martin, the two men who built side-by-side houses on the property. At the time of construction, the surrounding crowded landscape we see today was a mostly undeveloped stretch of shoreline that extended for about three miles, from the present-day Gulf State Park on one end to Highway 161 on the other.

Sadly, the Martin house next door fell to Hurricane Frederic in 1979, but the Roche house survived, and Jerry bought it soon after. The sturdy structure has endured countless storms before and since, of course, and faced a particularly fierce battle when Hurricane Ivan battered it in 2004, leaving several feet of sand in the house and pool.

Jerry opened it as a bed and breakfast in 1991, at a time when he was still busy as a practicing attorney and had already served two terms in Mississippi’s House of Representatives and was active with the Republican Party. His specialties, he says, were personal liability and Workman’s Comp cases, and for 30 years, he also represented the owner of Headrick Outdoor Media, the big billboard company.

An early bit of notoriety happened for Jerry some 55 years ago when he was a student at the University of Mississippi. He found an enterprising way to capitalize on the sensational success and popularity of Ole Miss’ quarterback, Archie Manning, who was a friend and fellow student. Contacting a company in nearby Hernando, Miss., he placed an order for 1,000 red buttons with the “ARCHIE” in blue letters. He figured he could easily recoup his investment of $92, he says, but was delighted at the incredible demand for what became must-have fashion accessories.

The first batch sold out in a day, and before long he offered variations lettered with phrases like “ARCHIE’S ARMY,” “ARCHIE FOR HEISMAN,” “ARCHIE WHO?” and “GO TO HELL LSU.”

“I sold thousands and thousands of them,” he says. “I made enough money to put myself through the last year of college and through law school.”

Seated on a sofa in the lobby of his inn recently, Jerry reflected on his life and accomplishments as traffic on the beach highway buzzed softly in the background. 

“I was a politician, lawyer, entrepreneur, and businessman, but being an entrepreneur was my favorite of all because that’s the kind of person I am. I’m a developer, and I love seeing things built and seeing my ideas become reality.”