Located on a peninsula between an ocean and two bays, the Mermaid Inn & RV Park is a lodging establishment with both motel rooms and RV sites. The property is named after a 9-foot tall wood carving of a mermaid that is displayed at the business's entrance. Some of the notable features of the inn include a communal barbeque area, grassy sections with picnic tables for each RV site, and the inclusion of retro-decorated refrigerators and microwaves within each motel room. The property is owned by Karla and Bill, who have been there since 2017. Mermaid Inn is open year-round, though it is typically the busiest between the Fourth of July and Labor Day weekend.
The Mermaid Inn & RV Park is, as its name implies, a lodging establishment with both motel rooms and sites for recreational vehicles. The business is located a few minutes' walk from the North Pacific Ocean in Long Beach, Washington. More specifically, the city of Long Beach can be found on a peninsula that is bordered in part by the Baker and Willapa Bays. There are a total of 10 motel rooms and 11 RV sites at the Mermaid Inn, with varying amenities that are offered for the two categories of units.
The most distinctive feature of the property is its namesake, namely a 9-foot tall wooden carving of a mermaid featured directly next to the business's main sign. Just beyond it can be found the small parking lot that the motel shares with a Mexican restaurant next door, El Compadre. The motel is decorated in white and blue colors, further accented by hanging bushes near the parking lot. The main office of the property is located by the motel and is decorated in a similar fashion. Behind the motel are the RV sites, which can be accessed by means of a U-shaped driveway that curves behind both the motel and the adjoining restaurant. This allows visitors to approach the RV park portion of the property from either side.
Some of the amenities that are offered to all visitors to Mermaid Inn & RV Park include use of a small barbeque area with picnic tables, a covered fish/clam cleaning station, a patio with various chairs and a fire pit, and use of coin-operated laundry machines. One other feature shared across all unit types is the use of the property's Wi-Fi at no additional cost. The interior of the motel rooms contain 1850s-themed refrigerators and microwaves, in addition to coffee makers, televisions, and mermaid-themed linens. The RV sites come equipped with full hook-ups (including cable television), personal grassy areas with picnic tables, and access to a bathhouse with both male and female restrooms. The level of electric amps used at Mermaid Inn & RV Park ranges from 20 to 30 amps.
One of the biggest draws of the property is its proximity to the beach nearby. Both the North Pacific Ocean and two nearby bays are accessible with only a short period of travel time. Many people are visiting the peninsula as a whole because of the bays. In the words of one of Mermaid Inn's owners, Karla, "Everybody's here for the beach." Some of the possible activities that are possible on the beach include things such as driving a vehicle over the sand, fishing or hunting for the razor clams that frequent the nearby area. Such razor clams are often used in clam chowders.
It should be noted that breakfast is not served for either the RV sites or the motel rooms. Other than the refrigerators, microwaves, coffee makers, and barbeque area, all food preparation is the responsibility of the guests who visit the property. Mermaid Inn & RV Park is open year-round, with a peak occupancy from the Fourth of July to Labor Day weekend.
One thing that various guests have mentioned about the Mermaid Inn is the fact that it is generally quieter than expected. One such guest explained their experience very concisely: "Nice and quiet. Super clean." Karla, who is one of the inn's owners, explains that she hopes the people who stay with her feel like they are "staying at their aunt's house." To her, making that goal a reality includes attempting to create a "clean and cozy atmosphere" and "treating people like family when they walk through the door." She is also in the habit of giving guests a notice ahead of time when there are local activities that will take place during their stay. If a patron is unsure what attractions to participate in, Karla is willing to make suggestions for them.
Though the property is open year-round, Karla's favorite time of year in the Long Beach, Washington area is the fall. During that season, the atmosphere is a little more relaxed than over the summer. "It's beautiful and the temperature is a little more moderate." Some other potential benefits of the fall season are the fact that it can be easier to traverse the community and that the sunsets are often more colorful.
Mermaid Inn & RV Park adheres to a few policies in an effort to provide their desired experience for guests. The RV park is classified as "adult-only" with the hope that the space will be quieter. A property-wide "quiet time" is also instigated from 10 PM to 8 AM each day. Overall the main idea for guests is to be "respectful to their neighbors," explains Karla. There are no specific rules regarding smoking or pets when it comes to the RV park, though smoking is not permitted in any of the motel rooms.
Guests frequently mention the hospitality of both Karla and her partner Bill, the property's location, and the appearance of the motel rooms. One guest stated, "Super clean, cute, and cozy motel. Loved all the decorations. Close enough to walk to town and there is a Mexican restaurant next door as well as another bar/restaurant a few yards away next to the gas station."
The property that is now known as Mermaid Inn & RV Park was initially converted into a motel back in 1953. At the time, the property was known as "Sand-Lo Motel." The name was given to the property by the original owner, who was a veteran of WWII. More specifically, the name was based on one of the beaches that he had landed on in France during his time in the war. Following his time in the war, the original owner had thought it a good idea to open a motel in the area. When the motel first opened its doors, it only had six units. It wasn't until a few years down the road that the owner was able to create four more rooms after winning a sizable amount of cash on a vacation.
Many years later, the RV park was constructed. Not much is known of the property's history in this time period, though the mermaid that now sits at the front entrance of the inn has a detailed story behind its relocation. The 9-foot tall wooden structure was originally a community decoration, but as time passed there were many people who expressed that it was too revealing to be displayed by the city. The owners of Sand-Lo Motel at this time noticed that the mermaid had disappeared from its usual spot, so they went to city hall to find out what had happened to it. It was revealed that the city was planning on burning the carving later that same day, so the owners of the motel requested that they be able to take it to their property instead. The request was granted, and in subsequent years the name of the business was changed to Mermaid Inn & RV Park.
The current owners of the inn are Karla and Bill, and the owners directly before them were Jackie and Ray Gerke. Jackie had passed away some years prior, leaving Ray as the sole proprietor of the inn for nearly seven years. Karla and Bill purchased the establishment in 2017 and have been running it ever since. During their time at Mermaid Inn, they have instituted a number of changes. Such changes include updating the linens used in the motel rooms, purchasing the retro microwaves/refrigerators and new picnic tables, revamping the plumbing, and painting certain areas of the property.
Karla has been in the lodging industry since she started working as a youth. She transitioned through the coffee and airline industries and eventually worked as part of the office management for a construction company. She considers herself to be a "Jill of all trades," and works with her partner Bill, who is a contractor, to find new ways to improve the Mermaid Inn. Eventually, they plan on building more RV spots, seeing as how they have some empty land on the property that isn't being used for anything at the moment.
1910 Pacific Ave
Long Beach, Washington 98631
United States
Motel and RV
Karla and Bill
Ray and Jackie Gerke
