Fairfield Harbour B&B bucks trends

FAIRFIELD HARBOUR — Think “Bed & Breakfast” and what comes to mind? A charming turn-of-the-century house converted to charming rooms, with a charming breakfast served in the charming parlor?

Put those thoughts out of your head.

But the words “converted condo” don’t come close to describing Broad Creek Guest Quarters, a collection of six rooms in an institutional-looking building near the marina at Fairfield Harbour.

There’s a certain sameness to the architecture in that part of Fairfield Harbour, as if the architects didn’t want to distract from the gorgeous waterfront vistas, the colorful marina and the sunsets-over-water that are rather uncommon on the East Coast.

Harold Erickson and Peg Egan, Broad Creek’s owners and innkeepers, are among many who stumbled upon Fairfield Harbour. The couple were sailing around the world when they made a stop there. They fell in love with the place and moved there in 2004. A year later they started their bed & breakfast. They eventually sold their boat to buy more rooms for their business.

Their six rooms are well-appointed and comfortable, and the meals are home-cooked. What differentiates Broad Creek Guest Quarters from most other bed & breakfasts are the other amenities — the views, the proximity to the marina, tennis, indoor and outdoor pools, a spa, golfing, and riverfront views.

The couple call their inn a “bed & breakfast resort.”

A doctor practicing in New Bern was staying at Broad Creek. After quitting work for the day, he was back at the inn within a half hour, relaxing in the pool, Erickson said.

This week a couple drove up from Swansboro and asked for an early check-in, but they didn’t want breakfast; they wanted to do all their dining in New Bern. Erickson is proud that his inn helped contribute to New Bern’s economy.

The price for a night’s stay ranges from $89 in the winter to $149 during peak season. A home-cooked breakfast and all amenities are included. There are discounts for senior citizens, AARP members and for extended stays.

Erickson had worked for Con Ed in New York for 30 years as a major accounts representative. He took an early retirement in 1986 and commissioned the construction of a high-end yacht that he rented out for discount tours of the Hudson River.

“The idea was to give Metro Area residents an alternative to the opera and theater,” Erickson said.

Boating is in Erickson’s blood. His uncle and cousin were commercial fisherman. His uncle owned a 96-foot schooner that he operated out of New York Harbor. His uncle was a lobsterman and fished for cod, but the Great Depression took its toll and he lost his boat.

Harold and Peg met in Charleston, S.C., in 1991, while Harold was sailing to The Bahamas. They married that same year. Harold never did make it to The Bahamas.

Now that they are without a boat and landlocked, the couple are focusing their lives on the hospitality business. They are constantly fussing over their rooms, adding more features and upgrading the furnishings as time goes by.

It’s a habit Erickson learned when he was in the charger yacht business.

He says there are two rules that drive his business: First, the customer is always right. Second, when in doubt, refer to rule No. 1.

Randy Foster can be reached at rfoster@freedomenc.com or by calling (252) 635-5663.