Location: 210 Wichita Ln, Williamsburg, VA 23188

Phone:(757) 243-6789

Website: www.theserendipityinn.com

Meet Deborah Hoernlein, Owner/ Operator of the Serendipity Inn

• How long have you owned your business?
  • Since December 2018
• How did you get started in your business/ industry?
  • Life long dream combined with a dauntless tenacity
• What is a common misconception about your business?
  • That due to our rural location offering privacy and seclusion, it means that we are too far away from Williamsburg’s top attractions. When in reality we are a short 10 minute drive to most of them.
• What makes you different from the other businesses in this area? Why should a customer pick you?
  • We cater to romance, luxury and privacy for a truly romantic stay. Keeping it to only two couples with the best in soundproofing, guests feel like their time here is truly private and can fully enjoy their romantic time together. I think B&B’s in general are wonderful in their historic appeal and location, but often lack the privacy that guests wanting a ” honey-moon ” stay or ” let’s relax under the stars in the hot tub or sit on the hill top and watch the sunset hold hands and reconnect ” . We put the focus on the time together and not so much a hurried tour filled packed day.
• What is the most rewarding thing you get out of what you do?
  • I have been blessed and traveled much of my life – both here and abroad, enjoying romantic vacations, to exploring new cultures. Now my enjoyment comes when I see the smile on the guests’ faces & hear them say the wonderful things they enjoyed about Serendipity, their time spent here together and knowing I was part of helping another couple remember the important things in life and creating a lasting memory. That always makes me smile.

And now some fun questions…

• Do you have a nickname?
  • Ma’Ma but that’s exclusive to my oldest who’s off to college. It’s not a everyday word just one that comes up when she’s not to busy with AP courses and asserting her autonomy that I know when she uses it she’s in that place of remembering all my sacrifices and her appreciation for them shows.
• What is one food that you will not eat?
  • Blood sausage
• What is your favorite movie?
  • The Magic of Belle Isle with Morgan Freeman
• What is the one quality you admire most in others?
  • Integrity – it’s not easy to find but when found it is highly valued
• Where is the next place you want to visit?
  • Norie Burnet’s Eden Woods. I recently received a personal invite from Norie and hope to visit before the Azaleas stop blooming. Her moss garden has been documented in the Smithsonian’s Archives of American Gardens. Hers is primary Thuidium delicatulum(Fern Moss) and mine should fill in completely with hypnum iponens tolerant of sun as well as shade. Eco-friendly and kind to nature ‘ birds & pollinators “.
• If you had to pick one place in town to take a tourist, where would it be?
  • York River State Park. We should be doing sunset ” grab your paddle ” tours for our guests come May 1st that will be open to the public as well.
• Describe your perfect day off.
  • Relaxing in my screened in porch, reading magazine, listening to the birds and time to time grabbing my binoculars to bird watch and do a bit of work in the moss garden. It’s very calming laying in the moss, grooming it while hearing the birds sing.