Southport Magazine

Located right off Highway 87 heading into Southport, the Boiling Spring Lakes Motel has been a landmark in the area since it was built in 1962. Now, following Hurricane Florence and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the new owners have proudly reopened the motel after a full renovation and added a touch of rock n’ roll. 

Back in December 2018, local home renovators Bobby Goshell and Stephanie Bodmer bought the roadside motel. They had just finished a project in the area and were well aware of the effects Hurricane Florence had on the Boiling Spring Lakes community. Since they purchased the motel, Bobby and Stephanie have been hard at work refurbishing every aspect of the property. “The footprint is the same, but we took it down all the way to the studs,” Goshell said. Leading up to their grand re-opening, they chronicled the renovation on their Facebook page. Beds, tubs, and everything you’d expect to find in a motel is brand new. Outdoor decorations and furniture consist of up-cycled finds from all over, leaving many surprises to be found by and delight guests during their stay such as a “life-size” Sasquatch figure lurking in the nearby trees on the property.

The rooms themselves boast a fresh yet familiar feeling. Bright colors, psychedelic accents, and rock n’ roll imagery have been added throughout the property. Each room is equipped with a lava lamp, original tour posters from bands like Grateful Dead, and portraits of rock stars such as the late David Bowie. On display in the lobby, you can even find a guitar hanging on the wall signed by rock legend Alice Cooper. Local artist Gator Cove Pottery provided the motel with handcrafted mugs and soap dishes for the rooms in addition to a unique plaque found in the lobby. The landscaping of the property was done by Ernie Sirani. Stephanie and Bobby pride themselves on the motel’s outside spaces. Grills and outdoor dining areas can be found just as you exit the rooms, and a new smoking/sitting area is located near the parking lot furnished with some one-of-a-kind accents. 

When asked how COVID had affected their business and day-to-day operations, Bodmer said that other than a few cancellations around the holidays they had not suffered much loss of business since they reopened last November. Even then, they understood that that was when the virus was at its peak and that people were making the safest choices for their families. As for the daily operations, the housekeeping staff, which consists of only Bodmer and her mother Carroll Wolfe, have made cleaning the rooms a special routine. “We come in with a commercial disinfectant and disinfect every touchable surface. Light switches, tabletops, lamps, doorknobs, you name it,” Bodmer said, adding that they spend up to an hour cleaning each room, where the “industry standard” only requires 20 minutes. In addition to the strict cleaning routine, guests have the option of a fully “No Contact” stay. Every room has a lockbox located outside where the guest can simply enter the code given by the motel staff and retrieve the key to gain access for their stay. 

As for their regular clientele, the Boiling Spring Lakes Motel sees guests of all types. Families, traveling contractors, and even guests chasing nostalgia after staying at the BSL Motel in the past. “We’ve had folks come in and say ‘I used to come here in the ’80s! Boy, it has changed!’” Bodmer said. 

Some changes since that time haven’t exactly been positive. Since the damage done to the Sanford Dam back in the fall of 2018, the scenic lakeside attraction is still missing its lake. Bodmer is hopeful that when the lake is restored it will bring even more interested guests. They have plans to add some sand to the waterline, and even a dock on the property for folks to get the whole lake experience. In the meantime, they are continually improving the location with the addition of outdoor fireplaces and seating areas.  

With only six rooms on the property, the Boiling Spring Lakes Motel is a quiet and intimate location. Even as close as you are to the busy Hwy 87, you don’t hear the traffic that often goes by. Staying there is more affordable and lacks the often-seen beach aesthetic one finds in similar locations in the area making this little gem stand out for travelers looking for something different while visiting BSL and the surrounding areas. Working together as a family, Bodmer, Goshell, and Wolfe have helped this location rise from the ashes and have created a comfortable family atmosphere with just enough rock and roll flair to make a stay here unique, memorable, and fun for all who visit. To book a stay, you can simply visit their Facebook page, or call them at (910) 845-2893.