ABOVE: Guests can opt to have a massage by the waterfall at the pool.
By Mary Thurwachter
A decade has passed since Michael and Cheryl Crane scooped up a pair of plain-Jane 1950s apartment buildings and transformed them into a fetching boutique hotel with a whole lot of Key West-style appeal.
No two rooms are exactly alike, and each is decorated with local artwork and murals. “Guests love it,” said sales and marketing director Ashley Mileschkowsky. “When they make reservations, they ask for the room with the sea turtle (mural) or the grotto shower.”
Despite what guests at the 27-suite hotel may suspect, the hotel did not get its name from the long-legged birds known for noisy courting dances. Crane’s BeachHouse Hotel & Tiki Bar took its moniker from its owners, who have a home nearby.
But that doesn’t mean guests won’t encounter a crane or two at the resort perched at the corner of Gleason and Miramar, two blocks from the beach. The cranes at Crane’s, however, have been fashioned by local artists and frequently find themselves in the background of vacation snapshots.
While the cranes don’t dance around the hotel’s tiki bars and pools (there are two of each), tourists do, especially during happy hour from 5 to 9 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Happy hours are open to the public, says hotel manager Cathy Balestriere.
Since the early days in 2002, the staff has grown from three employees to 22 today, Balestriere says. Annual occupancy has risen from 23 percent to 68 percent. Some guests stay for a night, others for months.
Rooms at Crane’s boast Key West-style appeal.
Photos provided
While it’s not technically a bed-and-breakfast, guests receive a complimentary continental breakfast in a large tiki hut constructed by Seminole Indians, and may opt for a soothing massage beside a waterfall in the lush tropical gardens.
“They think of this as their beach house,” Mileschkowsky said. Couples are charmed by the place, she says, but families with children are welcome, too — as are dogs, who even get a special treat when they check in with their two-legged pals.
“The key has been having guests return,” Balestriere said. “We invest in our guests.”
Birthdays, anniversaries, and other celebrations are marked with special service, such as a bottle of wine or cake or other treats placed in the guests’ rooms when they arrive. If a guest is allergic to feathers, the feather bed is removed ahead of time. Ice cream bars and other treats are stocked in the in-room refrigerators.
Crane’s BeachHouse is gearing up for its own celebration this month.
“We are really excited about our birthday party on Nov. 15,” Balestriere said. “Several of the top chefs in Delray will compete to win ‘The Best Bite on the Avenue’ contest. The buzz of competition is already starting, and I am sure each of the head chefs will bring their top tastings to the event.”
The event, billed as a 10-10-10 Win-Win-Win Party, takes place from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 15 and caps this year’s series of Third Thursday Fundraisers at Crane’s. Admission is free, and there will be live music.
Every time someone buys a drink, he/she receives a special gold coin. Visitors will be encouraged to drop their coins in their favorite restaurant/charity’s treasure chest. By the end of the evening, each charity receives $1 for every gold coin.
“That’s why our 10-10-10 party is win-win-win for everyone,” Balestriere said. “Restaurants and charities get to promote themselves, and party-goers get to enjoy great food and great company.”
For more information on the party or the hotel at 82 Gleason St. in Delray Beach, call 278-1700 or www.cranesbeachhouse.com.
A whimsical sign shows the way to points of interest at Crane’s BeachHouse Hotel & Tiki Bar.
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