 Courtney's Place Key West Historic Cottages & Inns! Come stay in Key West like
a Native - Our exclusive guest cottages, efficiencies & private
rooms are situated off a quiet lane in the heart of the historic district of
Old Key West. The guest quarters accommodations at Courtney's Place Key West Historic Cottages & Inns all have been created out of Key West cottages and
homes well over 100 years old. We happen to be on the highest point on the
Island-18ft. above sea level. Our Key West neighborhood is one of authenticity and
has seen little change over the last 50 years – it is made up of some of the
original descendants of the Island – Conchs, Bahamians, Dogs, Cats, Birds. Legend has it that years ago during Key West’s heyday as a shipwrecking
town, pirates would come up to this area and bury their gold and treasures
that were stolen from the cargo ships that lay wrecked on the Atlantic coral
reefs. Several years ago one of our neighbors, while digging a swimming
pool, found $10,000 in gold coins (No shovels, please!). History tells us
our little lane was once called “Cat Alley”, in the early 50’s it was
renamed Whitmarsh Lane after Mary Whitmarsh, one of Hemmingway’s best
friends. In fact, she owned one of our cottages.
 Courtney’s
Place Key West Historic Cottages & Inns is located 150 miles south of Miami and 90 miles NW of Havana,
Cuba. We are situated 1 1/2 blocks north of the World Famous Duval Street –
7 blocks from the Atlantic Ocean and 7 blocks from the Gulf of Mexico and 4
blocks from Hemingway’s home. So we are just minutes from all the
attractions-beaches, fishing, snorkeling, diving, museums, shopping, live
theater and restaurants. You can walk; bike or even try a moped.
Our Key West units are nestled among a tropical garden and small pool
- all have been totally renovated to give you all the amenities of home, but
we’ve kept the charm that history has brought to this tiny Island. Our Key West
accommodations are cozy, clean and cool – they all have private entrances,
so you won’t be tip toeing here. Courtney’s Place Key West Historic Cottages & Inns consists of 8
cottages, 3 efficiencies, and 6 private rooms. Care has been taken to
furnish and decorate each unit warmly and in a way that
makes you feel at home. We try to make your stay in Key West as enjoyable
and comfortable as possible. Staff is considered family and has lived on the Island for a number of years,
some of us even born here. Our goal is
to be as accommodating as possible. We are People Friendly, Children Friendly,
Pet Friendly – we’re just plan FRIENDLY and we
Welcome All!
Courtney’s Place Key West Historic Cottages & Inns is owned and operated by Chuck and Linda Krumel and their
daughter Courtney. After coming to Key West on vacation, from the cold north
– Linda an art major from New York and Chuck a mass communications major and
musician from Virginia. , fell in love first with this Island and both
migrated here some 30 years ago. Then we fell in love with each in the early
70’s. The 70’s were the “Hey Day” of our era in Key West; the Island had not
been totally discovered by the world yet. It was a haven for Artist,
Writers, Smugglers, Shrimpers, Hippies, Gays and Corruption – houses
were selling for a few thousand dollars each. We got our master degrees in
renovating conch houses and
 working at Capt. Tony’s Saloon. Linda ran the
Saloon and Chuck was a singer/songwriter. We partied with the best;
Tennessee Williams, Jimmy Buffett, Tom McGuane, Capt. Tony, Chris Gantry,
Susan Nadler, Viola Veidt, Margaret Foresman - just to name a few. Along
came the 80’s and Courtney was born – career change - there was “NO” place
to buy clothes for her, so we opened a children's department store “A World
for Children” on Duval Street. During the late 80’s Key West was really
making big changes from a Fishing Village to a Tourist Destination, a close
friend of ours from the 70’s, Shel Silverstein, suggested we open a
Guesthouse with a restaurant – he loved Linda’s cooking. So another career
change took place, but with out the restaurant – Courtney’s Place was
borne and here we still are. Chuck spends part of the year in Nashville at
Morgan Music as a songwriter and the other half at PT’s on Caroline Street. As a family we try to spend a couple of months a year in the Thousand
Islands – renovating our old boathouse. So if you
have decided to come to Old Key West and you want to explore this great
Island full of History, let us be your guide. Maybe you just want to relax,
read a novel, hang out at the beach, or try a little deep sea fishing, scuba
diving, snorkeling, sailing, or just indulge in great seafood, or are you
feeling a bit more adventurous - want to find your own treasure ship? Better
yet - Become one of Key West Famous Characters – “Please” - come stay
with us at Courtney’s Place. |
