The home that became Bay Town Inn survived 100 years until Hurricane Katrina hit

Editor’s note: Mississippi Today Ideas is publishing guest essays from people impacted by Hurricane Katrina during the week of the 20th anniversary of the storm that hit the Mississippi Gulf Coast on Aug. 29, 2005.

On Aug. 28, 2005, six friends came to stay at the Bay Town Inn in Bay St. Louis as Hurricane Katrina was approaching.

At the time, the Bay Town Inn consisted of eight bedrooms and baths, a large kitchen and a wonderful dining room with a table for 12. It was across the street from the beach and had a beautiful view of the sunrise. But that sunrise was not so beautiful one day later.

The house that was the Bay Town Inn was built in 1899 and had withstood many storms. We all felt the house would be able to handle this one. And, we felt the storm was going toward New Orleans, mo