Larry and Danae Diana are the owners of the Birds of Paradise Inn and Gardens. Paradise found Paradise has been found at Baffin Bay and guests can experience this restful haven surrounded by lush South Texas vegetation with a nearby beach.

The Birds of Paradise Inn and Gardens creates a serene peaceful atmosphere reflecting a new unique lodging experience on the South Texas Gulf Coast.

Larry and Danae Diana own the Birds of Paradise Inn and Gardens, encompassing 100 acres in the Loyola Beach area. The couple promise the Birds of Paradise Inn will provide quiet and restful accommodations similar to specialty boutique hotels.

Located on two acres of unique landscaping, guests have access to 150 feet of bay front property. The Birds of Paradise Inn is located at 602 South County Road 1150 and the Gardens are located about half a mile from the Inn.

Their motto states: “Relax, revitalize and renew.”

Danae Diana shows some of her landscaping efforts feature a variety of plants that lend South Texas very colorful look to the Birds of Paradise Inn. on the shore of Baffin Bay The new Birds of Paradise Inn beach guest suites opened early this year with two 2-bedroom suites and one 1-bedroom suite.

The suites feature vaulted ceilings with fans in each room, satellite television reception, high definition televisions with sports channels, wireless Internet and central air and heat.

The complete kitchens include dishes, glassware, pots and pans, toaster, coffee maker, refrigerator and stove with oven. The Inn also has futon couches and complimentary coffee and tea.

Also evident are Solatube skylights, large walk in showers, hair dryers.

Bedroom, bath, and kitchen linens are also available. Each guest suite has a large porch with a barbecue grill.

The Kingsville Chamber of Commerce and friends were out in full force for a traditional ribbon cutting ceremony. The beach house that will be ready the last half of the year will have three bedrooms, two full baths, a large kitchen, separate dining area and two living areas with the lodging located near the water with a private gazebo.

“This is paradise and this place is fantastic,” said Danae Diana.

“There is so much here and something spiritual.”

The couple first visited Loyola Beach in 2002 and were scouting the area to purchase property. They met with a Kingsville realtor.

The couple purchased the property in 2004 and were living in the Dallas area at that time.

They lived at Baffin Bay on a part time basis at first and on a full time basis by 2005. Both agreed they made the right decision when they purchased the property, because they wanted someplace to retire that was located on the water.

The new Birds of Paradise Inn and Gardens is open for business and available to guests. The buildings are new and painted a rich blue.

The couple landscaped the property around the inn with low maintenance South Texas plants.

Danae Diana participated in the master gardening program.

The first guests at the Birds of Paradise Inn were a North Carolina couple who raised carrier pigeons.

The Dianas are being contacted by interested people in various states because of their Internet website.

Danae Diana’s father served in the Air Force and the family lived in many states.

She was born in Harlingen and later the family settled in Austin where she graduated from high school.

Larry Diana, who grew up in Indiana, had never even been to Corpus Christi. The couple met on a bus in Europe while they were participants in a student exchange program and married in 1982.

The Paradise Inn and Gardens owners enjoy a cool Baffin Bay breeze. “This is a fantastic place with so many birds in this area,” Danae Diana said.

She said the Birds of Paradise is the perfect location for small, special events, such as weddings, with beautiful grounds and a future pavilion.

Registered guests will have access to the private, lighted fishing pier with fish cleaning station, picnic tables and barbecue grill.

Boat parking is also available.

It is obvious this area is a great place for birders, photographers, fishermen, hunters and nature lovers.

Larry and Danae Diana are building a house nearby.

“This is home for us,” they said.
South Texas-style landscaping is featured throughout the complex.