When Myra and Al Ireland were looking for a vacation spot in 1970 they never thought it would eventually turn into a thriving business. “When we bought the property, it had been through a flood and was quite barren,” recalls Myra. “We started developing the grounds and adding soil where we could. We eventually built our house on it.”
The husband and wife team continued to renovate and add to the home and grounds over the years while raising their daughter. “When my daughter was first married and saving money to buy property, we built a private suite for her and her family,” Myra recalls. “When they moved out, the house was feeling a little empty. Our daughter encouraged us to open a B&B because we love caring and catering to people and it seemed a natural way to go.”
As for the name, that came naturally as well. “The name is a combination of our grandchildren’s middle names,” says Myra. “My daughter was the instigator to get this going, but she and I were struggling to come up with a name. My grandson said, 'you have the river and flowers everywhere; my middle name is River and my sister’s is Rose, so why don’t you call it that?'”
In 2011, Myra and Al's first year of operation, River and Rose Bed and Breakfast welcomed visitors from around the globe.