Photos: Driftwood Inn, destroyed by Hurricane Michael, reopens in Mexico Beach
In 2018, Hurricane Michael leveled Mexico Beach. The Driftwood Inn near the center of town on U.S. 98 was one of many places damaged beyond repair. Almost four years later, the Wood family has rebuilt their beloved motel.
People arrive at Mexico Beach on Thursday, June 2, 2022, where one of its landmarks, the iconic Driftwood Inn, background, was reopened 3.5 years after it was destroyed when Hurricane Michael struck Mexico Beach on Oct. 10, 2018. DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
Cathey Parker Hobbs, left, visits with Peggy Wood, center, and Tom Wood, right, owners of the Driftwood Inn, on Saturday, June 4, 2022, while attending a welcome gathering for the hotel’s reopening weekend in Mexico Beach. DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
Ian Miller, 6, settles in for a piece of cake while attending a welcome gathering for the Driftwood Inn’s reopening weekend on Saturday, June 4, 2022, in Mexico Beach. DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
Tom Wood, owner of the Driftwood Inn, arrives at the hotel on Saturday, June 4, 2022, for a welcome gathering for the hotel’s reopening weekend at 2105 US-98 in Mexico Beach. DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
Peggy Wood, owner of the Driftwood Inn, reads a letter from friends Sherry and Jack Needle on Saturday, June 4, 2022, while attending a welcome gathering for the hotel’s reopening weekend in Mexico Beach. DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
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Friends and family of Tom and Peggy Wood, owners of the Driftwood Inn, background, enjoy a beach day on Saturday, June 4, 2022, before joining a welcome gathering for the hotel’s reopening weekend at 2105 US-98 in Mexico Beach. DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
Jack Jessen, left, watches as Madilynn Todd, 9, makes a toss during a game of Cornhole on the beachfront deck at the Driftwood Inn on Saturday, June 4, 2022, while attending a welcome gathering for the hotel’s reopening weekend in Mexico Beach. DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
Mairead Moloney, left, makes a picture of the Wood family and guests while attending a welcome gathering for the Driftwood Inn’s reopening weekend on Saturday, June 4, 2022, in Mexico Beach. DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
Alex Henderson, of Port St. Joe, signs a welcome poster while attending a welcome gathering for the Driftwood Inn’s reopening weekend on Saturday, June 4, 2022, in Mexico Beach. DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
Guests of the Driftwood Inn congregate at the hotel’s beachfront deck on Saturday, June 4, 2022, while attending a welcome gathering for the hotel’s reopening weekend in Mexico Beach. DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
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Sisters Shawna Wood, left, and Brandy Jessen thank family and friends on Friday, June 3, 2022, during a welcome gathering for the Driftwood Inn’s reopening at 2105 US-98 in Mexico Beach. DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
Siblings, from left, Madilynn Todd, 9, Clayton Todd, 2, and Ryan Todd, 5, run the boardwalk to the beach from the Driftwood Inn, background, on Saturday, June 4, 2022, while attending a welcome gathering for the hotel’s reopening weekend in Mexico Beach. DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
Peggy Wood, center, left, and Tom Wood, right, owners of the Driftwood Inn, are flanked by family and friends while being introduced on Friday, June 3, 2022, during a welcome gathering for the hotel’s reopening weekend at 2105 US-98 in Mexico Beach. DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
Jack Jessen, left, moves bags into the honeymoon suite at the new Driftwood Inn while owner Tom Wood, right, and guest Connie Boring follow on Thursday, June 2, 2022, at 2105 US-98, in Mexico Beach. DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
Purple martins flit between bird houses outside the Driftwood Inn on Thursday, June 2, 2022, in Mexico Beach. DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
Jerry Sullivan walks under the Crossed Palms at the pavilion at the Driftwood Inn while attending a welcome gathering on Friday, June 3, 2022, for the hotel’s reopening at 2105 US-98 in Mexico Beach. DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/7II7MVRJDJBFZGIYDYV4YN6BKA.JPG "People arrive at Mexico Beach on Thursday, June 2, 2022, where one of its landmarks, the iconic Driftwood Inn, background, was reopened 3.5 years after it was destroyed when Hurricane Michael struck Mexico Beach on Oct. 10, 2018.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/4CWKLXL6BBANLOVOE6ELEU7C2I.JPG "Cathey Parker Hobbs, left, visits with Peggy Wood, center, and Tom Wood, right, owners of the Driftwood Inn, on Saturday, June 4, 2022, while attending a welcome gathering for the hotel’s reopening weekend in Mexico Beach.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/OTR6U3TCHJHGDBPMCLQSLYPA3Y.JPG "Ian Miller, 6, settles in for a piece of cake while attending a welcome gathering for the Driftwood Inn’s reopening weekend on Saturday, June 4, 2022, in Mexico Beach.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/FSH3DTY7I5BVTF576DECIGNUMQ.JPG "Tom Wood, owner of the Driftwood Inn, arrives at the hotel on Saturday, June 4, 2022, for a welcome gathering for the hotel’s reopening weekend at 2105 US-98 in Mexico Beach.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/UGACP2HLEZDVZGKQTL5KZACIV4.JPG "Peggy Wood, owner of the Driftwood Inn, reads a letter from friends Sherry and Jack Needle on Saturday, June 4, 2022, while attending a welcome gathering for the hotel’s reopening weekend in Mexico Beach.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/G42EZ7MBCVCJFATRRYW42LRNCQ.JPG "Friends and family of Tom and Peggy Wood, owners of the Driftwood Inn, background, enjoy a beach day on Saturday, June 4, 2022, before joining a welcome gathering for the hotel’s reopening weekend at 2105 US-98 in Mexico Beach.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/NIMA26RYGJH7XDDH3T746SFD2Q.JPG "Jack Jessen, left, watches as Madilynn Todd, 9, makes a toss during a game of Cornhole on the beachfront deck at the Driftwood Inn on Saturday, June 4, 2022, while attending a welcome gathering for the hotel’s reopening weekend in Mexico Beach.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/YBYB6PUZPFDBRKIYLRMKEMFAYA.JPG "Mairead Moloney, left, makes a picture of the Wood family and guests while attending a welcome gathering for the Driftwood Inn’s reopening weekend on Saturday, June 4, 2022, in Mexico Beach.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/7NEXXWACXJEH3IBN7JNRCLBNAQ.JPG "Alex Henderson, of Port St. Joe, signs a welcome poster while attending a welcome gathering for the Driftwood Inn’s reopening weekend on Saturday, June 4, 2022, in Mexico Beach.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/K6LL5PNONRAIBA4QFF5HDWNB5U.JPG "Guests of the Driftwood Inn congregate at the hotel’s beachfront deck on Saturday, June 4, 2022, while attending a welcome gathering for the hotel’s reopening weekend in Mexico Beach.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/YXNCBEZ6SRE3LNY77BJ5XV75TQ.JPG "Sisters Shawna Wood, left, and Brandy Jessen thank family and friends on Friday, June 3, 2022, during a welcome gathering for the Driftwood Inn’s reopening at 2105 US-98 in Mexico Beach.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/RC664EAVDRFKFF3OIWS7SRTREU.JPG "Siblings, from left, Madilynn Todd, 9, Clayton Todd, 2, and Ryan Todd, 5, run the boardwalk to the beach from the Driftwood Inn, background, on Saturday, June 4, 2022, while attending a welcome gathering for the hotel’s reopening weekend in Mexico Beach.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/SGJWNLCSNNGS3D65WMOBYFQTLE.JPG "Peggy Wood, center, left, and Tom Wood, right, owners of the Driftwood Inn, are flanked by family and friends while being introduced on Friday, June 3, 2022, during a welcome gathering for the hotel’s reopening weekend at 2105 US-98 in Mexico Beach.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/QCW25KBJ3ZFINF5E5MXDRN6JJM.JPG "Jack Jessen, left, moves bags into the honeymoon suite at the new Driftwood Inn while owner Tom Wood, right, and guest Connie Boring follow on Thursday, June 2, 2022, at 2105 US-98, in Mexico Beach.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/XMZK2R2KYNHQRC36TXHYKSFD7M.JPG "Purple martins flit between bird houses outside the Driftwood Inn on Thursday, June 2, 2022, in Mexico Beach.")
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/ZJAIKRY3PFACLEB2TS2DFHHTDI.JPG "Jerry Sullivan walks under the Crossed Palms at the pavilion at the Driftwood Inn while attending a welcome gathering on Friday, June 3, 2022, for the hotel’s reopening at 2105 US-98 in Mexico Beach.")
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