The staff of Navy Lodge Mayport, along with base and Navy Exchange officials, stand on the future site of a 36-room addition to the Navy Lodge. Photo by Paige Gnann

Navy Lodge Mayport getting more room

Navy Exchange Service Command

Warm ocean breezes, lounging by the pool, watching the waves from a deck overlooking the ocean. What could be better?

More guests at the Navy Lodge at Naval Station Mayport will have the opportunity to experience the beauty of the Atlantic Ocean while on permanent change of station (PCS) status or vacation. The Navy Lodge held a ground breaking ceremony on April 18 on its 36-room addition.

''Our current lodge has been running at a 90 percent occupancy rate,'' said Reggie Fowlkes, manager of Navy Lodge Mayport. ''We needed more rooms to accommodate all the people who wanted to stay at our lodge.''

The new rooms will all be ocean front with two queen beds and a kitchenette. Each room in the Navy Lodge features cable TV with HBO, a video cassette player, a direct-dial telephone service and a kitchenette complete with microwave and utensils. Every Navy Lodge features free local and 800 number phone calls, free newspaper, free coffee, a guest laundry and a customer service oriented staff.

Currently, the lodge has 52 beach front rooms with the base pool nearby. According to Fowlkes, a deck overlooking the ocean will be opening soon.

''Guests will be able to sit on the deck and look at the 20 miles of white sandy beaches,'' he said. ''It is really beautiful and exciting [at Mayport] in the summertime or anytime.''

Once the new addition is completed, the current Navy Lodge will undergo a complete renovation. The rooms will receive new carpeting and furnishings. Once finished, the original rooms will look and feel as fresh as the newly-opened rooms.

The new addition is expected to open in November 2002.