Anna Maria Island rental owners with big Instagram following featured on ‘Today Show’
It was one of those “just-by-chance” meetings that turned into a love affair.
Ashley and Dino Petrone and their four children, ranging in ages from 13 to 1, came to Anna Maria Island in February 2021 from northern California for vacation.
“Our kids were running around on the beach with no shoes, and we asked ourselves, what is this place? It’s magical,” Ashley said.
“We decided that we had to move here,” she added. “We were looking for a change and we liked the relaxed vibe on the island.”
Once the family decided to move to Anna Maria Island, they began looking for a property to buy. They found one that had a lot of old-Florida charm and submitted an offer, but lost out to a higher bidder.
Ashley was saddened when she later revisited the property and saw that the owner had demolished the house. It was not the first Anna Maria Island bungalow that has been bought and then razed to make way for a McMansion.
Eventually, Ashley and Dino were able to buy The Pirates Den, 3501 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, and renovate it room by room while maintaining the original island feel.
“It was a stretch for us, but one of the best investments ever. We started work in April 2021 and finished at the end of September. Our first guests came in October 2021,” Ashley said.
While they were renovating their new property, which they renamed Joie Inn (the French word for “joy,” pronounced as “jwa”), she shared their progress on Instagram.
Ashley has a legion of Instagram followers — more than 730,000 — drawn to posts showcasing her design skills and creativity as well as the ups and downs of family life.
“People want to feel like they can relate. You have your ups and down. It’s just life and we’re all human,” she said.
In California, the Petrones had renovated a number of houses and sold them fully furnished for a profit, while sharing their progress on Instagram.
In 2017, they sold their 2,800-square-foot house and moved the family of into a 180-square-foot trailer for 17 months. Ashley shared that on Instagram, too.
The trailer experience taught the family not to hang onto things too tightly.
“It shifted our mentality to appreciating experiences,” she said.
The success of Joie Inn
Joie Inn has been fully booked with seven-day stays ever since it opened, in large part because Petrons were able to retain the integrity and charm of the island.
Kali Bair of Virginia followed the progress of renovations on Ashley’s Instagram account, @arrowsandbow, and booked a stay for her family.
Bair, a first-time visitor to Annna Maria Island, said she has not been disappointed by her experience.
“We love it. It’s amazing and has a lot of special touches. We love the vibe,” Bair said.
Her 11-year-old daughter Kamryn offered: “It’s beachy.”
Each of the units at Joie Inn has a unique island-inspired name: The Sage Room, The Terra Cotta Room, The Blush Room and The Sun Room. Visitors can walk a block to the beach, reserve a bike or get a list of recommended local shops and restaurants to check out.
Some of the extra touches include grocery deliveries and catering.
“I try to think of everything you could possibly want on vacation,” Ashley said. “I have always been creative. When I was a little girl, I would get an idea and want to rearrange my room in the middle of the night.”
Among those drawn to the story of Joie Inn and the Petrones was the “Today Show” with Hoda and Jenna which recently reported from Anna Maria Island.
Sharing in the national exposure were Sandbar Seafood and Spirits, 100 Spring Ave., Anna Maria, and Captain Kathe charter tours where B-roll was shot for the segment.
Ashley is thrilled with the way things worked out.
“We couldn’t take the California plates off the car fast enough. Every second that we’re here, we pinch ourselves,” she said.
