New Dragonfly B&B Opens for Business
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Door County Dragonfly Bed and Breakfast
111 S. 7th Ave., Sturgeon Bay
Serendipity played a role in the reopening of a landmark bed-and-breakfast in Sturgeon Bay.
First, a dragonfly hovered between Lauren and Matt Huston when they exchanged their wedding vows at the Paine Art Center and Gardens in Oshkosh. Next, the pandemic affected both of their jobs in Milwaukee – Matt’s in the leisure travel industry, Lauren’s in event planning. Finally, they visited Sturgeon Bay in July 2020. It’s Matt’s hometown and had been his family’s turf extending back to its Solway ancestors, who were among the original Norwegians to settle in Door County.
During their visit, the Hustons saw the “For Sale” sign posted at what had been the Dancing Dragonfly Bed and Breakfast and the Reynolds House before that. It couldn’t hurt to look, they thought, so they toured the 3,800-square-foot Victorian home built in 1900 on the corner of 7th Avenue and Michigan Street in Sturgeon Bay.
“We saw this house, and everything just clicked,” Matt said, down to the name of the insect that blessed their nuptials. “We wanted to keep the dragonfly name because the dragonfly is significant to us. A dragonfly is also symbolic of change and wisdom.”
The change was complete when the couple purchased the house in October 2020 and moved to Sturgeon Bay. Matt is now working virtually in the marketing field, and Lauren has transitioned from her former profession to run the bed-and-breakfast full time.
Since October, the couple has refreshed the six-bedroom property with new paint and interior-design elements that accentuate the home’s historical charm. And business is ramping up, Lauren said, for their three available rooms, complete with private bathrooms. Guests enjoy a light breakfast made at Sunflour Artisan Bakery in Sturgeon Bay, a daily happy hour and the relaxing coolness of the home’s broad front porch.
