When an Irishman started a boatyard in the rural Newfoundland community of Dildo back in the mid-1960s, he hoped it would be the start of a long-lasting business.
Today, the site of the former Dildo Boat Yard remains a part of the McEntegart family. Located along the main highway running through the town, the site bore witness to a number of different activities over the years, but nothing like what goes on there in 2020.
Two years ago, Dennis and Paula McEntegart opened the Dildo Boathouse Inn. The former boatyard was completely reimagined as a seven-room with a private dock and the Music and Friends Restaurant.
James McEntegart, Dennis' father, was born in Dublin, Ireland, and working in Saskatchewan when he received an offer in the 1950s to move to Newfoundland and manage a mink ranch. There, he met his eventual wife Shirley Barrett. After a few years at the ranch, McEntegart joined forces with his brother-in-law James Barrett to open the boatyard.
Over a period of 20-plus years, the site was responsible for building and launching 67 vessels ranging from 35-65 feet. The last ship built there was The Irish Mist, which Dennis and Paula still use to this day for boat tours.
According to Paula, Newfoundland and Labrador's cod moratorium in 1992 put an end to the boat building enterprise. From there, the site was periodically rented for other businesses. Dennis and Paula eventually bought the property themselves and came upon the idea a few years back of repurposing the site as an inn and restaurant, as well as a base of operations for their boat tour business. The latter allows sightseers to spot whales, birds and icebergs. Prior to these renovations, the structure was basically an empty steel shell.
"We were at a point where we said, 'Will we drop it or will we continue on,' because our seasons were always up or down," explained Paula. "To keep it going, we needed to expand or give it up."
After settling on the concept, the McEntegarts revamped the upstairs for the inn, with the lower floor housing the restaurant. Dennis' sister Kelly McEntegart-Sheppard, a visual artist, helped out with the interior decor.
"That overlooks Dildo Island and Spread Eagle Island," Paula said. "It's got a really fantastic view of Dildo."
The McEntegarts are well aware there are eyes on Dildo given the somewhat cheeky nature of its name, which was once a term used to describe the oar pegs in a small boat. To help drum up interest in the local economy, the inn offers experience packages highlighting what local businesses like the Markland Cottage Winery in Whitbourne and the Dildo Brewing Company have to offer. It also has a hiking package with Wind at Your Back Guided Adventure Tours and hopes to offer one in the future with tickets for shows put off by the local theatre company Sister Cities Productions. The latter would also involve a water taxi service.
"It's been challenging at times, but rewarding at other times," Paula said, later noting the COVID-19 pandemic has been hard on the hospitality and tourism sectors.
"But we get people here, and they come and just want to kick their heels up. They can walk around and walk out by the ocean and just be free for a while."
