Meet Annie and Tony DeMille of TnA Worldwide

Today we’d like to introduce you to Annie and Tony DeMille.

Annie and Tony, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up in Pagosa Springs and would return often to visit my mother and thought I’d return one day in hopes of raising my daughter in the beautiful mountain setting. During one of our visits, a friend let us know that the old roadside motel, smack dab in the middle of town, was for sale. In the summer of 2018 we did a walk-through and realized we just might be able to make it into something cool… and right then and there, the idea for The Nightingale Motel was born.

Out of the 25 existing rooms, 7 rooms sat at the front of the property, right on the main street. We thought that would be too loud for motel rooms, but what if we made a little cocktail bar? We converted those 7 rooms into what is known today as The Neon Mallard. Where did you come up with such a crazy name, you might ask? I came up with it by accidentally mixing up a business name years before, and we thought it was so cool that if we ever had a bar, we’d use it for that.

Tony and I both LOVE antiquing, so once the construction was underway, we spent the next year hunting for the perfect furniture and art. Our vision was to combine beautiful antiques and vintage furniture with a rock and roll vibe, so we filled the walls with a lot of our art, but also sought out interesting pieces from our artist friends, friend’s bands, and anything eclectic we could find. The unique atmosphere is what brings people in, but the amazing cocktails created by our bartenders Shawn and Del keep everyone coming back.

We have a variety of events from drag Trivia nights to various bands to DJs and are always trying to mix things up and keep things fresh. It’s a thrill to sit back and watch people come through the doors and say, “wow, this is not at all what I was expecting”, or “I never pictured this existing in Pagosa!”. We’re proud of what the ‘Mallard’ has become and love having a place where locals and tourists can enjoy a comfortable night out and hopefully have a memorable experience and enjoy something a little unexpected in our amazing little town!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has been a labor of love, and so fulfilling. Tony built the entire bar and such and repurposed lumber that we pulled from the building, which dates back to 1891 when it was the town’s original medical clinic. Lots of nights we go from being patrons to helping out, but it is such a fun atmosphere and so much fun to chat with people from all walks of life over a cocktail.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We created TnA worldwide to encompass all we do. We find cool places and create destinations that highlight the local area. It all began with a Glamping Retreat In Joshua Tree (Lazy Sky Retreat) which then brought us to Pagosa to build the Nightingale Motel and Neon Mallard Cocktail Lounge.

We just finished ‘The High Country Lodge’ which is another modern motel & cabin, and we’re nearing completion of the ‘Pagosa River Domes’, which is a 10-acre Glamping Retreat with Geodesic Domes situated along the edge of the San Juan River, just outside of Pagosa proper.

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Pagosa Springs is a special small town, claiming the deepest hot springs in the world, and the Wolf Creek ski area receives the most snow in Colorado. It’s a 4 season town with endless opportunities to get outdoors, from the ski area to cross-country skiing and fat tire biking in the winter to rafting and tubing in the spring and summer. Fall brings Colorfest and the changing of the leaves, award-winning hunting, and year-round world-class fishing on the San Juan River that meanders through the town.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thenightingalemotel.com/the-neon-mallard
• Instagram: @theneonmallard

Image Credits
Pauly Abell and Kierstan Renner