Well after a shaky year which started on the 4th September, 2010 we are arriving into a new and exciting phase which we would love to share with all our past guests, colleagues, scientists at the National Science Foundation, Raytheon, and travel agents whom a lot of have become friends from all over the world.
We have a new building design now out on paper and the concept looks great including a few features and additions that we did not have before! (Here's a hint: Carting bags up the staircase is a thing of the past).
Pending building approval, the foundations will hopefully be laid in April, 2012. There will of course be a grand re-opening when construction is complete!
Many thanks to everyone who has helped us over the past year and emailed your support, it's been extremely appreciated and I don't think we could have done it without you. We look forward to meeting you all again in the "Devon 2.0" as soon as possible for a grand reopening!
Make sure you check this blog for updates every now and then and we'll upload photos of the progress as the new building is being constructed.
Any questions send Sandy an email or leave a comment below - We'd love to hear from you all!
Kind Regards,
Sandy, Benjamin, and Angus
We fondly remember our wonderful stay with you March 2006 are so glad to see you survived the earthquake. Here in Maryborough, Queensland there wasn't any detailed coverage of the disaster following the initial alarming announcements. We have frequently thought about you but have just discovered your blog. We wish you well with the new venture and we will watch for the progressive photos. All the best from
The pigeons in the loft.
guest!
My memories of those years visiting the Devon and the heading south are among the happiest of my life, and I hope one day to return to the new Devon to drink in that spirit once again.
Wishing you the best for future happiness
Joe
xo
Patty and Norm
So pleased to hear of your new plans.
We'll be there for the offical opening!!!
Don't forget Sandy, you are the Devon and what has fallen over is only bricks and mortar,you are the magic ingredient and of course the spirit will rise and will be successful.
Go for it and will look forward to the opening party.
Oh, here we go, pissed again with Sandy___somethings dont change.
Regards..Bob H.
best regards, Colin
Good luck with the rebuild, it must be so difficult for you. We will be back with the 'new Devon' when we are next over from UK.
Ian and Penny
All the best Sandy. M&D xx
We wish you alll the best.
I am sure the new the Devon will be a great success.
I feared that the Devon Hotel would have been badly damaged. Margaret and I always loved staying with you as it was staying with friends. We have not been back since the earthquake but we will be back in Christchurch to stay with you when the Devon is up and running.
Good luck and all the best for the future
Ian and Margaret
We are so sad to hear the Devon has been demolished but happy that you are planning a re-build. We would love to come your way again but in the meantime we will vist Chester zoo and make sure those flamingoes are stil beautifully pink!
Thinking of the you all at this exciting time.
Love from Chester, England
Mike and Lin, Surrey, UK
I'm glad to hear, that the Devon will be back. Hope I will be able to visit Christchurch and the Devon again one day.
I wish you all the best!
Kai
After hearing of the earthquakes I immediately thought of you, your family and the Devon. I was so relieved to hear from you that all of you were ok, including Angus. So sad to see the pictures of the demolition, I have great memories of that building. I was very excited at hearing the news of the rebuild, as future trips to and from the ICE will still include a stop at The Devon. Looking forward to the updates as construction progresses. Thanks again for your wonderful hospitality, see you soon!
Dana Braun
So sorry to read and see all of the devastation from the earthquake. I know The Devon will be exquisite once more under your care. I look forward to coming back to NZ. And of course, The Devon is #1 on my list.
Best of luck,
John Jacobsen
Chicago, IL
Best of luck,
Beth Hoffman, NJ, USA
Good luck
Colleen
Congratulations on the re-build. I'm so glad the Devon with rise from the dust and ashes and become part of the new Christchurch. I first stayed at the Devon in 1995 and it was always one of the best "down-home" feeling places in NZ. Thank you for maintaining that wonderful New Zealand spirit and best of luck in all your endevours.
I am sure that I say this on behalf of many hundreds of USAP folks who look forward to new beginnings for the "Devon". As stated the building was great but the hospitality stole the show!! Will watch the progress with great interest and "Return the photos" on loan once completed
Gerard Heine The Netherlands
Nancy Struyk
thought of you guys . Much love........
Great news after what you experienced. What fortidude and a belief in the future you have shown by undertaking the rebuilding. I sincerely hope your new building has modern amenity repleat with the comfort of the old Devon. In the end it is the persons at the Devon that made it. Our best wishes and looking forward to your news. As past guests of Devon we are most interested in your project, as you are sharing your loss with us, putting a human face on the Christchurch earthquake. A much appreciated message from the Devon. Greg Schofield - Melbourne
All the best for the re build and the new Devon..
I have just landed in the afternoon with my wife and my son and the same night the quake happened.
We loved the place ..it's like nowhere else the atmosphere and sandy hospitality made Devon an unforgettable experience.
I hope It can be rebuild as close as possible as it was before......
We will be again there to celebrate a new beginning.
All the best to Sandy
Together with Bill and Suzanne Ramseyer, we have decided to return to NZ in early 2013 - hoping to stay for at least 2 months. We will keep in touch and hope to see you in person.
Nick and Joan Hurd
many greetings from the cold Berlin (-20 ° C). We are happy that makes your back on. We were two years ago with you. All the best for the new start!
Ines and Matthias
It was sad to see the Devon being taken down, a lovely old building, I always liked all the woodwork.
We are very happy to hear of your plans for Devon 2.0. Dagmar wants to come back to N.Z. so you may see us at the grand re-opening. Best of luck with the rebuild, may all smoothly.
Geoff and Dagmar
the Devon mortally wounded. When I saw you and Angus in
the park minutes after the quake I wasn't sure what was the
future of your lovely B&B. Now I know and am thrilled.
See you next season......
Catherine & Richard Swift
Ottawa, Canada
Best of luck
The Young Family
Brisbane, Australia
I shall stay at your renewal accomondation !
By the way, I'm visiting Christchurch, you know, I'm staying at the gentleman named Jim you had met before on the 1st week of April. I hope we can keep in touch each other. Toshi
so pleased to get you email about rebuilding and will look forward to returning to Christchurch to stay with you and Angus again......I look back on the photos and video I took of The Devon and am sad for the demise of such a lovely building but it will rise again and make it's new memories with return visits from past guests and of course new ones but the main thing is the thing that made The Devon what it was is still with us "you and Angus" and you both couldn't be replaced.
Good Luck on the rebuild and look forward to watching it grow.
With fondness and a love of dogs and horses Susan and Les Anderson in Victoria, Australian PS. Sandy did those guinea pigs ever get dug up !!!!!!! it's a in joke between Sandy and us for any concerned readers .
Dave and Jan
All the best with the rebuild, will be watching to see it grow,, Take care,,Winky,,
I am so delighted to see that the Devon will rise from the ashes. I was shocked to see all the pictures from Christchurch. I have had two very happy stays with you and look forward to more in the future. Good luck with the rebuild
Kathy Scott and Thomas Bauska
I stayed at the DEVON at the end of January in 2011. The earthquake happened one month after I left Christchurch. I was worried about you, Angus and the DEVON B&B. But I'm glad to hear that both of you are fine.Angus is lovely and I miss him. We also had a tremendous earthquake in Japan. Fortunately my hometown had no damage.
I would love to book the new DEVON when I visit Christchurch again.
Good Luck!
Yasuko from Japan