About your hosts...
...Lily and Tom
(photo by our son Ethan, the REAL photographer in the family)
...and their vision
Wild Rose owners Lily Shuster and Tom Hince are experienced travelers with a dream - providing top quality accommodations with a personal touch. Whether you are staying just a night or taking a full three night birding package, we welcome you to enjoy the pleasures of our home - the Wild Rose guest house.
For nearly twenty years, Lily was responsible for visitor services at famed
Point Pelee National Park. Over the years, her accomplishments included
pioneering a wide variety of programs from recycling to hospitality training,
launching the Friends of Point Pelee and establishing corporate sponsorship
program support for the park. Eventually she took over responsibility for
marketing in all southern Ontario national parks and historic sites, before
taking early retirement.
Her goal is to make your stay at Wild Rose not only comfortable,
relaxing and well attended, but something to be remembered. She's a stickler for
good service, and attention to detail - and she wants you to be happy. Lily, who
is superb cook, is always trying something new. Her creativity carries to the
garden, where she stakes ground as the green thumb in the family. Ask for a tour
of her gardens - ideas are always welcome!
Birds have been a central element in Tom's life for over thirty years. From
1983 to 1995, Tom was senior park naturalist and resident birding expert at
Point Pelee National Park. In December 1995, he left Parks Canada for a position
with Discovery Channel Canada, where he produces television programming for
Discovery's daily science program and for the Science Channel in the US.
Tom is an experienced field leader, with over thirty five years birding
experience, and a unique ability to give insight into the world of birds. Tom
takes pride in showing people a first class birding experience, and he's always
ready to put in more time in the field. Tom has led tour groups throughout North
America, as well as Cuba, Venezuela, Ecuador and Costa Rica.
Tom also has written for the The Windsor Star, lectures regularly on birds and nature, and has recently published
a book entitled 'A Birders Guide to Point Pelee'. Tom also captained the Kowa Optimed team (aka
'the Canadians') to victories at the World Series of Birding in 93', 95', and
'97, the Great Texas Classic in April 2000, and established a new North American
big day record in April 2001.
Was it a vision or an impulsive act? Whichever, both Tom and Lily know it was
the right thing to do...
... it all started in early December 1998. An avid reader, Lily was following
her normal AM ritual... coffee and newspaper in bed (courtesy of Tom). Breezing
through the local real estate flyer, one of the houses struck a cord. Tom, being
somewhat naive, thought it was no more than another wild idea that would pass.
To make a long story short, in less time than it takes most people to buy a
car, Tom and Lily purchased the house, sold theirs, packed and moved, and the
'Wild Rose' concept was born. Eternal optimists, or just plain fools, they put
together their first offer/product "Birding at its Best", an all inclusive
birding package for the spring of 1999. Their first guests would arrive in just
four months, the first of May 1999.
Both perfectionists who believe in doing things right, the 'To Do' list was
daunting: move walls, install two bathrooms, decide on decor, paint, buy beds,
plan menus... the list was endless, and to top it all off they did not get
possession of the house until the end of February. Planning and timing was
critical, and just 24 hours after moving in, the plumber, carpenter and
electrician were hard at work, under the watchful eye of crew boss Lily.
But like all good challenges, there was one more twist. Tom suddenly decided
after all these years, that this was the perfect time to write his long promised
book! This conveniently removed him from painting, drywall finishing, lugging
and other endless chores. Fortunately, Lily was too busy to question his
motives.
Despite the usual construction setbacks, just two months later, everything
was finished and looking great for our first guests. We had anticipated about
sixty percent occupancy in our first spring, but were overwhelmed that it was
slightly over ninety percent! Simply put, the guests were fabulous, and we had
the time of our lives. It was hard work, but we made some great friends, and we
really felt proud of the experience we had created. Everyone seemed to echo the
comment that the Wild Rose concept was a hit!
In June 2001, we finished our pool and completed much of the landscaping as well. Next we have plans to add a small pond in the front yard, and reconfigure the driveway. There is always something new to think of for the future! And Tom dreams of having a crows nest on the end of the house for adding distant soaring birds to his 'yard list', and we just might add that balcony and French doors off our bedroom soon....
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