Why Stay With Us — Our Story
Real Hosts. Real Homes. Real Hospitality.
Most vacation rental sites won’t show you who’s behind the listing.
But we believe where you stay — and who you stay with — makes all the difference.
We’re Kelly and Patrick McAtee — and this is the story of how a nine-month road trip, dozens of Airbnbs, and one mysterious brick led us to Gaston Street in Savannah.
From Guests to Hosts: Our 9-Month Airbnb Journey
At the height of the pandemic, we sold our home in Virginia, loaded up our car with two kids and two dogs, and hit the road. What began as a wild idea turned into a life-changing adventure.
Over the next nine months, we stayed in short-term rentals across the country — from California to Wyoming to Florida. We road-schooled, worked remotely, explored new places, and learned firsthand what makes a rental feel like a home.
Some stays were magical. Others… not so much.
But every stop along the way taught us what mattered:
Thoughtful design. Clear communication. Cleanliness. Comfort. Authenticity.
We didn’t know it at the time, but we were collecting all the pieces for what would become Be Our Gaston.
Why Savannah — and Why Gaston St
After our travels, we had the rare gift (and challenge) of choosing anywhere in the country to live. Savannah stood out immediately.
As a New Orleans native, I (Kelly) have always felt a kinship with this city — the walkability, the architecture, the ghosts, the moss-draped oaks. Our two youngest kids were already connected to Savannah through SCAD — one as an alum, one as a student.
When a home on Gaston Street went up for sale — complete with two charming rentals — we knew.
This was it.
This was home.
A Sign in the Bricks
Just a few weeks after moving in, our 11-year-old daughter came running into the house:
“Mom, you HAVE to see this. Right now!”
She led me out to the back courtyard, tucked behind the house and surrounded by old Savannah gray brick. In a quiet corner, she pointed to a single stone near where horses were once led in.
At first, I didn’t see it.
Then I did.
Carved into one brick — and only one — were the letters:
K. P.
Kelly. Patrick.
We’d always joked about needing a sign that we were on the right path. And there it was, written into the very foundation of our home. We never looked back.
Why This Story Matters
Be Our Gaston isn’t a side hustle or an anonymous listing. It’s the result of everything we’ve lived, loved, and learned — a space created intentionally for travelers like you.
We’ve designed our rentals to feel like the best of both worlds:
The luxury of a boutique hotel, with the warmth and privacy of a true home.
Our Journey, In Photos
From east coast to west, north to south, countless rentals, some of the most unexpected family memories we’ve made, and the moments that shaped how we host today.
Ready to Stay With Us
We’d be honored to host your time in Savannah.
Explore our two historic rentals and discover why so many of our guests come back again and again.