Their dream of a bed and breakfast dashed, Biloxi couple resorts to Plan B
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- Biloxi couple lists renovated beachfront home for $1.65M over stalled court case.
- The couple won permission for a B&B, but four residents appealed the city decision.
- The case has sat for more than two years in Circuit Court without a final decision.
Biloxi transplants who hoped to put their skills to work as bed and breakfast hosts have instead put the house on the market for $1.65 million.
Dan and Heidi Hoye, who are from Wisconsin and worked for years in the hospitality industry, bought the house just off the beach in central Biloxi four years ago as the perfect place for a bed and breakfast.
They thought they would have no problem securing city permission, but their case remains unresolved. While the city approved their plans, four residents appealed the case to Circuit Court, where it has been pending for more than two years without a final ruling.
“We love the city of Biloxi,” Heidi Hoye told the Sun Herald. “We love being here. It’s unfortunate that we have to sell because the case has not been resolved.”
When filed in October 2023, the court case was initially assigned to Judge Randi Mueller. But she had to recuse herself in July 2024 after receiving an anonymous package at her house that attempted to influence her decision in the case, a court order said.
The case was transferred that same month to Judge Larry Bourgeois. No action has been docketed in the court file since that time.
The Hoyes had drawn up a business plan for operating a bed and breakfast before they bought the house. Because they are unable to do so, they’ve moved to Plan B.
“We need to sell this place now,” Heidi Hoye said. “We want to stay in the area.”
Biloxi house features unique details
The 7,817 square foot house was built in 2004, then sat empty for 16 years after Hurricane Katrina. The Hoyes completed extensive renovations. While the two-story brick home is newer, the interior has a historic look. It features 14-foot ceilings, generous crown molding and wood floors.
A cook’s kitchen includes granite counters, double wall ovens, an island with seating, glass-front display cabinetry, and a coffee/appliance station, the real estate listing says. A breakfast nook and garden room open onto terraces.
Each of the six bedrooms in the main house has a private bath and fireplace. A porch wraps around the front and side of the house, where a pergola, outdoor fireplace and swimming pool are located.
Beside the pool, the home also has a detached guest house with living quarters above a two-car garage. The house is listed with Benji McLain of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Expect Realty.
The city of Biloxi supported the Hoyes in the court appeal. Representing the city, attorney David Wheeler noted that both the Planning Commission and City Council voted in favor of the bed and breakfast, saying the zoning change was “fairly debated, is supported by substantial evidence, and should not be disturbed by this court.”
Heidi Hoye said the couple could wait no longer for the judge to rule. She said they hope to remain on the Mississippi Coast. Their frustration is not with the city, she said, but with residents who can’t differentiate between a bed and breakfast, where proprietors are generally on site and regulations apply, and short-term rentals, which are subject to fewer regulations.
“We’ve enjoyed our four years here,” she said. “We’re just going to do something different. We’ve made such good friends here. We’re just not going to be bed and breakfast owners.”
This story was originally published December 23, 2025 at 2:03 PM.
