Delta Explorer - Spring 2008 - (Page 16) ‘ Kip and Kande Korth with staff members Joe Bevacqua, Tom Tate, Carlos Oropeza, John Newberry and Del Oropeza. Back in 1931, Albine and Josephine Korth bought a 47 acre parcel of land at the end of the road on Andrus Island with high hopes of growing asparagus. Shortly after their purchase, Albine realized that there were some very active thieves in the area. When a drum of oil was taken along with the hay needed to feed their horses, Josephine exclaimed “We’ve bought a pirates’ lair. That’s all it is…a pirates’ lair!” The name stayed, and so did the Korth family. They farmed the land for decades growing alfalfa, tomatoes and field corn. Josephine loved to fish and she often paddled out into the river using a de-masted sailboat. Fishermen using the shoreline often asked if they could borrow her boat and she would let them, never asking for anything in return. One day a gentleman asked to borrow her boat and she agreed. He then took her hand and pressed a silver dollar into her palm. It was this kind act that made Josephine and Albine realize that boat rentals could become a source of income. The Korths purchased a dozen square-ended boats at a US Government auction and began their rental business. They built a snack bar to cater to the renters and fishermen, and soon the Pirates’ Lair began taking on the resemblance of one of the first Delta resorts. In 1949, Albine and Josephine’s son, Lloyd and his wife Pam became business partners and moved to Pirate’s Lair where they raised their four children. Together they expanded the resort, having it dredged by Dutra Dredging Company and using the displaced earth to build a large breakwater. They added covered sheds for berthing private boats and began planting trees, including a line of eucalyptus trees on the Lori Makabe Korth’s signature adirondack chairs sit perched on perfectly manicured lawns in front of the marina. breakwater. A campground was added and the snack bar was upgraded to a full service breakfast and lunch restaurant. More and more trees were planted along with flowering plants, a variety of palms and banana trees. This resort that was once at the end of the road was now a huge thriving garden. “Garden Spot of the Delta” became a tag name that just seemed to fit. Today Korth’s Pirates’ Lair Marina, conveniently located on the Delta Loop, is owned by the third generation of Korths: Kande, Kim, Kathy and Kip, with Kande and Kip at the helm overseeing operations. The campground has long been replaced by a mobile home park with some 15-20 permanent residents, and the marina has been through many expansions and upgrades throughout the years with a current berthing capacity for 212 boats in 11 covered sheds. Motor up to the guest dock, secure your vessel, and flip-flop delta explorer / 16 Cindy Elliott Lori Makabe
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