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Florida's Historic Hotels &
Inns Still in Operation
A Comprehensive Guide by Joe Marzo
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NORTHEAST FLORIDA
Florida House Inn — Fernandina Beach (Amelia Island) | Est. 1857 The oldest surviving hotel in all of Florida, originally built as a railroad boarding house. Today it serves as a charming 17-room bed and breakfast with an English pub, parlor room, and breakfast room among beautiful gardens and a courtyard. Famous guests included Ulysses S. Grant, Jose Martí, Henry Ford, and Laurel & Hardy.
The St. Francis Inn — St. Augustine | Est. 1791 The oldest inn in St. Augustine, steeped in history and charm. Its colonial architecture, cozy rooms, and central location in the historic district provide a glimpse into the city's past.
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Casa Monica Resort & Spa — St. Augustine | Est. 1888 The Moorish Revival-style Casa Monica that Flagler built in 1888 has survived through 30 years of neglect after the Depression, became a courthouse in 1968, and was restored in 2000 to its original standard as a luxury resort. Now part of Marriott's Autograph Collection.
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St. George Inn — St. Augustine | Historic A top-rated 35-room inn on pedestrian-only St. George Street, encompassing both the east and west side of the street with two magnificent courtyards overlooking the Castillo de San Marcos and City Gate.
The Collector Luxury Inn & Gardens — St. Augustine | Historic compound Award-winning boutique inn set in a collection of restored historic buildings in the heart of downtown St. Augustine's historic district.
Bayfront Marin House — St. Augustine | Historic Located directly across from the Matanzas Bay in the heart of the historic district, offering views of the Bridge of Lions and the St. Augustine lighthouse.
Bayfront Westcott House — St. Augustine | Historic
Old Powder House Inn — St. Augustine | Historic
44 Spanish Street Inn — St. Augustine | Historic B&B
Agustin Inn — St. Augustine | Historic B&B
Centennial House — St. Augustine | Historic B&B
Casa de Suenos — St. Augustine | Historic B&B
Kenwood Inn — St. Augustine | One of St. Augustine's oldest bed and breakfasts, in the Historic District.
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1872 Denham Inn — Monticello | Est. 1872 A beautifully restored Italianate architecture home on the National Historic Register, offering large private rooms in the heart of quaint Monticello, 18 miles west of Tallahassee.
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Casa Marina Hotel & Restaurant — Jacksonville Beach | Est. 1925 A landmark and yearly destination for winter residents, featuring a Spanish-Mediterranean design of white stucco, concrete, and tile, located directly on the water.
NORTH & CENTRAL FLORIDA PANHANDLE
Lodge at Wakulla Springs — Wakulla Springs | Est. 1937 Surrounded by 6,000 acres of pristine forest, this is North Florida's castle. Built in 1937 by industrialist Edward Ball, its 27 guestrooms overlook one of the country's largest springs. The world's longest known marble bar — measuring 70 feet 3 inches — is in the Soda Fountain gift shop. The only historic hotel inside a Florida state park. Classic "Tarzan" films and Creature from the Black Lagoon were shot here.
Gibson Inn — Apalachicola | Est. 1907 Dubbed "the coolest spot to stay on the Panhandle" by Southern Living, it boasts utterly unique guest rooms with no two alike, a spirited Billiards Room, wrap-around porches, and Bentley chauffeur service.
The Old Carrabelle Hotel — Carrabelle | Historic Gulf Coast hotel restored and reopened.
The Cottage Bed & Breakfast — Pensacola area | Est. 1914. A local mainstay since 1914.
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NORTH-CENTRAL FLORIDA
Lakeside Inn — Mount Dora | Est. 1883 The oldest continuously operated hotel in the state of Florida. Both the exteriors and interiors are part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, with Victorian-era fixtures and furnishings that create an old-world feel. President Calvin Coolidge was among its famous guests. 90 rooms, restaurant, and bar; rates from $170.
Herlong Mansion — Micanopy | Est. c. 1910s A Greek Revival mansion converted into a gracious inn in Florida's oldest inland town, set under moss-draped oaks.
Edgewater Hotel — Winter Garden | Est. 1927 Originally opened in 1927 as one of the most technologically advanced hotels of its day. From the antique sinks and fixtures to the original 1926 Otis elevator, it is a bed and breakfast experience unlike any other.
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CENTRAL FLORIDA (Orlando Area & Highlands)
Hotel Jacaranda — Avon Park | Est. 1926 Opened in 1926 and now listed on the National Historic Register, it is one of Highlands County's oldest operating hotels. The Jacaranda is now owned by South Florida State College, which uses the hotel as its Culinary Arts School. Famous guests include Babe Ruth, Clark Gable, George Burns, and Gracie Allen.
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TAMPA BAY AREA
Belleview Inn — Belleair | Est. 1897 Henry B. Plant built the hotel in 1897. At 400,000 square feet, this building was once the largest wooden-frame structure in all of Florida. A Queen Anne-style Victorian palace.
Vinoy Renaissance Resort & Golf Club — St. Petersburg | Est. 1925 The Vinoy, opened in 1925, is a Mediterranean Revival masterpiece in St. Petersburg. Its pink facade, grand lobby, and waterfront setting reflect the glamour of the Jazz Age. Presidents Hoover and Coolidge stayed here, as did Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio.
Don CeSar Hotel ("The Pink Castle") — St. Pete Beach | Est. 1928 Instantly known as Florida's Pink Castle when it opened, this ten-story hotel sits on the sugary sands of St. Pete Beach. F. Scott Fitzgerald was among its legendary guests.
Hacienda Hotel — New Port Richey | Est. 1927 One of Florida's original pink hotels, with over 40 guest rooms, a restaurant, bar, antiques, and historic photos throughout.
Fenway Hotel — Dunedin | Est. 1924 The Fenway Hotel plays up its Jazz Age heritage; the lobby features a historical exhibit of the entrance to the original speakeasy in the basement, which opened during Prohibition. Unlike many grand Florida hotels, it remained open during World War II. Now part of Marriott's Autograph Collection.
Floridan Palace Hotel — Tampa | Est. 1926 A member of the National Register of Historic Places, at 204 feet tall the Floridan Palace was the tallest building in all of Tampa when it was built. The cost at the time was $1.9 million. Beautifully restored and reopened.
Terrace Hotel — Lakeland | Est. 1924 Built in 1924 and restored to a luxury hotel in 1998. It has 73 guest rooms and 15 suites with a commanding view of Lake Mirror, a gem of a lake in downtown Lakeland.
Peninsula Inn — Gulfport | Historic inn in this artsy Gulf Coast enclave, temporarily closed for renovations but expected to reopen.
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SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
Gasparilla Inn & Club — Boca Grande | Est. 1913 Among the most exclusive resorts in Florida when it opened in 1913, particularly favored by the Boston elite — references were once required prior to booking. It maintains understated elegance with palm-filled dining and sitting rooms. Guests have included J.P. Morgan, Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone, Thomas Edison, Katharine Hepburn, and President George H.W. Bush. Dress code still enforced in the dining room.
Tween Waters Inn — Captiva Island | Est. 1931 This beautiful inn between the bay and the gulf was established in 1931 with a single building. It has expanded over the years with modern rooms, but there are still many historic structures on the resort property.
Tarpon Lodge — Pine Island (Pineland) | Est. 1926 Kick back and enjoy the Old-Florida vibe of this 1926 lodge with Pine Island Sound as a scenic backdrop. Designed for the avid sportsman, the 1926 Historic Lodge is a gem from bygone days complete with gleaming hardwood floors. President Jimmy Carter once vacationed here.
Island Hotel — Cedar Key | Est. 1859 One of Florida's oldest structures still in use. A 10-room inn with a beloved restaurant on the ground floor, originally built as a general store.
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SOUTHEAST FLORIDA
The Breakers — Palm Beach | Est. 1896 Originally constructed in 1896 by Henry Flagler, this massive resort suffered fires in 1903 and 1925, but was rebuilt each time — ultimately becoming an Italianate masterpiece with a 200-foot main lobby with frescoes painted across the ceiling. Still operated by Flagler's heirs.
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The Biltmore Hotel — Coral Gables | Est. 1926 A "Mediterranean-style" building featuring travertine floors, massive frescoes, and the huge Giralda Tower. FDR and Al Capone both frequented it. Served as a U.S. Army hospital in WWII; underwent a $40 million restoration in 1992.
The Boca Raton (formerly Cloister Inn) — Boca Raton | Est. 1926 Designed by Addison Mizner to resemble the Alhambra Palace. You can book rooms in "the Cloister," the historic section of the hotel. 365 waterfront acres with private beach, seven pools, and two golf courses.
Colony Hotel & Cabana Club — Delray Beach | Est. 1926 Owned and operated by the same family since 1935. The interior includes the 1926 staff-operated elevator and the original telephone switchboard — true to tradition, the guest elevator is still staff-operated today.
The Chesterfield Palm Beach — Palm Beach | Est. 1926 A charming boutique hotel in the heart of Palm Beach, just north of Worth Avenue.
Gulf Stream Hotel — Lake Worth Beach | Est. 1921 A Mediterranean Revival landmark on the Intracoastal Waterway, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Riverside Hotel — Fort Lauderdale | Est. 1936 A beloved Fort Lauderdale destination on the New River. A classic mid-century hotel in the heart of Las Olas Boulevard.
Seminole Inn (Seminole Country Inn) — Indiantown | Est. 1926 A mission-revival style historic hotel. Built in 1927 by railroad man S. Davies Warfield, whose niece was Wallis Warfield — who later became famous as the Duchess of Windsor. Near Lake Okeechobee.
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FLORIDA KEYS & KEY WEST
Casa Marina Key West (Curio Collection by Hilton) — Key West | Est. 1921 Built by Henry Flagler as the grand terminus of his Overseas Railroad. The hotel was a celebrity hotspot in the 1950s, visited by Gregory Peck, Ethel Merman, Rita Hayworth, and Gary Merrill. On the National Register of Historic Places. Now a Waldorf Astoria property.
La Concha Key West — Key West | Est. 1926 Built by businessman Carl Aubuchon at a cost of nearly a million dollars, with marble floors, private baths, and an elevator. Visited by Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, and Harry S. Truman. Now part of Marriott's Autograph Collection.
The Eden House — Key West | c. 1920s A beloved Key West inn with over 100 years of history, featuring a private pool and intimate atmosphere on Fleming Street.
Pier House Resort & Spa — Key West | Est. 1960s Historic Old Town Key West waterfront resort with direct beach access, a Key West landmark.
Curry Mansion Inn — Key West | Historic Set in and around the 1899 Victorian mansion of Florida's first millionaire, William Curry.
MIAMI BEACH ART DECO DISTRICT
(South Beach — buildings from the 1930s–1940s)
National Hotel — Miami Beach | Est. 1939/40 Built in 1939, a member of Historic Hotels of America. Designed by Roy France, who is credited with creating Miami Beach's skyline, its architecture and ambiance transport guests to the glamorous 1940s.
Fontainebleau Miami Beach — Miami Beach | Est. 1954 Designed by Morris Lapidus, this MiMo (Miami Modern) icon is synonymous with mid-century Miami glamour.
The Savoy Hotel & Beach Club — Miami Beach | Est. 1935 An Art Deco gem built in 1935, one of the few that has survived relatively unscathed for almost 90 years. Today it is actually the combination of two hotels built in the '30s.
Celino South Beach (formerly Park Central Hotel) — Miami Beach | Est. 1937 First opened in 1937 as the Park Central Hotel, it soon attracted luminaries like Clark Gable and Rita Hayworth with its distinctive blue neon front and stylish lobby of vaulted ceilings and terrazzo flooring.
Delano South Beach — Miami Beach | Est. 1947 Originally built in 1947, the gleaming white building with its crownlike cap is an Art Deco masterpiece. Designed by Robert Swartburg.
The Betsy Hotel — Miami Beach | Est. early 1940s The Art Deco District's only surviving building with a distinctive Florida-Georgian design.
The Breakwater Hotel — Miami Beach | Est. 1939 An Ocean Drive landmark with its striking blue neon facade.
Ocean Spray Hotel / Cadillac Hotel — Miami Beach | Est. 1940 On Collins Avenue, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Congress Hotel South Beach — Miami Beach | Est. c. 1930s Spread across four separate Art Deco buildings on Ocean Drive.
Casa Claridge's — Miami Beach | Historic Grand Mediterranean architecture, a unique interior atrium lobby, and an ideal location across from South Beach.
ATLANTIC COAST
The Driftwood Inn — Vero Beach | Est. 1937 First built as a family home by Waldo Sexton, it eventually grew into a unique beachcomber resort as additional buildings were added over the years. On Ocean Drive, National Register of Historic Places.