Aloha to Miami - Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables

Next stop in Coral Gables, the historic Biltmore Hotel. From its website (link),

As the creator of Coral Gables, land developer George E. Merrick founded the University of Miami, and developed the suburbs with strict building codes to ensure the beautiful surrounding. In 1924, young Merrick joined forces with Biltmore hotel magnate John McEntee Bowman at the height of the Florida land boom to build “a great hotel…which would not only serve as a hostelry to crowds which were thronging to Coral Gables but also would serves as a center of sports and fashion.”

On November 25, 1924, 200 of Miami’s business and civic leaders, as well as the press gathered for a dinner to celebrate the new partnership. Bowman announced that the $10 million project would include a 400- room hotel, a country club, a service building, a championship golf course, polo fields, tennis courts and an enormous 150 by 225 foot swimming pool. The 18-hole golf course, designed by premier golf course architect Donald Ross was first to open debuting in January 1925.

Finally, on January 15, 1926, the Miami Biltmore Country Club debuted with a magnificent gala opening that promised to be the social event of the year. The leading socialites of the Northeast came down on trains marked "Miami Biltmore Specials." As champagne flowed and guests fox‐trotted to the strains of three orchestras, one led by famed bandleader Paul Whiteman, the Biltmore’s Giralda Tower was lit for the first time and could be seen from miles around. An overflow crowd of 1,500 guests attended the opening dinner‐dance, and a landmark era in South Florida history began.

We took the elevator to the top floor, which turned out to be entrance to the Penthouse suite. Obviously, we did not have a key to the suite, but we found this vintage phone ...

... and a bird's eye view of the golf course.

Back in the lobby, I noticed the faded stars in the vaulted ceilings (reminding me of Roslyn Chapel in the Da Vinci Code  movie).

The side passage guarded by a gargoyle added a Gothic element.

How about a head of coral?

Or a grand buffet from a time gone by? I have similar buffet from Belgium which is less grand but still beautiful.

Have you visited a grand and/or historic hotel?  One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs wins a book choice from my convention stash.  Comments are open through Saturday, May 21, 10 pm in Baltimore. I'll post the winner on Sunday, May 22, at SOS Aloha (link).

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

My office tote bag at the Biltmore

Aloha to Miami - The Venetian Pool in Coral Gables

Last week, I visited my "home town" of Coral Gables, a suburb of Miami. I lived in Coral Gables until high school ... so this was a trip down memory lane. First stop - the Venetian Pool.  From its website (link),

The pool was created in 1923 from a coral rock quarry, where much of the original coral rock was used to border and further accentuate the pool. It also features two large historic lookout towers, with a view to the City Beautiful.

The 820,000 gallon pool is fed with spring water from an underground aquifer. In the spring and summer seasons, the pool is filled and drained daily!

Of course the aquifer is not the only feature that enhances a visitor’s experience. There are two waterfalls that provide a scenic backdrop as well as the cave-like grottos which provide a fun experience for swimmers.

The Venetian pool was opened in 1924 as the “Venetian Casino,” which was part of the Grand Plan George Merrick had for the City of Coral Gables. His vision for his city was to embody a sense of true hometown living.

George Merrick envisioned creating a City with Mediterranean features such as grand entrances, plazas, and Mediterranean style homes. The limestone which was taken from the Venetian Pool quarry pit was used to create some of the original neighboring buildings.

With the efforts of George Merrick, artist Denman Fink, and architect Phineas Paist, the pool was transformed into a paradise that today is included in the National Register of Historic Places, the only swimming pool to have such a designation.

In its early days, the “Venetian Casino” was the destination for many celebrities, including such movie stars as Johnny Weismuller (above) and Esther Williams. The pool was also a site for orchestrated concerts, in which the pool was emptied of its 820,000 gallons of water and the orchestra would perform on the pool bottom. Many years later in 2001, this scene was duplicated as a concert which was held on the bottom of the pool to commemorate the City of Coral Gables’ 75th Birthday.

I spent many summers at the Venetian Pool!  Do you have a favorite watering hole? One randomly selected commenter from this week's blog posts wins a book choice from my convention stash. Comments are open through Saturday, May 21, 10 pm in Baltimore. I'll post the winner on Sunday, May 22.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City