“Very well, gentlemen, if you do not agree with me that the hotel will benefit the railroad and the community, I will build it as a personal investment.” - Plant to his business associates, 1887
The Grand Hotels
Flagler
On January 10, 1888 the Ponce de Leon opened their doors and the hotel became an instant success. Flagler chose the Spanish Renaissance Revival Style so that the hotel's design complimented the historic surroundings. The popularity and style of the hotel strongly influenced the architecture of southern Florida for the next fifty years. The Ponce de Leon was the only hotel of the three Flagler hotels to survive the Great Depression. The hotel attracted many crowds up until 1967, the it closed and was sold to Flagler College.
In 1894 on the shores of Lake Worth in Palm Beach, Flagler built the hotel Royal Poinciana and extended his railroad further south to West Palm Beach. Flagler later had a special railroad car covered in pictures of Florida, which traveled around the northeast to advertise . The train connected tot the hotel only carried passengers, their luggage was left behind and later delivered to the hotel rooms by a crew of baggage handlers. Flagler donated a vacant lot at the south end of the hotel for a non-denominational church to accommodate all Christian guests. Eventually the Royal Poinciana gained popularity and became the world's largest resort hotel.
Flagler built another hotel in 1896, this time oceanfront. Originally called the Wayside Inn the hotel was renamed the Palm Beach Inn. Due to all the requests for a room "over by the breakers", after the expansion in 1901 the hotel was renamed again to The Breakers. During the Fourth expansion, The Breakers burned in June of 1903. The fire lasted six hours and was visible from Fort Pierce to Miami. Just days after the fire Flagler demanded a new Breakers to be built. Eight months later a new Breakers opened on time and ready for business.
Plant
The Tampa Bay Hotel opened in 1891 and was nicknamed "Plant Palace". Part of the rail line brought the guests to the front entrance so the guest were able to just walk into the lobby. The building was said to be fireproof due to the steel rails and concrete construction guests described the hotel to have exquisite taste and luxurious. Up until 1933 the hotel was thriving since then it has been home to the Henry B. Plant Museum and the University of Tampa.
When the Florida Southern Railway extended its line to Charlotte Harbor, Punta Gorda's founder persuaded them to build their southernmost hotel in Punta Gorda, Florida. He gave Florida Southern half of his land for a waterfront resort hotel. The construction began in 1886 and the Hotel Punta Gorda opened its doors in January 1888. The hotel was a vast wooden structure with a tower for viewing the busy river traffic. The hotel was only open to the public in the winter time. Unfortunately the hotel closed in 1914 and was sold in 1925.
When the Florida Southern Railway extended its line to Charlotte Harbor, Punta Gorda's founder persuaded them to build their southernmost hotel in Punta Gorda, Florida. He gave Florida Southern half of his land for a waterfront resort hotel. The construction began in 1886 and the Hotel Punta Gorda opened its doors in January 1888. The hotel was a vast wooden structure with a tower for viewing the busy river traffic. The hotel was only open to the public in the winter time. Unfortunately the hotel closed in 1914 and was sold in 1925.