On a recent December visit to the Don Cesar Hotel, our group met with Resort Host and Capable Concierge, Ronald MacDougall. Due to the fact concierge, Mr. MacDougall will guarantee each guest has the very best experience during their stay at the Don Cesar. In his position as concierge, he has assisted large number of VIPs that have been in historic pink hotel on the Beach destinations in St. Petersburg, California. Those guests have supplied Mariah Carry, Carole King, Mick Jagger and Lewis Buffet, as well as the most common visiting Presidents.
Our private tour the tropical main bar and sit down, which at this time of year is beautifully decorated for the holidays. The majestic dark wood bar, couches and large leather chairs get this the perfect place by sitting back, relax and think of yourself in another occasions, the early glory times of the Pink Palace.
The story of an Don Cesar Hotel or Pink Lady, as Thomas Rowe liked to name the hotel, begins at the start as all good testimonials do. It was a vision of Thomas J. Rowe to form a monument to a ex.
This part of tale begins in London where rumor might say that the young Thomas Rowe, while attending a college, attended the opera "Maritana" where exactly he became infatuated with the female lead, Lucinda, a unique Spanish opera singer. They met each night after her performance beside a fountain working in london.
Plans were made to follow elope. On the night that they were to leave, Lucinda didn't show and Rowe remained waiting by the water fountain. Her parents were familiar with the pending marriage and forced Lucinda back in time home to Spain. Lucinda was reported that will be died at a young age, but sent this notification to Thomas containing this passage. "Time is limitless, I wait for you with the fountain to share which our timeless love,... our destiny is time. " Well, if it didn't happen in this fashion, it should have.
Returning to in the us, Thomas Rowe built commercial buildings in Minneapolis. He later moved for you to do Norfolk, Virginia, there your ex met Mary Lucille, the daughter in the rich landowner. Thomas married Mary and began existence of a socialite.
At grow older 47 with his health and fitness declining, Thomas Rowe elected to relocate to a more hospitable climate. Leaving his wife in Virginia, he decided on Florida particularly St Petersburg, Florida, which was experiencing a home boom. Arriving with $21, 000. 00, Rowe first started purchasing property.
Real Estate development was hot in the early 1920's and Thomas Rowe apart from another former Norfolk socialite many land developer, a Mister. Page. He and Page structured the Boca Ciega Land Company for the purchase of land.
Mr. Page developed the country on the north raunchy of Johns Pass and the family still lives from Madeira Beach.
Rowe amassed a lot of money and while visiting an isolated number undeveloped beach in your neighborhood known as Pass-A-Grille. Pass-A-Grille was named for that 18 century "grilleurs" who dried fish via white beaches. This was a very remote and rugged landscape. Access from the mainland was along with a wooden bridge. On these white sands near the gentle waves of the Beach, Thomas Rowe envisioned their very own dream resort. Against counsel of many in his own circle, Thomas Rowe saw 80 acres on this situation shores. Soon a residential subdivision was built and each street was named for a couple character from the internet explorer Maritana.
In 1926 construction started on his dream resort. Rowe hired architect Henry DuPont to build the project. One obstacle that had to be overcome was the massive structure had been sitting on sand. A floating foundation was devised and its success is reflected in how the foundation has not shifted in the past 82 years.
Another trouble was transporting construction advice. The bridge as over was older and manned by an older bridge keeper who is not totally always reliable, opening the bridge at age in the mood. Construction material was linked with a barge and brought over to bypassing the bridge.
A railroad strike in the year drove up costs of construction pursuing finishing the exterior and around the the resort, Thomas Rowe went out of money to furnish the hotel. A backer was required to save the venture. CHEMICAL. P. Churchill would present you with the money, but he a new stipulation. He would listed the manager. It was agreed and also just how Don Cesar had unique Grand Opening in 1927, with the many of the wealthiest people in The us attending.
It was luxurious and plush in the Extended Lobby. Thomas Rowe had constructed a replica of the fountain just like the one where he, for a student, would rendezvous with the gorgeous Lucinda. The fountain would be the first thing that guests would see shortly climbing the entry stairways into the lobby called the center- piece of your accommodation. Modeled after the Royal Hawaiian on Waikiki Underwater, the Don Cesar Resort was a vision, standing on any sands of Pass-A-Grille. Thomas Rowe liked to name the hotel the Pink Lady.
The main entrance within the resort was on West Blvd. with two lion statues along with a sign stating "Come All Ye Seeking Health and Rest. For Here they are Abundant. " The legal staircase is hidden, but is located a Ice Cream Shop is now located on the first floor.
As luck would have it, the timing could dearth been worse; the economy entered what became called the Great Depression. Fortunately for that hotel, an agreement out of New York Yankees sports team was secured for housing the gamers during spring training which helped the place stay solvent.
Thomas Rowe moved into one of several two penthouses in the opinion Don Cesar. Everyday Rowe would station himself in a hurry chair in the foyer, talking with visitors and staff and scrutinizing the guests. Guests who didn't meet a certain level of dress or manners and speech were encouraged to leave the hotel. It wasn't an era of political correctness.
Then in 1940, Thomas Rowe collapsed from the lobby. He refused to be taken to the hospital, so he was went into adjoining rooms 101 then there's 102. There he stayed until his death. Rowe attempted for the will witnessed by her attended nurses, but they really refused. This reported Will should have left the Pink Lady in the hands of the staff. As industry, Thomas Rowe's wife, Ben, gained control of the moment the Don Cesar. The resort fell on crisis. Then in 1941 after the attack on Pearl Harbor, a vacation at yard was not as attractive. People became afraid of attack on the ocean and soon the viewers stopped arriving. The I. S. government purchased the Build Cesar and converted the place for use as a basic convalescent center for members of the country Army Air Corp. encountering shell shock and injuries on the war.
One casualty of the shift in ownership was the fountain usually lobby. The manager of an excessive amount of converted building was concerned that one of several visitors would trip through the fountain and ordered may possibly removed.
Later the Don Cesar was used for government offices and forestall was finally left abandoned and fell into disrepair. A movement began to find the resort leveled and got out. A counter movement important by local resident then there's activist June Hardy Young have come to restore the Don Cesar. The later movement proved helpful and a new owner to get this resort was located. William Bowman purchased the hotel and in 1973, the hotel was reopened. During this is remodeling, a replica skin color original fountain was put on the fifth floor.
Our excursion included the penthouses, which were vacant at the time of our visit, and this is Presidential Suite where every six months President has stayed considering that 1940. The penthouses get yourself a spectacular view of Tter. Petersburg, the gulf beaches and how Sunshine Skyway Bridge. Of course if you decide to stay in one quite a number of penthouses, it will costs around $3500. 00 an evening.
The Don Cesar is a kind of beautiful resort with two regularly, exercise room and taking a spa. Opened just recently, the 11, 000 sq ft Gift wrap Oceana is a breakthrough spa. Guests can take a massage, get in any whirlpool and sauna, and eventually have a lunch on the top of the spa building overlooking the Pacific ocean.
If you go, ask the reservationist if you do have any specials. On the human visit, we received a preseason rate and were happy with our stay.
The resort is co-owned and operated by the Loews Hotels chain.
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