Downtown St Petersburg - Focus on The Vinoy

The waterfront of downtown St Petersburg, Florida is a dazzling bustle of activity and the home to the historic Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club... with the combination of a private marina, 18-hole golf course and 12-court tennis complex.

In 1923, the original dream of businessman Aymer Vinoy Laughner along with his two friends, financier Gene Elliott and golfer Walter Hagen was the possibility of building the most elegant and luxurious hotel facing the St. Petersburg waterfront. By 1925, a hotel depicting one of the finest examples of Mediterranean Revival architecture in Florida was completed. The early days saw the hotel, known at the time as the Vinoy Park, opened for business from roughly December through March. The original rates were the highest in the bay area at $20 per night, the highest in the area at that time. However, considering what the hotel offered to its guests, this was a bargain at the time. The hotel was a popular destination for politicians and celebrities... such as Babe Ruth, Herbert Hoover, Calvin Coolidge and Jimmy Stewart.

Even during the depression years, the hotel prospered and during World War II Mr. Laughner lease the hotel to the US Army to use as a training school. After the war, the hotel was sold to Charles Alberding for $700,000 and continued to prosper for several decades. During the late 1960's, the hotel was slowly declining and by 1974 its doors were closed and most of its contents sold. During the period from 1974 until the early 1990s many a vagrant sought refuge within the dilapidated building, and it certainly was an eye sore with its broken widows, doors and terrible stench. This tragic condition was about to change with a partnership between Renaissance Hotels and Resorts (previously known as Stouffer Hotels and Resorts), and the Vinoy Development Corporation.

With such muscle behind the project, within 2 years they created an almost perfect replica of the original hotel. The cost was in excess of $93 million! However, when you visit this remarkable property you will appreciate why it required master craftsmen to accomplish this feat. Today The Renaissance Vinoy Resort and Golf Club is a member of the prestigious Historic Hotels of America, and has been named to the National Register Of Historic Places. By 2005, it had earned AAA Four-Diamond status.

When in the area, this spectacular hotel is definitely worth a visit. And while there, treat yourself to a meal at its award-winning restaurants: Marchand's, Alfresco's or Fred's Steakhouse. In addtion, there are many options for living right in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg! The PURTEE Team is here to help!