History lives at The Vinoy: take a step back in time

Tall view of The Vinoy Resort lobby.
[modules.marriott.com photo]

By Kelly Baker
THINK Magazine,
published July 20, 2015

All pictures – Courtesy of the Vinoy Renaissance Resort.

This Website is used solely for my personal, non-commercial use!

Originally opened on New Year’s Eve in 1925, The Vinoy Renaissance Resort & Golf Club is the only historic luxury hotel on Florida’s West Coast that boasts a private marina, 18-hole golf course and a 12-court tennis complex. This luxurious waterfront hotel blends historic charm and a rich past with modern luxuries and amenities as seen in the recently renovated lounge-like lobby featuring bold colors and custom-made artwork from famed artist Dale Chihuly and Renee Dinauer. With updates to all 361 guestrooms, more than 61,000 sq. ft. of indoor/outdoor event space, five restaurants, a salon and day spa and amenities that cater to leisure and business travelers, the hotel is St. Petersburg’s premier AAA Four Diamond resort.

The laid back luxury reflects elegant 1920s Mediterranean Revival architecture; the resort décor is elegant, yet always comfortable, with a “no jacket required” philosophy. Original hotel tiles dating back to 1925 adorn the lobby floor, while five seating areas with clusters of “sink in” furniture, starburst lighting, and cozy fireplaces welcome tired guests.

The Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club lobby. The lobby’s striking color palette was developed by
the team at Leo A. Daly, an award-winning architecture and interior design firm.

The Vinoy is rich with history. Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio have been spotted in the Tea Garden, former President Calvin Coolidge preferred to dine in the employee mess hall, and there are displays of the last known remaining private sun bathing solarium – few hotels take pride in preserving their legendary past as The Vinoy does.

It all started with a party, a bet, and a game of golf at the St. Petersburg Beach Drive home of Aymer Vinoy Laughner, a wealthy Pennsylvania businessman, where in 1923, famed golfer Walter Hagen drove several golf balls off the face of his host’s prized pocket watch. The wager: whether the watch’s crystal would survive Hagen’s powerful drive. It did and the golf ball landed across Beach Drive onto a residential waterfront property. Laughner’s party guests suggested he purchase the property and build a grand resort –one that would carry his name. As a result, Laughner purchased the land for $170,000. Led by architect Henry L. Taylor and contractor George A. Miller, construction for the Vinoy Park Hotel began on February 5, 1925.

In May 1990, after sitting unoccupied for 18 years, the restoration and reconstruction of The Vinoy began. For two years, architects, interior designers and local historians took careful consideration to preserve and recreate the historic landmark’s original Mediterranean Revival design and detail. The original pecky cypress beams, which were installed because they were impervious to pests, were removed, numbered, cleaned and replaced. The Pompeian frescos that so lavishly adorned the main dining room, the Grand Ballroom, and those around the outside of the building underwent meticulous restoration. The glazed quarry tile floor, the Augusta blocks paving the front courtyard, the bas-relief portals and archways, and the ballroom’s ornate plaster castings all, too, were restored to their original grandeur. The intense regard for the past, saw that everything which could be preserved was - even the Washingtonia Palms were up-rooted, cared for at a nursery, and re-planted.

Ironically, as the painstaking restoration of this local treasure unfolded, the hotel revealed a treasure of its own. Workers removing an oddly placed wall between the ballroom and lobby discovered a hidden vault containing 1,400 silver pieces, wrapped in newspapers dated 1934, and most stamped “The Vinoy.” In 1992, The Vinoy reopened as a Stouffer Hotel and once again held its place as the epicenter of St. Petersburg’s downtown waterfront. The National Trust named it for Historic Preservation as one of the Historic Hotels of America. In 1993, Stouffer Hotels was acquired by the Renaissance Hotel Group and the hotel was renamed The Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club America.

It all began with a bet and the rest, as they say, is history. From the time it opened in the dawn of 1926 to its current incarnation as one of St. Petersburg’s most spectacular waterfront resorts, this timeless treasure still impresses with its lofty pedigree, along with an ability to survive decades of neglect, winds of change and pain staking renewal. For 90 years, The Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club, has been, and always will be, a place to relax, play, indulge, and savor the good life.

Here’s some improvements that have been made in the last 90 years at The Vinoy:

The resort’s lobby includes a library with a central fireplace. Here are some views.

“The new library is proving to be very popular,” says Vinoy General Manager Barbara Readey. “Lots of local residents and resort guests mention that they are now meeting friends in The Vinoy lobby to start or finish their nights out dining, shopping and gallery hopping.”

A look into the past. Telegrams, hotel trinkets, room keys, and service uniforms donated to the hotel during its re-opening.

Original pieces of china from The Vinoy Park Hotel.

The Vinoy’s award-winning History Gallery details the resorts 85 year story.

In the hallway that now leads out to the Tea Gardens, is a vestibule devoted to the hotel’s history. The Vinoy’s History Gallery encompasses two walls and spans the period 1901-2010, linking the resort with the history of St. Petersburg. Intriguing artifacts and exhibits - original room keys and floor tiles, pieces of china and silver, postcards and photos - are displayed in a chronological diorama. Old photographs illustrate the hotel’s early days, and a wonderful selection of silverware is all the more precious for being the only remnants of that more sedate and glorious time. These few mementos were found in a hidden safe during the renovations, and they have become the keepsakes on display.

Comfort classics are served at the Promenade Lobby Bar.

The magnificent custom Renee Dinauer sculpture that graces the lobby’s entry, and the smaller work that adorns a wall in the Lobby Bar, are created from steam-bent hardwoods. Dinauer has been creating her unique, free form wall and free-hanging sculptures since 1990, and her work is held and displayed in a variety of public and private settings.

Paul’s Landing bar overlooks the relaxing resort pool deck.	Aymers Promenade Punch	Blueberry Fizz cocktail	Paul’s Landing Orange Wheat beer
Paul’s Landing on the front terrace with marina view.	The Vinoy’s signature drink, Aymer’s Promenade Punch, is a tasty delight available in the Promenade Lobby Bar. It contains cranberry, orange and pineapple juices; peach nectar; coconut rum; and sparkling water. The Blueberry Fizz cocktail at Paul’s Landing is made of house-infused hibiscus rum, Ron Abuelo Anejo Rum, Cherry Heering, Demerara syrup and fresh lime juice. Paul’s Landing Orange Wheat beer, made by 3 Daughters Brewing, is a nod to William Paul, the original settler of the land on which the restaurant sits. Paul planted the first 50 seedlings of his orange grove in the fall of 1854.

Paul’s Landing (bar on the left), Resort pool and marina view.	Resort pool overlooks the Vinoy Golf Club course.
Vinoy Resort pool with an expanded deck.	Vinoy Resort pool with comfortable chairs.
Tiered swimming pools linked by cascading waterfall. \| Larger view!	Vinoy Tea Garden fountain. \| See larger view!
Vinoy Tea Garden wedding ceremony. \| See larger view!	Vinoy Tea Garden fountain, balcony view. \| See larger view!

Vinoy Tea Garden fountain in the courtyard. Beautiful tile work inside and out, surround the fountain.
Notice the towering Washingtonia palm trees that have grown with the hotel for 75 years.

The following excerpt was taken from pages 16-17 of Vinoy - A family history of the hotel and its builder, from its glory days to its near demise and magnificent Renaissance. Written by Niles Laughner, grandson of Aymer Vinoy Laughner, early President of the Vinoy Hotel:

Karl Abbott was right about one thing: opening night had to make a splash if the Vinoy Park Hotel was to justify its existence. Money lavished on fittings for that first impression was eminently well spent, even if it hurt. Abbott was a good choreographer and knew what delighted guests. AV (Aymer Vinoy) might have disliked working with him, but for that first year, Abbott was the perfect choice. Plans for opening night were detailed and everything was to be worked out ahead of time. AV was not a man to leave anything to chance. Everything had to be finished at the same time, on time, never an easy task. Paint was still wet on opening night in many areas. The massively long hall rugs for the guest floors proved too heavy to bring up in the elevators, and too bulky to carry up the stairs. In the end, they were dragged through windows using a block and tackle system.

Then time came to throw open the doors, the Vinoy Park Hotel seemed a palace of perfection. Bellmen wandered through the lobby, calling on fictitious guests to retrieve messages or telegrams, or take phone calls. Every effort was made to give the impression that the entire place sprung into existence instantly buzzing with activity. The guests in attendance and the whole town had been anticipating this night for months. Gossip was rampant, and much of it centered on just one subject.

Local society luminaries were always aware of who attended what party or opening, and who did not. So it was natural that everyone wanted to know who would be at the opening of the Vinoy. Guest lists were usually easily obtainable, but for this most special of nights, a mystery had arisen. AV and Stella had two places reserved for themselves. But they also had two more spots reserved for their as yet unknown special guests. Perry Laughner and his wife Emma had their own places, so this did not explain who the mystery guests might be. Speculation ran wild, but the secret stayed hidden until December31, 1925. After AV and Stella came into the ballroom, the crowd awaited the guests of honor. Who could it be, who was important enough to be seated alongside the owner and his wife at such a swanky affair?

When the special guests entered the ballroom, everyone was taken totally by surprise. In retrospect, they might have been able to guess, if they had thought about it. At nine years old, my father (AV’s son) cut quite a figure in his custom-made tuxedo. And his sister, Madalyn, wore a beaded gown specially made to fit a seven-year-old girl who needed to make an impression. The crowd was delighted, the mystery was solved and the party began.

Light From Above: Perhaps the most iconic symbol of the Vinoy Park Hotel was the superbly designed Spanish revival tower, with its iron railing and balanced combination of red tile roof, white trim and salmon stucco. That wonderful octagonal tower, festooned with white carved archways, stood like a beacon to all who visited St. Petersburg. As a matter of fact, it used to be included in Tampa Bay navigational charts as a landmark. It was lit with a specially designed three-color system (red, white, and gold) created and installed by, of all people, my mother’s father, electrician Ted Trimble (who had also relocated to St. Pete from the Pittsburgh area). These lights burned for the entire season, and were only turned off when the hotel closed at the beginning of summer. It was said that when the Vinoy tower lights came on in late fall, St. Petersburg began the busy social season.

See also:

What’s in a name Aymer Vinoy Laughner: Built downtown palace ....(10/1990)

From ritzy to ratty and back again, The Vinoy has come full circle ......(7/1992)

The story continues: See 'Vinoy verdict: exceptionally elegant' story ...(8/1992)

The Vinoy celebrates the 10-year anniversary of its grand reopening ..(8/2002)

Been 20 years since The Vinoy had its grand reopening, renaissance ...(7/2012)

Vinoy House was once Aymer Vinoy Laughner’s winter home ..............(5/2014)

The Vinoy Legacy: The $93 million restoration and (more history) ....(11/2014)

The Vinoy will be getting a facelift: breaks ground on renovations .......(5/2016)

Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club - new owner ....(7/2017)

Paul’s Landing at the Vinoy is the newest restaurant to open ................(3/2018)

The old Vinoy, the battle to save it and the power of legacy ...................(6/2018)

More stories and chronological timeline of Vinoy (more history 2) .......(9/2019)

St. Petersburg’s Vinoy hotel planning remodel for 2022 .........................(9/2021)

More pictures of The Vinoy

Go Back to The Vinoy history timeline

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