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By Robert Tolf, Special Reporter
Sun-Sentinel
published May 16, 2014
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non-commercial use!
How historic is St. Petersburg’s Historic "Vinoy
House"? Well, it was built in 1910 to serve as a winter
getaway for wealthy Pennsylvania oilman Aymer Vinoy Laughner,
whose middle name has been immortalized in the Mediterranean
Revival masterpiece known today as "The Vinoy Renaissance
St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club".  See 'What’s
in a name (Vinoy)' story.
And it was here, in the Roaring Twenties, that famed golfer Walter
Hagen drove several golf balls off the face of his friend Laughner’s
prized pocket watch. Hagen’s confident wager dared Laughner
to build a grand resort where the balls landed if he did not
break the crystal of the watch.
It took a few years for Laughner to assemble the $3.5 million
needed for construction, but he did the job and no doubt enjoyed
watching the frenzied pace of construction from his historic
house. The 375-room waterfront wonder was completed in just 10
months, in good time for the grand opening on New Year’s
Eve, 1925 -- with Paul Whiteman’s orchestra doing the "Auld
Lang Syne" honors.
Sixty-seven years later, $93 million and 24 months were needed
to rescue the Grande Dame from 18 years of post-World War II
neglect, and today it is the stately crown jewel of the city’s
waterfront, looking more impressive than ever. As does the place
where it all started -- the Historic Vinoy House across the street.
Converted to a bed and breakfast two years ago, the cottage exudes
the spirit as well as the architectural style of old Key West
inside and out. It shows in the two large wicker- and plant-filled
living rooms with fireplaces, in the light and springlike dining
area (where complimentary full breakfasts are served), and on
the tiled porch and patio with a grand view of the waterfront.
The "Key West Suite" is a complete encapsulation with
its sea green and yellow walls, marbleized ceramic floor, whitewashed
king-size oak sleigh bed, full view whirlpool tub and a wall
of mirrors. It also has stained-glass windows and attached sunroom
with its own wet bar and panoramic view of the famous St. Petersburg
Pier and park.
My favorite is the blue-blue "Vinoy House Suite" with
its king-size canopy cherry wood bed, hardwood floors and cozy
little sunroom with a grand view of the waterfront as well as
downtown. It, too, has a whirlpool tub, as does one of the three
regular-size rooms, the blue-walled "Montego Bay" with
a queen-size mahogany bed and heart of pine floors. The "Pensacola"
sports a king-size cherry wood sleigh bed and cherry wood floors
and a stand-up shower, which is also found in the "Sunshine
Key Largo" room with its cherry wood floors and a king-size
half-canopy mahogany tumbler bed.
The third suite, the "Boca", has a queen-size lattice
oak sleigh bed, stained glass windows, sitting wall in the bath
and a splendid view of city and park.
All six accommodations have private baths, ceiling fans, irons
and ironing boards, TV/VCRs, phones with data ports and individual
temperature control. Each of the suites has a sleeper sofa, mini-fridge
and second TV/VCR.
There’s an in-house massage therapist and someone to arrange
for boat tours, bicycle and fishing gear rentals. A game room
has bar and billiards, dart board and foosball, and there’s
someone to make good on the promise that "Wir Sprechen Auch
Deutsch" and "Nous Parlons Francais".
Minutes away, a short stroll through the well-kept park along
the waterfront, are all the attractions of a suddenly revitalized
downtown St. Petersburg -- a perfect-size Museum of Fine Arts,
an intelligently arranged History Museum, the newer Salvador
Dali and Florida International Museums, plus a plethora of places
to eat, starting with the magnificent Renaissance Vinoy Resort
across the street. It has the best food in town and the most
splendid setting, but the downtown waterfront district now has
many easy-to-recommend restaurants, bistros and cafes.
Start with the al fresco Black Opal, overlooking the marina and
the Yacht Club, and the brand-new Perch at 10 Beach Drive, occupying
a corner of the venerable "Hotel De Soto". Then there’s
the equally new BayWalk, with seven different culinary concepts
gathered around the magnet of a 20-screen Muvico Theater -- everything
from fast food to another outlet for celebrateur Dan Marino to
a Northern Italian winner called Gratzzi.
IF YOU GO:
Getting there: From Interstate 275 take exit 10 (375 East) to
the waterfront, and turn left on Beach Drive N.E. to the Vinoy
House immediately on the left past the first traffic light. (You’ll
see the Renaissance Vinoy on the right.)
Rates: Rooms and suites range from $145 to $250.
Information: Contact the Historic Vinoy House Bed & Breakfast,
532 Beach Drive N.E., St. Petersburg, FL 33701; 866-846-6947.
Web site: www.beachdriveinn.com
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)
The Vinoy Legacy: The $93 million restoration
and (more history) ....(11/2014)
The Vinoy originally opened 90 years ago, a
step back (retrospect) ......(7/2015)
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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Deerfield Beach, FL.
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