Riverside Hotel (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
| Riverside Hotel | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Status | Luxury Hotel Resort |
| Type | High-Rise |
| Architectural style | Postmodern |
| Location | Broward County, Florida |
| Address | 620 E Las Olas Boulevard |
| Town or city | Fort Lauderdale, Florida |
| Country | United States of America |
| Coordinates | 26°07′06″N 80°08′11″W / 26.118333°N 80.136389°W |
| Completed | 1925 |
| Opened | December 17, 1936 |
| Renovated | 2002 |
| Renovation cost | $25,000,000 |
| Owner | The Las Olas Company |
| Height | 145 ft 0 in (44.20 m) |
| Technical details | |
| Structural system | Postmodern |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Francis Abreu |
| Developer | Preston A. Wells Sr. |
| Main contractor | George E. Miller |
| Other information | |
| Number of rooms | 231 |
| Number of suites | 6 |
| Number of restaurants | 2 |
| Number of bars | 1 |
| Website | |
| Riverside Hotel | |
The Riverside Hotel is a historic luxury hotel located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on the New River, adjacent to the Stranahan House, on Las Olas Boulevard. The hotel was built in 1925 and opened in 1936. It is the oldest continuously operating hotel in Fort Lauderdale[1] and is one of the oldest hotels in Broward County.[2] In 2002, the hotel underwent a major renovation, doubling the number of rooms.
History
[edit]In January 1934, John Wells, Preston A. Wells Sr., and Thomas E. Wells Jr., sons of Thomas E. Wells, purchased the Riverside Hotel from the Fort Lauderdale Bank and Trust Company for $8,250 in cash. It was a three-story building with 30 rooms, constructed by George E. Miller in 1925.[3] The hotel opened as the Champ Carr Hotel, named after the first hotel manager, Champ Carr, until it changed its name back in 1947.[4][5] The Las Olas Company has owned the hotel since its founding and still owns by the hotel today.[6][7]
The hotel provided shelter to townspeople during the 1947 Fort Lauderdale hurricane.[8]
Preston A. Wells Jr., president of The Las Olas Company, owned the hotel from 1972 until his death in 2003.[9][10]
In 2002, the hotel underwent a $25,000,000 renovation; adding a 12-story tower, retail space and parking.[4][11]
Notable guests
[edit]- Ronald Reagan, 40th president of the United States[12]
- Frankie Avalon, singer, actor and former teen idol[12]
- Ralph Nader, political activist and presidential candidate[12]
- Esther Rolle, Emmy Award winning actress[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b McIver, Joan (August 3, 1986). "At 50, Riverside retains air of grandness". Miami Herald. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
- ^ Wallman, Brittany (July 9, 2007). "Remaking The Riverside". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
- ^ "Las Olas Hotel is Purchased by Chicago Visitor". Fort Lauderdale Daily News and Evening Sentinel. January 17, 1934. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
- ^ a b Fleshler, David (February 20, 2015). "Riverside Hotel opened 79 years ago". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
- ^ Kelly, Kaitlyn (June 15, 2018). "Iconic Broward spots – then and now". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
- ^ Hernandez, Jaime (September 4, 2003). "Obituary". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
- ^ Nolin, Robert (August 2, 2013). "Thomas Wells, family owns Riverside Hotel". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
- ^ Hernandez, Jaime (September 4, 2003). "At The Charming Riverside Hotel". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
- ^ Croghan, Lore (July 7, 1993). "Street-smart family builds fortune". Miami Herald. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
- ^ Anderson, Serrin (July 1, 1979). "Historic hotel plans expansion". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
- ^ Benowitz, Shayne (December 1, 2017). "Riverside Hotel". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
- ^ a b c Pallesen, Gayle (August 28, 1988). "Riverside Hotel has all the comforts of home". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved December 27, 2024.