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Nearly seventy-five years after the initial
construction of the first esteemed Ritz-Carlton Hotel planned for Sarasota
was abruptly halted; John Ringling's dream of the prestigious luxury hotel
has finally been realized. Today, The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota stands on the
same property that Ringling acquired around 1931 as the defunct El Vernona
Hotel. The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota is extremely pleased to hold a
distinctive place in the rich history of both Sarasota and the Ringling
heritage.
A Historical Perspective
John and Mable Ringling first discovered the town of
Sarasota while wintering in Tarpon Springs, Florida where they had been
snubbed by the social elite. As early as 1917, John Ringling knew a true
jewel when he saw one and began buying tracts of land in the quaint
fishing village of Sarasota. He brought his world travels, business
acumen, art and culture with him, and like so many of his time, he
envisioned a city where his legacy could live on in the spirit of the
community. With her lush landscapes, amazing waterfronts and pristine
beaches, Sarasota offered the perfect backdrop for the distinctive upscale
& exclusive paradise for wealthy winter visitors.
Enchanted with her natural beauty, John and Mable embarked upon the
construction of their Italian Renaissance winter residence in 1924,
designed to resemble the palaces they had admired during their extensive
Italian travels. The 31-room Ca d'Zan, or Venetian for "house of John"
overlooks Sarasota Bay and is still heralded as one of Florida's most
unique architectural works and a Sarasota Treasure.
With grand fanfare, typical of John Ringling, along with his acquired
rights to use the prestigious Ritz Carlton name, construction began on the
ornate hotel in mid March of 1926. Before it was completed, or officially
open for business, this amazing location played host to numerous social
affairs and tee-times for the savvy Sarasota social set.
With the onset of the Florida Land Bust, hotel construction was halted in
late 1926. Further affected by the financial devastation of the great
depression, construction was forced to end permanently. What had begun
with great anticipation, and in style with the Roaring 20’s, concluded
with a 250-room skeletal structure, which remained in its partially
constructed state and ghostlike until new development transpired in the
1960’s.
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