Good afternoon. Actually, any afternoon is a good afternoon at The Breakers. For a taste of elegance in Palm Beach, most people know that The Breakers is an exquisite place to vacation. It can also be that dose of luxury for the local couple looking to spend a romantic weekend away from the kids.
Considered one of America’s legendary resorts, the hotel has a mystery surrounding it; and its history alone will intrigue even the most casual of tourists as they walk down the wide hallways full of antique furniture, gilded mirrors and myriad stops.
Based on the Italian Villa’s of the 1400’s, The Breakers hosted most of the who’s who of the twenty’s and thirty’s – with names like Carnegies, Rockefellers and Vanderbilts visiting frequently. Today the tony town attracts well heeled CEOs, sports figures and celebrities such as Venus and Serena Williams, Rod Stewart, Drew Barrymore, Vera Wang and Donald Trump.
Henry Flagler, whose influence is seen through the state of Florida both on the East and West coasts, built the hotel and continued remodeling and refurbishing it throughout his life. Guests would ask to be placed in the rooms “over the breakers,” prompting
Flagler to rename the former Palm Beach Inn in the early 1900’s.
Today, the popular destination is constantly evolving, with the hotel investing $250 million since 1990 to keep it timeless and up-to-par.
In 1926, disaster actually formed what we know as The Breakers today. The hotel was first reduced to ashes during the summer of 1903 during an expansion project. A second fire burned down the all-wood hotel, but it re-opened in record time because Flagler’s heirs knew that the hotel was a “testament to his vision,” according to the resort’s website.
Today, the results of that vision are magnificent, seen in the architecture alone, which was based off of Villa Medici in Rome with gorgeous paintings of angels, lords and ladies all along the ceiling in the 200-foot main lobby. Sculptures, artwork and beautiful décor pronounce the hotels dedication to class and elegance.
The renovations in 1926 also brought in 75 artisans to complete the paintings on the ceiling. The total work effort took only 11-and-a-half months for that era’s whopping $7 million.
With some much history, the accommodations offer a lot to guests and visitors alike, with 550 guest rooms, 58 suites, including a shopping area, spa, fitness center, 18-hole golf course and five different restaurants with variations of foods and taste.
Everything from a casual Italian dinner night at The Italian Restaurant or some quick seafood at The Seafood Bar; no matter what you’re looking for, you just might find it at the Breakers.
The owners and original builders made sure of that.
Cristela.Guerra@Gmail.com
Photo: The Breakers hotel main entrance
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