If you like your gourmet lunch with a side of history, we’ve got the perfect deal for you: The Vinoy® Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club offers a History Tour package that includes lunch in the historic Pompeii Room, Marchand's. The majestic building in downtown St. Petersburg is a familiar sight to us locals, but how many know the fascinating history behind the pink façade?
We found out recently during one of the hotel’s delightful docent-led guided tours of the historic building and gardens. With all the hallmarks of a classic piece of historical fiction—a lighthearted bet with a serious price tag; a litany of movie stars, musicians, and politicians gracing the hallways; wartime heroics; desperate hard times, secret treasure; and even a speakeasy, The Vinoy has a grand history.
The hotel’s very origins are encapsulated in one of those quirky tales that can only come from Florida. The story goes that two young men, businessman Aymer Vinoy Laughner and golfer Walter Hagen, were hanging out at the former’s home on the St. Petersburg waterfront when they made a bet that Hagen could drive three golf balls off the surface of Laughner’s pocket watch without damaging the crystal.
Hagen struck, his shots landing across the street on a piece of land facing the water, while the watch remained intact. Friends joked that Laughner should buy that piece of land. Laughner took on that suggestion, purchasing the land and hiring the best professionals to design and build this waterfront jewel.
On New Year’s Eve of 1925, guests celebrated under gorgeous chandeliers in the two-story ballroom of the stunning new hotel which, at $20 a room, was one of the most expensive in the state.
Since that exciting night, the hotel has hosted the likes of Marilyn Monroe, Julia Roberts, Mikhail Baryshnikov and Tiger Woods. However, there were also dark days when the hotel fell into disrepair serving as a training center for SWAT teams before being redeveloped and renovated for millions of dollars. Today the Vinoy History Tour reveals the original grandeur of original pecky cypress beams, Pompeian frescoes, and glazed quarry tile floors.
The Vinoy History Tour begins at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday through Saturday, you must call ahead to reserve a spot. Tours last approximately an hour and cost $10 per person without lunch.
Bask in the atmosphere and treat yourself to a little more following a Vinoy History Tour by adding a delicious three-course lunch in the luxurious Marchand’s Bar & Grill for just $27 per person including tax and gratuity. The downtown St. Petersburg restaurant draws crowds for its fresh seafood served with Floridian and Caribbean influences and is a tasty way to end your tour of one of Tampa Bay's most historic hotels.
Download The Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club app on iPhone and Android to learn more about this rich and storied hotel and plan a stay.
If you are interested in staying overnight with a Vinoy History Tour visit: Rock These Summer Staycation Deals at The Vinoy Tampa Bay for discount promo codes. Register on 727area.com to stay connected to grand hotels like The Vinoy, things to do while visiting St. Petersburg, Downtown St. Petersburg restaurants, sports and more. #ItsALocalThing (All photos except for vintage shot (Flickr), were captured by MyArea Network photographer, Jose Lopez)
