You’d think the Vanderbilts and Rockefellers of the world would have been happy to entertain in their lavish mansions. But in the second half of the 19th century, as trains and cars replaced horses and buggies, American society extended the radius of how far it was willing to go for a good party.
Enter the grand hotels of the Gilded Age. They had dark bars for trysts and business deals; accommodations with chandeliers and silk linens; and restaurants that served delicacies on fine china and crystal. “Had,” of course, is the operative word: Few of these venues remain. Many were destroyed in fires or torn down after losing their luster.
Now, developers who are eager to deliver on uniqueness and authenticity—two of today’s biggest buzzwords in travel—are turning their attention to the remaining socialite playgrounds of yesteryear. “Hotels with rich histories make guests feel like they are part of something meaningful,” said David Rondel, owner of the recently-redone Hotel Saranac, a turn-of-the-century hotspot in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York.
And while it’s challenging (and expensive) to modernize a property such as Blantyre, a fantastic castle in the Berkshires with towers and gargoyles, these legendary assets are tempting entrepreneurs because no one would invest in building something so lavish now. “There is no way these historic properties can be replicated today and be viable business opportunities,” says Blantyre’s owner, Linda Law, explaining that when the property was originally shaped, 1,000 craftsmen contributed.
Restoring them is possible, though, thanks in part to 20 percent federal income tax credit for the rehabilitation of historic properties—a provision that hoteliers were keen to cash in on before the current administration’s tax overhaul. (Contrary to their fears, the policy remains in effect.)
Here are the most exciting historic renovations that have opened recently, from coast to coast—and the scintillating stories that made them famous.
The Four Seasons Hotel at the Surf Club, Miami
The History: The Surf Club opened with a debauched New Year’s Eve gala in 1930—in the middle of Prohibition—and never stopped partying. Elizabeth Arden would throw Champagne-fueled fashion shows by the pool. Winston Churchill took two poolside cabanas: one for painting and one for sleeping off hangovers. Frank Sinatra and other members of the Rat Pack saw it as a place to do whatever they wanted, far from prying eyes.
The 2.0 Version: In March 2017, the Surf Club was reborn as a Four Seasons, with whitewashed rooms and a Champagne bar by Le Sirenuse, the Amalfi Coast mainstay, in the former clubhouse. A Thomas Keller restaurant is coming soon. But the five second-floor Cabana Studios would still be recognizable to their former occupants: Elizabeth Taylor, Tennessee Williams, and Dean Martin.
Hotel Saranac, Lake Saranac, N.Y.
The History: In the roaring ‘20s, you either owned a Great Camp in Lake Saranac or hacked it by staying at one of 13 nearby hotels. Only the Hotel Saranac—the liveliest of the bunch—remains. It’s where feminists rallied in favor of Prohibition while speakeasy barmen slung cocktails to robber barons.
The 2.0 Version: It took three years and $35 million to restore the Hotel Saranac—something that excited locals so much, they built a gigantic ice replica of it during their annual winter carnival. Now many of them come in for a Negroni in the great hall, which has a painted wooden ceiling inspired by Florence’s 14th century Davanzati Palace. Guests can also mail postcards from an original letterbox or warm up around rooftop fire pits with views of the Hudson Valley, knowing they’re staying in one of the area’s original fireproof buildings.