Ponte Vedra Inn & Club- Ponte Vedra, FL
Ponte Vendra Inn & Club harkens back to an era of big bands, shuffleboard, and elite snowbirds seeking sun. Founded first as a golf and social club nestled in a beachfront community, it quickly evolved into a popular exclusive seaside resort. Drawing upscale clientele from near and far, it was a sportsman paradise, where people blissfully mixed and mingled.
At the turn of the last century, Ponte Vedra was a pristine expanse of sand dunes and palmetto trees, populated by more alligators than people. That would all change in 1912 when a large mineral vein was discovered under the dunes: vast amounts of rutile and ilmenite, titanium ores necessary for the production of steel. Soon, the beach was buzzing with mining activity, and the area was christened Mineral City. Barracks were constructed, followed by a general store and post office. Before long, a legitimate mining camp was established.
Mine operations continued throughout World War I, after which The National Lead Company closed up shop and transitioned into real estate development. Local land planners in the early 20’s transformed the old mining camp into an affluent seaside community, full of pastel bungalows that promised the good life. Developers eager to distance the upscale village from its industrial past rechristened the area Ponte Vedra.
In 1928 the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club opened its doors to well heeled travelers seeking sun and surf. It boasted a newly constructed 18 hole golf course, which was quickly declared the hardest course in America. In 1932 it was joined by a second course, constructed by British golf course architect Herbert Strong at a cost of over $500,000. During the Great Depression no less. Sculpted and contoured by 100 mules, the course was an immediate success and compared to the likes of Pebble Beach and Oakmont. Ponte Vedra was now a bona fide destination.
The resort remained popular for decades, hosting terrace dances, grand parties, and golf tournaments. It managed to avoid the pitfalls of many other grand hotels of the time, including not catching on fire, and continued to shine into the 21st century. While modern amenities such as spa services have been added over the years, and the legendary golf courses updated, Ponte Vedra remains a classic Florida resort.
Today, in addition to the Inn, there are several buildings of a more recent vintage housing ocean front rooms at the resort. Historic hotel fans should absolutely avoid these. While convenient to the beach and pool, the ocean front rooms lack any sort of charm. Some don’t even have a view. The Inn, with its grand lobby, outdoor fireplace, and classic architecture is far superior.
The rooms at the inn have all been nicely updated and modernized. Even the bathrooms, which lesser historic hotels tend to skip. If you are lucky enough to land on the third floor, you even get a bit of a distant ocean view from the balcony. Very distant, but it still counts.
Across the street, the beach club building separates the family pool from the adult pool, which is pure genius. Over on the adult side, the bartender mixes up all manner of frozen concoctions, without a sugary mix in sight. As you sit sipping, looking out at the ocean, it is easy to picture the property’s past. Different, yet the spirit is still the same.
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