The Breakers- Palm Beach, FL

After exploring Henry Flagler’s magnificent estate, Whitehall, head over to his equally impressive hotel, The Breakers. Gloriously gilded, it is without a doubt one of the most elegant hotels in the United States. Unfortunately, it is not the same one Flagler commissioned, that burned; and so did it’s replacement. However, persistence paid off, and the third iteration has survived almost a century, still owned by the Flagler family.

After establishing several society hotels in St. Augustine, Flager moved further south down the Florida Coast, extending his railroad to the then small town of Lake Worth, now known as Palm Beach. There, he purchased land for both his personal winter retreat, and what would become the world’s largest hotel, Royal Poinciana, a six story Georgian style hotel with 1100 guest rooms.

The Royal Poinciana proved to be so successful with society, in 1896 Flager constructed a second hotel on the property, Palm Beach Inn, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Guests would frequently request rooms “down by the breakers” when referring to this property, so much so, the hotel was renamed following a 1901 renovation, which doubled the hotel’s size. As the hotel was again being expanded in 1903, it burned down.

Undeterred, Flagler promised the property would be rebuilt in time for the 1904 winter season. It was. On February 1, 1904, his new four story, 425 room colonial style wood hotel opened to great fanfare. All was well until 1925, when an errant electric curling iron owned by the wife of Chicago’s mayor Bill Tompson sparked yet another fire. Although Flagler was already dead for 12 years by this time, his heirs decided to rebuild, bigger and better. They would do so in just over a year, opening in time for the 1926-27 winter season.

To this end, the NYC architectural firm of Schulze & Weaver was retained, known for their work on several Biltmore hotels. They designed a grand Italian Renaissance structure, based on the Villa Medici in Rome. Working around the clock, 1200 construction workers completed the seven story, $7 million hotel in just 11.5 months. This included 72 Italian artisans, who painstakingly painted the ceiling of the 200 foot long main lobby, as well as other first floor public rooms. Opening on December 29, 1926, it was considered the finest resort in America. Except for a short break from 1942-1944, when the property operated as hospital during World War II, the hotel has remained open for the winter weary, transitioning to a year round operation in 1971.

Still owned by the Flagler family, The Breakers is absolutely breathtaking. With upward of $30 million invested in the hotel each year, the property is immaculate. It is also obscenely expensive, as you can imagine. For those who can’t quite justify staying at the hotel, which everyone should do at least once, there is always the option of a quick drink in their lush lounge, HMF. Overlooking the courtyard, and adjacent to their formal dining room, it is a slightly more reasonable way to experience the historic hotel.