by Gabi Roche
At first glance this hotel just looks beautiful and historic. It is so much more! The Vinoy park hotel is a historic hotel located in St. Petersburg. It is located at 501 fifth avenue northeast. This hotel was first constructed in 1925 by Aymer Vinoy Laughner. The construction took around 10 months to complete. When completed, the hotel was open from December to March.
The hotel attracted multiple celebrities ranging from Babe Ruth to James Stewart. During world war two, the United States army took over and used the Vinoy for a training school. The Vinoy was sold to Charles Alberding after the war. In 1974, the hotel doors closed and the hotel contents were sold. While shut down this vacant hotel became a home for the homeless until the 1990s. In 1990, the Vinoy was bought by renaissance hotel and the Vinoy Corporation. A ninety three million dollar renovation took place. In about two years the Vinoy reopened as a perfect replica of its former self. After the reopening, the hotel was renamed the Vinoy Renaissance St .Petersburg resort and golf club.
A three million dollar renovation took place in 2008. The Vinoy is continuing to expand and renovate to provide a better and more luxurious stay for the guests.
This hotel is known for the paranormal sightings that occur here. Although they try to keep these occurrences hush hush. There are many ghosts that roam the hallways of this hotel, but some occur more than others. The lady in white is well known ghost. This spirit travels around the fifth floor alone. She “haunts” mainly men traveling alone and baseball players. In the ballroom staff members and guests have caught odd images in pictures and weird noises in videos while in this room. Many other stories have been told. A man stepped in to the elevator and all the buttons lit up except for floor five. Then the man arrived on level five. Also, a thin man dressed in a top hat appeared in a major league baseball player’s hotel room. The baseball player was awoken by this man. The spirit just looked at him and disappeared.
The Vinoy is a gorgeous and very interesting hotel. Since the opening of the hotel in 1925 it has been a major tourist attraction. I suggest visiting this hotel as soon as possible. It is worth it.
Sources:
– http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinoy_Park_Hotel
– http://psiresearcher.wordpress.com/2012/03/16/the-vinoy-hotel-and-a-lady-in-white/
Pinellas County History Project 