The Terrace Hotel
History
The Terrace Hotel opened in 1924, as one of the state’s first year-round hostelries, thanks to the advent of air-conditioning. Previously, hotels enjoyed immense popularity during "The Season" but were forced to close during the stifling heat of the summer. The hotel’s opening met with immediate and widespread acclaim. Of particular note were the impressive floor-to-ceiling arched windows and intricately patterned cypress wood ceiling in the lobby. The hotel cost $750,000 to construct and boasted classic South Florida furnishings, a gleaming black and white tile floor and elaborate crystal chandeliers imported from a palace in Italy. The Terrace Hotel thrived for more than four decades before falling victim to decay and disrepair. In the 1970s it became a long-term housing facility and was eventually overrun by transients before closing permanently in 1986. It was reborn in 1998 after a careful restoration and was a cornerstone for the rebirth of Lakeland’s downtown historic district.
