Newspaper - The Pink Palace
- forgottenthreads19
- Apr 5
- 2 min read
Florida is known for a great many amazing attractions and not all of them revolve around Disney World. Florida has a long history within the film industry, the music industry and of course the hotel industry. One of the finest hotels in Florida that graces the west coast with some of the most stunning art deco architecture in the southern part of the United States is the Don Cesar Hotel also known as the Pink Palace. St. Petersburg named after its Russian counter part is known for its beautiful beaches and early 20th century architecture. The 1900’s were an amazing time that ushered in radio, mind blowing archeological discoveries and the great Gatsby era. Flapper dresses, prohibition and jazz marked the times. Thomas Rowe came to Florida during the 1920’s and decided to purchase 80 acres of Land in St. Petersburg right on the water. In 1928 construction had come to an end on the Pink Palace. He named it don Ce-Sar in the opera Maritana. It quickly became the go to place for the elite. Famous people such as F. Scott Fitzgerald, Al Capone and the famous Yankee, Lou Gehrig stayed at the hotel. Business flourished until the depression. However, the Yankee’s came to the rescue signing a contracted with the hotel for spring training. This got them through the depression and into the pre-world war II era. In 1940 the owner passed away from a heart attach in the lobby of the hotel. His wife, Mary, took over ownership. It was short lived though as the government swooped in, paid her a minimal amount of $440,000 and turned the once pristine playground of the rich and famous into a convalescent home for WWII combat pilots. Later, it became the VA Headquarters before laying vacate and falling into disrepair. It was once again purchased and restored to its original splendor.
Although it is a pretty straightforward story, there is a “behind the story” story.
Maybe.
According to local legend or folklore, the owner, Thomas Rowe, in his youth fell in love with a beautiful opera singer who was the lead in Maritana, an opera he saw while attending school in England. They fell in love and wanted to get married, however, her parents were not in agreeance and forbid her from seeing him again. Thomas Rowe went back to America, married a women for status that he was not in love with and found his way to Florida. He pined for his lost love and built the Pink Palace in her honor. Some say that they have seen him and his lost love walking the halls of the hotel.
Although there is little to substantiate this story it does make for a romantic and true to the era type story.
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