Riverside Hotel (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)

Riverside Hotel
General information
Status	Luxury Hotel Resort
Type	High-Rise
Architectural style	Postmodern
Location	Broward County, Florida
Address	620 E Las Olas Boulevard
Town or city	Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Country	United States of America
Coordinates	26.118333°N 80.136389°W / 26.118333; -80.136389
Completed	1925
Opened	December 17, 1936
Renovated	2002
Renovation cost	$25,000,000
Owner	The Las Olas Company
Height	145 ft 0 in (44.20 m)
Technical details
Structural system	Postmodern
Design and construction
Architect(s)	Francis Abreu
Developer	Preston A. Wells Sr.
Main contractor	George E. Miller
Other information
Number of rooms	231
Number of suites	6
Number of restaurants	2
Number of bars	1
Website
Riverside Hotel

The Riverside Hotel is a historic luxury hotel located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on the New River, adjacent to the Stranahan House, on Las Olas Boulevard. The hotel was built in 1925 and opened in 1936. It is the oldest continuously operating hotel in Fort Lauderdale^[1] and is one of the oldest hotels in Broward County.^[2] In 2002, the hotel underwent a major renovation, doubling the number of rooms.

History

In January 1934, John Wells, Preston A. Wells Sr., and Thomas E. Wells Jr., sons of Thomas E. Wells, purchased the Riverside Hotel from the Fort Lauderdale Bank and Trust Company for $8,250 in cash. It was a three-story building with 30 rooms, constructed by George E. Miller in 1925.^[3] The hotel opened as the Champ Carr Hotel, named after the first hotel manager, Champ Carr, until it changed its name back in 1947.^[4][5] The Las Olas Company has owned the hotel since its founding and still owns by the hotel today.^[6][7][8]

The hotel provided shelter to townspeople during the 1947 Fort Lauderdale hurricane.^[9]

Preston A. Wells Jr., president of The Las Olas Company, owned the hotel from 1972 until his death in 2003.^[10][11]

In 2002, the hotel underwent a $25,000,000 renovation; adding a 12-story tower, retail space and parking.^[4][12]

Notable guests

Politicians

• Ronald Reagan, 40th president of the United States (1981–1989)^[13]
• Lawton Chiles, 41st governor of Florida (1991–1998)^[14]
• Charlie Crist, 44th governor of Florida (2007–2011)^[15]
• Connie Mack III, United States senator from Florida (1989–2001)^[16]
• Jack Seiler, 41st mayor of Fort Lauderdale (2009–2018)^[17]
• Dean Trantalis, 42nd mayor of Fort Lauderdale (2018–present)^[18]
• Bobby DuBose, member of the Florida House of Representatives (2014–2022)^[17]
• George Moraitis, member of the Florida House of Representatives (2010–2018)^[17]
• Tim Ryan, member of the Broward County Commission (2012–present)^[17]
• Ken Jenne, 14th sheriff of Broward County (1997–2007)^[14]
• Al Lamberti, 15th sheriff of Broward County (2007–2013)^[15]
• Ralph Nader, lawyer and U.S. presidential candidate^[13]
• Brad Parscale, Donald Trump 2020 presidential campaign manager^[19]

Other visitors

• Frankie Avalon, singer, actor and former teen idol^[13]
• Esther Rolle, Emmy Award winning actress^[1]

References

1. McIver, Joan (August 3, 1986). "At 50, Riverside retains air of grandness". Miami Herald. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
2. Wallman, Brittany (July 9, 2007). "Remaking The Riverside". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
3. "Las Olas Hotel is Purchased by Chicago Visitor". Fort Lauderdale Daily News and Evening Sentinel. January 17, 1934. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
4. Fleshler, David (February 20, 2015). "Riverside Hotel opened 79 years ago". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
5. Kelly, Kaitlyn (June 15, 2018). "Iconic Broward spots – then and now". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
6. Hernandez, Jaime (September 4, 2003). "Obituary". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
7. Nolin, Robert (August 2, 2013). "Thomas Wells, family owns Riverside Hotel". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
8. Thurwachter, Mary (December 24, 2006). "Stay at historic Florida hotel". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
9. Hernandez, Jaime (September 4, 2003). "At The Charming Riverside Hotel". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
10. Croghan, Lore (July 7, 1993). "Street-smart family builds fortune". Miami Herald. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
11. Anderson, Serrin (July 1, 1979). "Historic hotel plans expansion". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
12. Benowitz, Shayne (December 1, 2017). "Riverside Hotel". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
13. Pallesen, Gayle (August 28, 1988). "Riverside Hotel has all the comforts of home". The Palm Beach Post. Retrieved December 27, 2024.
14. Nevins, Buddy (October 11, 1994). "CHILES SAYS BUSH IS RUNNING ON DAD'S COATTAILS". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved December 29, 2024.
15. Nevins, Buddy (2008). "Al Lamberti Proded To Go Negative On Scott Israel". browardbeat.com. Retrieved December 29, 2024.
16. "MACK GETS GRAND OLD SALUTE". Sun Sentinel. October 14, 1994. Retrieved December 29, 2024.
17. "Ribbon Cutting - Boathouse at Riverside Hotel". rmzlaw.com. March 17, 2018. Retrieved December 29, 2024.
18. Jean, Carline (December 17, 2024). "Fort Lauderdale is officially Monopolized in new board game". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved December 29, 2024.
19. Man, Anthony (July 29, 2019). "Fish out of water? Donald Trump's campaign manager makes his home in the most Democratic part of Florida". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved December 29, 2024.