From the beach, she appeared ethereal, a vision from the past, perhaps some would say otherworldly. I approached slowly, taking in the sight. The Casa Marina, on Jacksonville Beach, had weathered many storms, the most visible, a scar at the top, on the outdoor patio, where she’d been struck by lightning.
I walked into the foyer, opening heavy wood doors to see dappled sunlight just beyond. You could have heard a pin drop in the peace and quiet there. I set my bags down and just stood for a moment, enjoying the solitude.
I moved forward when a voice asked ” Can I help you? ” jolting me out of my daydream.
Opening her doors in the 1920s, to the rich, the pampered, the famous, on the dunes of what was called the ‘world’s finest beach,’ the Casa Marina must have seen many interesting people come and go. It seemed as if even I could hear the hushed whispers of those enjoying the excitement and danger of the ‘roaring twenties.’
I wished, out loud, that I had been there! I wondered if I might have stood near The Duke and Duchess Of Windsor, leaned against the rich length of the bar while I sipped cognac, with Al Capone and his crew nearby.
To start, she was a two-story,60 room hotel, the first on the beach with an automatic sprinkler system, and a fire-proof structure. As other hotels along the beach were lost to horrible fires, she stood strong and survived.
When the war came, the government appropriated the property for a time. There were years, afterward, when she became a tea-room, a set of apartments, a retail store. Then The Casa Marina, otherwise known as ‘The Grand Dame’ closed.
Today, the rooms are fewer. There are 23. And, man, they are stunning! I stayed in the red room. It was amazing! The history of the place was evident in the furniture, the artwork and the colorful walls in both the sitting room and bedroom where I spent a few nights this past August.
All along the hotel walls, I stopped to read captions about the rich and haunting history here. There were framed photographs of the beach, where many vehicles were parked, ones of families enjoying their weekend days at the shore. There were images of lifeguards patrolling, dances in the grand salon, people enjoying meals on the veranda.
It definitely was a playground and I felt a bit nostalgic as I wandered through her rooms, grateful that I had the chance to be a part of her present, just for a moment in time.
Check current rates at the hotel and read reviews here.
Do you have a favorite vintage hotel in the U.S.? Please leave a comment below.
Beautiful tribute to the Grande Dame!
This was simply amazing, such a beautiful find, right on the beach!
Very nicely written 🙂
Thanks, the place definitely inspired me to write about my visit!
What a cool history! It’s nice to know that after all these years it’s survived. Brenda
It really is a hauntingly lovely place to stay, the rooms are sweet! And the restaurant is a wonderful place to spend sometime unwinding after your long day ~
I lived in Jax during the time Casa Marina must have been closed. Terrific article ……will definitely plan to visit when back in the area. The description by the author definitely put it high on my list!
I do hope that you get the chance to go and visit this wonderful hotel! I would love to make my way back there!
Great description of a historic vintage place.
The hotel has definitely earned the name ‘grand dame’ everything about it was!
Wow! What a well written article about an amazing historical hotel. It made me want to go and see this gem by the water and soak up its history.
My favorite historical hotel is the Strater Hotel in Durango, Colorado. Each room is unique and furnished with period antique furniture. Listen to the sound of the steam locomotive narrow gauge trains from your room pulling out of Durango’s station that still make the trip high up in the San Juan Mountains to Silverton.
Yes, it was a wonderful place, my room was wonderful, full of historic pieces, painted a rich red, facing the ocean ~ perfect!
Having stayed there and written about it myself, it was lovely to relive through your words.