As
the beach islands started to develop, adding small cottages,
small businesses and a few permanent dwellers, a former
contractor Thomas Rowe, began to build the Don CeSar Hotel
in 1925. Completed and open to wealthy patrons in 1928,
this 8 story concrete building became a landmark for the
beach community. Painted a bright pink; Rowe named it and
the land directly to the east after his favorite opera “Maritana,"
and the characters in the play. The Don’s history
tells us how the then “rich and famous” came
to relax and be pampered along the peaceful beaches. (Later
there will be story about the Don’s lively background.)
But even in those early days of beach life, the huge pink
structure was known to be a mark for boaters way out in
the Gulf, it’s four towers reaching high and being
a home marker long before GPS’s came along! It certainly
can boast being the very first “high-rise” hotel
on the barrier islands!
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"The DonCesar
Under Construction" |
