What the Biltmore Hotel is and where to find it
The Biltmore Hotel is a historic hotel in Coral Gables, Florida, built in 1926. It sits on 150 acres in the heart of Coral Gables, a planned community southwest of Miami. The building itself is 315 feet tall and was designed by architect Schultze & Weaver, the same firm that designed the Waldorf Astoria in New York. When it opened, it was the tallest building in Florida and one of the largest hotels in the world.
The hotel operated continuously until 1942, when the U.S. Army took control of the building during World War II and used it as a hospital. After the war, it served various purposes — including as a Veterans Administration hospital and later as a training facility. The hotel closed to the public in 1975 and remained closed for decades. In 2005, a major restoration began, and the Biltmore reopened as a luxury hotel in 2013 under the Hilton brand.
Today, the Biltmore operates as a full-service resort with 273 guest rooms, multiple restaurants and bars, a spa, a golf course, and event spaces. It is a National Historic Landmark and remains one of the most recognizable buildings in South Florida.
Key Takeaways
- The Biltmore Hotel opened in 1926 in Coral Gables, Florida, and was the tallest building in the state at the time of its construction.
- The hotel was designed by Schultze & Weaver and features Spanish Renaissance Revival architecture with a 315-foot tower.
- The building served as a military hospital during World War II and remained closed to the public from 1975 until its restoration and reopening in 2013.
- The restored Biltmore operates as a luxury hotel with guest rooms, restaurants, a spa, golf course, and event facilities.
- The hotel is designated as a National Historic Landmark and is a major tourist attraction in the Miami area.
The architecture and design of the Biltmore
The Biltmore's most striking feature is its tower, which rises 315 feet and is modeled after the Giralda bell tower in Seville, Spain. The tower is visible from much of Coral Gables and serves as a landmark for the entire region. The building's exterior uses limestone and terra-cotta tiles in warm orange and cream tones, typical of Spanish Renaissance Revival style.
The main lobby features a 45,000-square-foot space with hand-painted ceilings, ornate chandeliers, and marble floors. The hotel's original design included a 300,000-gallon swimming pool — one of the largest in the world when it opened — though the current pool is smaller. Throughout the building, details like arched doorways, decorative tilework, and carved stone reflect the Spanish Colonial aesthetic that defines Coral Gables as a whole.
During the 2005–2013 restoration, workers preserved original architectural elements while updating the building's mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. The restoration cost approximately $75 million and took eight years to complete. The work included stabilizing the structure, repairing the exterior, and recreating interior finishes based on historical photographs and records.
The Biltmore's role in Coral Gables history
The Biltmore Hotel was central to Coral Gables' development as a luxury destination in the 1920s. The city itself was founded in 1925 by George Merrick, a Miami developer who envisioned a planned community with Mediterranean-inspired architecture. The Biltmore opened the following year as the flagship hotel and symbol of Coral Gables' ambitions.
During the 1920s and 1930s, the hotel hosted celebrities, business leaders, and wealthy travelers from across the United States and Europe. The hotel's ballrooms and restaurants became centers of social life in South Florida. The building's prominence made it a symbol of the region's prosperity — and later, its decline during the Great Depression and subsequent economic downturns.
The hotel's closure in 1975 reflected broader economic challenges in Miami and left the building vacant for nearly 40 years. Its restoration in the 2000s was part of a larger effort to revitalize Coral Gables and downtown Miami. Today, the Biltmore's reopening is often cited as a turning point in the area's comeback.
What happened to the Biltmore during World War II and after
In 1942, shortly after the United States entered World War II, the U.S. Army requisitioned the Biltmore Hotel and converted it into the Army Air Forces Regional Hospital. The hotel's large rooms, kitchen facilities, and open spaces made it suitable for medical use. The hospital operated there until 1948, treating wounded soldiers and military personnel.
After the war, the Veterans Administration took over the building and operated it as a VA hospital until 1968. The hotel then served as a training facility for various organizations. These uses, while necessary, meant the building was not maintained as a hotel and fell into disrepair. By the time the VA left in the 1970s, the structure had deteriorated significantly.
The hotel remained closed and largely abandoned from 1975 until 2005, when a development company purchased the property with plans to restore it. During those three decades, the building was vulnerable to weather damage, vandalism, and structural decay. The restoration team had to address decades of deferred maintenance, including water damage, mold, and deterioration of the exterior limestone.
The restoration project and reopening
The restoration of the Biltmore began in 2005 under the direction of developer Sarmento & Company and architectural firm Shim-Sutcliffe. The project faced significant challenges: the building's age, the extent of the damage, and the need to meet modern building codes while preserving historic features. Workers had to stabilize the foundation, repair the exterior, and completely rebuild the interior systems.
One major decision was whether to restore the hotel to its 1926 appearance or adapt it for modern use. The team chose a middle path: preserving the historic lobby, ballrooms, and public spaces while updating guest rooms with contemporary amenities. The original swimming pool was not rebuilt; instead, a new pool was constructed on the grounds.
The Biltmore reopened on January 10, 2013, under a management agreement with Hilton Hotels. The reopening was celebrated as a major milestone for Coral Gables and Miami's tourism industry. The hotel when ready became a destination for visitors interested in historic architecture and for business travelers attending conferences in the Miami area.
Visiting the Biltmore today
The Biltmore operates as a luxury resort open to the public. Visitors can stay overnight in one of 273 guest rooms, dine at restaurants including the Palme d'Or (a fine-dining establishment), or visit the spa. The hotel also offers a golf course on its 150-acre grounds. Day visitors can tour the lobby and public spaces, though access to some areas may be restricted to hotel guests.
The hotel hosts weddings, conferences, and special events in its ballrooms and event spaces. The largest ballroom, the Biltmore Ballroom, can accommodate up to 1,000 people. Many visitors come specifically to see the architecture and take photographs of the tower and lobby.
The Biltmore is located at 1200 Anastasia Avenue in Coral Gables. It is accessible by car from Miami International Airport, which is about 20 miles away. Public transportation options include bus service from Miami's Metrorail system, though a car is more convenient for most visitors.
Why the Biltmore matters as a historic landmark
The Biltmore Hotel was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1996, recognizing its architectural significance and its role in South Florida's development. The designation reflects the building's importance as an example of Spanish Renaissance Revival architecture and its place in the history of American hotel design.
The hotel is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which provides some protections against demolition or inappropriate alteration. These designations mean that any future changes to the building must be reviewed by historic preservation authorities to may support they do not damage its historic character.
The Biltmore's restoration is often cited as a successful example of adaptive reuse — taking an old building and restoring it for a new purpose rather than demolishing it. The project demonstrated that historic hotels could be economically viable in the modern hospitality market, which influenced preservation efforts at other historic hotels across the United States.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I visit the Biltmore Hotel if I'm not staying overnight?
Yes, you can visit the public areas of the hotel, including the lobby and some of the ground-floor spaces. However, access to certain areas like the ballrooms and upper floors may be limited to hotel guests or those attending events. Calling ahead to ask about day-visitor policies is recommended.
How much did the restoration of the Biltmore cost?
The restoration cost approximately $75 million and took eight years to complete, from 2005 to 2013. The project involved stabilizing the structure, repairing the exterior, and rebuilding all interior systems while preserving historic architectural features.
What is the Biltmore Hotel's connection to Coral Gables?
The Biltmore opened in 1926, one year after Coral Gables was founded. It was built as the flagship hotel of the planned community and became a symbol of the area's prosperity and Mediterranean-inspired design. The hotel's reopening in 2013 was part of a broader revitalization of Coral Gables.
Is the Biltmore's original swimming pool still there?
No, the original 300,000-gallon pool was not rebuilt during the restoration. A new swimming pool was constructed on the grounds instead. The original pool was one of the largest in the world when the hotel opened in 1926.
Why was the Biltmore closed for so long?
The hotel closed in 1975 due to economic challenges in Miami. It remained vacant for nearly 40 years because finding an investor willing to undertake the expensive restoration was difficult. The building deteriorated significantly during this period before restoration began in 2005.