Early Lakeland Hotels

Overlooking the reflective waters of Lake Mirror stands the Terrace Hotel, a significant contributor the Lakeland skyline. It was built during the boom-time economy and population growth in 1924. But some forty years earlier, in 1884, another structure stood here on Main Street and Massachusetts Avenue, called the Tremont House, which became the first hotel in Lakeland when it was incorporated in 1885. Let’s check in to this story.

In 1883 Kentucky businessman and land speculator Abraham G. Munn purchased two-thousand acres of land in interior Florida. In 1884, 80 of those acres were in a projected path for the soon-to-be Plant Railroad System. 

Munn, along with business partners, Samuel Hartwell and Charles Hillman, organized the Lakeland Improvement Company. Their first project, build a hotel.

He sent his son Morris, a graduate of Stetson University and his youngest son, Samuel who had recently graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, to survey the area with the prospect of the coming railroad and ultimately, land development.

The Munn Survey of 1884 includes the core blocks and streets of the newly formed downtown. The streets running east-west were named for local trees and fruits, with an homage to the growing citrus culture. The north-south streets were named for states, some of those that held meaning for Munn and his family, were prominently placed – like Kentucky Avenue and Massachusetts Avenue.

The map also includes the outline of a passenger depot and city park. But already shaded in on the corner of Main and Massachusetts, was the footprint of the Tremont House, Lakeland’s first hotel, built by the Lakeland Improvement Company. There was even a park across the street – Tremont House Park.

The L-shaped Tremont House was a 3-story, wooden structure with gabled roofs. Ventilation was achieved with open porches on the front and back. The site included a detached kitchen, servant’s quarters and equipment shed.

To tame the sandy soil, and keep fleas at bay, a lawn was established. At the time, it was considered one of the most elegant hotels in central Florida and cost $20,000 to build. It was purported to have the first indoor bathtubs in Polk County.

The Tremont provided all of the comforts of home, including meals and laundry service, a bonus of the extended stays of seasonal guests.

Lakeland’s early years were both physically and financially tough. Between 1886-1900 the economy was hit hard with freezes that impacted the growth of citrus cultivation. Yellow fever also presented a challenge. By 1888, Munn was willing to let the Tremont House be sold for $15,000 which he considered “the greatest bargain in hotel property.” It was not sold and by the 1900s the City’s financial future had improved and more guests arrived in need of hotels. 

One of the last managers under Munn’s ownership, Col. Bruce, eventually purchased the property. By 1913, the hotel was moved slightly to the south end of the property, renovated and enlarged from the original 20 rooms to 60 rooms. Advertisement from 1915 also touted the beautiful rose gardens and ‘zoo’ located in the backyard. 

As the population of Lakeland increased in the 1920s newer hotels were built. Tremont, full of charm but showing its age, seemed outdated and needed to be replaced. It was moved once again to the far end of the property so a new hotel could be built. In its place was a 9-story, brick and block building rose to the sky becoming a focal point on the shore of Lake Mirror. The Terrace Hotel opened in 1924 as Lakeland’s first high-rise structure. Its October 20 ^th  opening included a gala reception and dance. The hotel’s restaurant menu was considered sophisticated and appreciated by both local residents and guest. The old Tremont House was torn down in 1936.

The Terrace Hotel of Lakeland was Polk County’s premier hotel for decades. It was the anchor to the growing downtown. A city directory guided guests and residents alike to a variety of businesses. The restaurant and hotel staff was known for their excellent service.

With suburbs growing in popularity, the 1960s took its toll on the downtown area along with the Terrace Hotel. In the 1970s it served as a transient home with residents paying as little as $12 per night. By 1986, it was closed by the city for numerous violations.

Finally, in 1996, a developer purchased the Terrace for $150,000 with the goal of restoring it to its former grandeur as a first class hotel. Nearly three years and $7 million later that dream was realized, as the beautifully restored Lakeland Terrace Hotel reopened in 1999. The structure contributes to the historic integrity of the Munn Park Historic District.