The Sunset Hotel was on Park Street, a few blocks south of the Jungle Club Hotel. The success of the 60-room Sunset Hotel influenced the decision to build the 100-room Jungle Club Hotel which opened in 1926 ‒ a stay at the Sunset Hotel earned Jungle Golf Club privileges!The Sunset Hotel is now the Crystal Bay Hotel and the Jungle Club Hotel is Admiral Farragut Academy.
Reprinted by permission of the Jungle Terrace Newsletter
https://jungle-terrace.org/Data_Files/JT_20_NL_April.pdf
https://www.crystalbayhotel.com/crystal-bay-hotel---gallery.html
On the northeast corner of Park St. and Central Avenue, is the historic Crystal Bay Hotel. In 1912, the Davista subdivision was platted, named in honor of Frank Davis.
Sunset Park was gifted to the city, and a local developer agreed to build a hotel across the street. The hotel opened as the Sunset Apartment Hotel in 1916 with rates for the entire winter season from $250 to $650. Later renamed the Sunset Hotel, this iconic structure hosted luminaries such as Babe Ruth, Glen Miller, Marilyn Monroe, Robert Kennedy, and Al Capone.
Experiencing ups and down over the decades, the hotel was remodeled and resold several times. In 2015, the hotel was completely renovated and reopened as the Crystal Bay Hotel. Each of its 60 rooms is furnished in elegant Old Florida style, and features a queen or king size bed with pillow-top mattress.
The Crystal Bay Hotel, now on the National Register of Historic Places, can be your elegant, refined, and restful local get-away experience. Swim and relax beside the pool, experience an in-room massage, or rock on the veranda.
And . . . neighbors are welcome to drop-in for breakfast! Just let the front desk know you are visiting when you enter. Breakfast ($12) includes made-to-order omelets, eggs, meats and a buffet with cold and hot cereals, bread, bagels, gluten-free muffins, fresh fruit, juices, coffee and tea.
Enjoy their blueberry pancakes—the best I’ve ever had!
Check out our local gem SOON!
