In the twenties, the role of the cart-pulling service horse was being replaced by the automobile, but horseback riding and competitions became more popular than ever.
When Walter P. Fuller announced plans for the Jungle Hotel and Country Club in 1925, he envisioned a resort that would rival the Flamingo in Miami Beach. The Flamingo opened in 1921 and developer Carl Fisher turned Miami Beach into the "World's Winter Playground." The Flamingo had golf, tennis, boating, horseback riding, and deep-sea fishing. Fuller's hotel would offer all of these, too. St. Petersburg, once known as "the Health City" ‒ a place where the infirm could hope to see their health restored ‒ was now catering to a more youthful crowd, likening itself to a "Sportsman's Paradise."
By the time Fuller's Jungle Hotel opened in 1926, twenty-five Kentucky thoroughbreds were already in the Jungle stables. Stalls were available for affluent equestrians to bring their own horses with them to St. Petersburg for a winter vacation.
Nine miles of trails wound through the tropical scenery near the golf course, including the area that is now Azalea Park.
When Walter P. Fuller announced plans for the Jungle Hotel and Country Club in 1925, he envisioned a resort that would rival the Flamingo in Miami Beach. The Flamingo opened in 1921 and developer Carl Fisher turned Miami Beach into the "World's Winter Playground." The Flamingo had golf, tennis, boating, horseback riding, and deep-sea fishing. Fuller's hotel would offer all of these, too. St. Petersburg, once known as "the Health City" ‒ a place where the infirm could hope to see their health restored ‒ was now catering to a more youthful crowd, likening itself to a "Sportsman's Paradise."
By the time Fuller's Jungle Hotel opened in 1926, twenty-five Kentucky thoroughbreds were already in the Jungle stables. Stalls were available for affluent equestrians to bring their own horses with them to St. Petersburg for a winter vacation.
Nine miles of trails wound through the tropical scenery near the golf course, including the area that is now Azalea Park.
Dotted lines indicate where bridle paths were located.
A competition horse ring was built next to the hotel, as seen in the vintage postcard below. The ring is the colorful circle to the right of the hotel at Park and Fifth Avenue.
From 1926 to 1934, major horse show competitions were held every year. In December 1926, St. Petersburg's and the West Coast's first big horse show was held at the Jungle Hotel. During the social week activities, an informal dance was held with jockey suits worn by the girl ushers and committee members.
"Everywhere there are horses. The Jungle has literally been converted into an equine paradise with four-footed steeds crowding and jamming the Jungle stables, garages, and even makeshift quarters that have been hastily thrown up to house the host of invaders from Tampa and other West Coast cities."
‒ St. Petersburg Times, December 8, 1926.
The last of the annual horse competitions was held in 1934. That same year, Babe Ruth's daughter Julia won a ribbon at the Junior horse show.
Horseback riding in the Jungle (1935, colorized)
The Jungle Riding Academy continued in operation until 1941.
St. Petersburg Times, January 10, 1937 (colorized) - Members of the
Young Winter Visitors Riding Club at the Jungle Riding Academy.
On April 4, 1941 a bolt of lightning set the stables on fire. A desperate effort was made to bring the horses to safety, but many of them panicked and returned to where they felt safest ‒ their stalls inside the burning building.
Nine horses died, five were rescued.
St. Petersburg Times, April 5, 1941
It was the darkest day in Jungle Country Club history. The stables were never rebuilt and two years later the entire Jungle Country Club property, including the hotel, was used as an Army Air Forces training camp. In 1944, the Jungle Hotel and surrounding land was sold to Admiral Farragut Academy.
