The Breakers (hotel)

Breakers Hotel Complex
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Main entrance to Breakers Hotel
Location	Palm Beach, Florida
Built	1925
Architect	Schultze and Weaver
Architectural style	Classical Revival
NRHP reference No.	73000598
Added to NRHP	August 14, 1973

This article is about The Breakers (a hotel in Palm Beach, Florida). For other uses, see Breakers (disambiguation).

The Breakers Hotel Complex is a historic hotel in Palm Beach, Florida, United States. Originally built in the 1890s as the Royal Poinciana Hotel or Old Royal Poinciana Hotel, it was a 2,000 room wooden hotel (1,100 guest rooms), in Palm Beach, Florida in the United States. It was built by Henry Flagler, a real estate and railroad tycoon as a winter retreat for the very rich. At the time, it was reportedly the largest wooden structure in the world. It burned down in 1903 and again in 1925; each time it was quickly rebuilt.

Ground was broken May 1, 1893 and the hotel opened on February 11, 1894, welcoming 17 guests. The six-story, Georgian-style hotel became the largest hotel in the world at the time, with hallways totaling more than three miles in length—bellhops delivered messages to guests by bicycle.

The hotel is located at South County Road. On August 14, 1973, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

The Breakers Palm Beach is a luxury oceanfront hotel, one of America’s legendary resort destinations. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the resort has invested $225 million since 1990, in its ongoing revitalization and expansion. Its timeless atmosphere reflects the elegant comforts and personalization of a grand residence, also energized with a youthful, family-minded philosophy. With the commitment of its original ownership, capital expenditures averaging $15 million a year are reinvested in The Breakers for the long term, to ensure the resort remains appealing to future generations. The Breakers is distinguished with the AAA Five Diamond Award.

Location/accessibility

Situated on 140 acres on the island of Palm Beach, Florida. Located seven miles from Palm Beach International Airport, 42 miles from Ft. Lauderdale International Airport and 72 miles from Miami International Airport. Both Interstate 95 and the Florida Turnpike provide easy access to South County Road (via Okeechobee Boulevard), which leads to the entrance of The Breakers.

Accommodations

The Italian Renaissance-style hotel features 560 rooms, including 57 suites. All luxuriously appointed guest rooms and suites at The Breakers offer high-speed Internet access, dual telephone lines with data port, On-Command movies, PlayStation, in-room checkout, text messaging, safe, mini-bar, hairdryer, iron and ironing board, bathrobes, and CD/radio alarm clock. Guest rooms, except suites, offer a king-size or two double beds.

Meeting Facilities

Well-designed and superbly appointed settings for group functions for 20 - 1,000 attendees. 45,000 sq. ft. of versatile meeting space features venues of distinct character, style and flexibility: an elegant oceanfront conference center, four majestic ballrooms, and small meeting/board rooms. Outdoor venues include attractively landscaped courtyards, gardens, and beachfront and poolside locations. A highly personalized conference services division provides comprehensive in-house support services, from audio visual to all-inclusive destination management services.

Dining

The Breakers features four bars and eight distinctive restaurants, ranging from casual to fine dining.

Recreation

Golf - Two 18-hole championship courses provide variety and playability for all levels. The Breakers Golf Academy Nationally recognized golf professionals offer instruction in private lesson and golf school format, geared to all skill levels; lessons also specialized for children. Tennis – An award-winning tennis facility offers guests 10 beautifully groomed Har-Tru courts, a comprehensive pro shop with the latest fashions and equipment, professional instruction, clinics and private court time. Lighted courts available for evening play. The Spa at The Breakers - This Mediterranean-style oceanfront spa features 17 private treatment rooms for a variety of massages, body wraps, scrubs and Guerlain skin care treatments, a beauty salon, ladies' and men's locker rooms with steam and sauna, a lap pool, an oceanfront Jacuzzi and an oceanview state-of-the-art fitness center. The Beach Club – The Breakers Mediterranean-style Beach Club features four heated pools, a half-mile private beach, and several pool deck and beachfront cabanas. Guest’s can enjoy an array of water sports, including Scuba diving, snorkeling, coral reef tours, deep sea fishing, kayak excursions and boogie board rentals. Family Entertainment Center - A unique facility featuring an arcade, toddler’s playroom, arts and crafts area, children’s movie theater, and a computer & Xbox area.

References

• Florida, DK Eyewitness Travel Guides, 2004, pg. 119

External links

• The Breakers official site
• "History of the Breakers"
• Palm Beach County listings, Florida's Office of Cultural and Historical Programs
• "It's De Limit" Forbes article by Finn-Olaf Jones on The Breakers' architects Schultze and Weaver, April 24, 2006
• The Breakers Historical Timeline