Breath-taking views

The local paper described it as the most popular place for society and a beautiful addition to Palm Beach’s list of restaurants, cabarets and hotels. Renamed the Venita in 1928, it remained so until 1977.

In the 1930’s the hotel made additions to increase guest rooms. This undertaking placed the Lido-Venice in financial debt and in 1934 Atwater Kent purchased it. Palm Beach architect John L. Volk was subsequently hired in 1937 to design alterations and renovations.

The hotel was sold in 1940 to R.C. Boyce who owned it for 26 years during which time he made numerous changes including the addition of the 45 foot by 30 foot area to hold a lounge and three more guest rooms.

The hotel was closed in 1966 and sold the following year to Sun and Surf Properties. In 1977 the hotel was sold to Budapest-born Paul and Francesca Eszterhazy who renamed it the Royal Park and added a Hungarian flavor to the décor and cuisine.

Jeno and Anna Flohr purchased the hotel in 1980 and converted it into condominiums. Lanny Horowitz and Carl Sax purchased it in 1985, renamed the hotel/condominium the Palm Court and hired well-known interior decorator Melanie Kahane.

After a brief change of ownership, the hotel was purchased by the Tollman-Hunley Hotel Group and placed under the Red Carnation banner. The hotel retains its importance in the Palm Beach social scene serving as a vacation and seasonal residence for many of the Island’s social elite.