Winter Park Hotels Embody the City’s Charms

Rebecca Reif

(Above) When the Alabama Hotel closed, after being owned by several generations of the LaChance and Schenck family, the space was renovated from 1980-1981. During this time, the hotel transformed from guest rooms that hosted luminaries, to a 19-unit condominium. Today, the Alabama is still a condominium, and a two bedroom, two bathroom, 1,245 square foot condo runs for around $800,000. There are currently 12-units in the Alabama, where the units are all updated, and residents have shared amenities, such as a pool and lake access. Photo by Rebecca Reif.

Sarah Finfrock and Rebecca Reif, Editor-in-Chief and Director of Photography
September 30, 2022

The name Winter Park embodies the motive of its foundation: a park for northerns to vacation in the winter. With an industry centered around tourism, numerous iconic hotels began popping up around the city, starting with the Seminole Hotel in 1886, which eventually burned down. Later, in 1922, the Park Plaza Hotel opened on Park Avenue. Park Plaza celebrated its 100th anniversary this year and maintains its status as Winter Park’s most historic hotel. That same year, The Alabama opened on Lake Maitland, and although the hotel ceased operations, the site now functions as a condominium. Current Winter Park Mayor Phil Anderson has expressed interest in preserving these noteworthy institutions by preventing the construction of new hotels. However, after opening in 2013, The Alfond Inn has provided much success at encapsulating Winter Park’s charm and has shown us that new hotels don’t destroy the essence of our city, but rather enhance it.

(Above) The boutique hotel, The Alfond Inn, is owned by the local private college, Rollins College. The hotel serves as a way for Rollins students to learn the hospitality industry, art curation, and culinary skills. The program offers 90 full scholarships to Rollins’ students. Rollins aims to expand The Alfond Inn into the adjacent lot that was property already owned by the college. Photo by Sarah Finfrock.
(Sarah Finfrock)
(Left) The first-floor lobby of The Alfond Inn also serves as a museum. There are two neon signs, one near the bathroom, and one on the back wall, which have risen in popularity on Instagram. The art curators try to maintain a blend of local and international art in order to highlight the area’s cultural diversity. All employees are versed on the background of the art and are eager to answer questions. Photo by Rebecca Reif. (Rebecca Reif)
(Right) The Alfond Inn is a popular photo and hangout spot for residents of Winter Park. The hotel’s restaurant, Hamilton’s Kitchen, serves breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner. They take reservations online for both hotel guests and non-guests. The restaurant competes with many other Winter Park establishments along Park Avenue, like Briarpatch, Prato, and Boca. Additionally, many events, such as weddings, are held at the Alfond Inn’s garden area due to the aesthetic appeal. During wedding season, in Spring, the hotel can be booked for many weekends back-to-back. The hotel can accommodate 500 guests in its ballroom. Photo by Sarah Finfrock.
(Sarah Finfrock)
(Right) The Winter Park Historical Museum is located on the North side of the Winter Park Farmers’ Market off of Park Avenue. It is also the former location of The Langford Hotel, a popular resort hotel from the 1950s to the 1990s. The museum rotates exhibits throughout the years highlighting different aspects of the city. They once had an exhibit on the Langford Hotel including old photographs and ads. Photo by Rebecca Reif.
(Rebecca Reif)
(Right) Throughout Park Avenue, events that involve art, food, and entertainment occur quite often. The Park Plaza Hotel has its own gift shops to purchase items. However, there are a lot of places surrounding the hotel to shop, such as clothing boutiques, well-known stores, and jewelry shops. Additionally, plenty of dining is nearby for hotel guests and visitors, allowing a stay at the Park Plaza Hotel to be convenient and enjoyable. More specifically, at the Park Plaza Hotel, weddings commonly take place around this venue, and many guests and the individuals getting married stay in their guest rooms and Honeymoon Suites. Photo by Sarah Finfrock.
(Sarah Finfrock)
(Above) The Park Plaza Hotel was built in 1922, in the heart of the Park Avenue district, one of Winter Park’s most popular places. In the earlier 1900s, there was demand for more hotels near Rollins College, so the Park Plaza Hotel was built by architect Peter C. Samwell. The original name for the hotel was the Hamilton Hotel, but in the 1970s, new owners purchased the hotel, where there was major renovation, as well as a change in the hotel name. Photo by Rebecca Reif.
(Rebecca Reif)
(Above) The architecture both inside and outside of the Park Plaza Hotel has a definite European style, ranging from the exterior brick and patterned awnings to the interior decor. This hotel houses 28 guest rooms and suites, where vintage furnishings are seen throughout. The Park Plaza Hotel also prides themselves on the elegance the hotel resembles. Inside one of the rooms, wood floors, exposed brick walls, Bermuda shutters, plants, and overall comfortable furniture can be expected by hotel guests. Photo by Sarah Finfrock.
(Sarah Finfrock)
(Left) The Alabama has its own deck on Lake Maitland, where boating and skiing are popular, as well as access to Dog Island. When individuals visit Dog Island, they have picnics, hang out on the beach, swim, and boat. This deck only allows the Alabama residents entry, since it is private property. Photo by Rebecca Reif.
(Rebecca Reif)