Maybe the similarity is just my imagination, or maybe the multi-storied arcade surrounding the pool was simply a popular design at the time. However, I’m inclined to believe this is more than just a coincidence…it certainly makes a more interesting blog piece if you believe that. The Alcazar Hotel was Henry Flagler’s second Gilded Age resort in St. Augustine. Built by the NYC firm of Carrere and Hastings, it opened for business the winter of 1888. Whereas Flagler’s Hotel Ponce de Leon right across the street served as the apogee of glitz and luxury, the Alcazar would shine for its recreational amenities. Reduced glamour also meant a reduced price for guests. The hotel boasted Turkish (steam) baths, a "Russian Plunge" (steam followed by an icy dip…no thanks), gymnasium, bowling, tennis courts, ballroom, massage parlor, and an indoor swimming pool in the back section known as the Casino (guests of the Ponce had access to the Casino as well). The pool was 120 feet long and 50 feet wide, reaching a depth of 12 feet at its deepest point, and covered by a glass roof. It was filled with sulphur water from an artesian well, which I’m sure smelled lovely. The pool was floored over in 1947, and today you can dine in the Café Alcazar, where those old Victorians once swam. With all the Alcazar had to offer, it makes sense that it would serve as a source of inspiration for a contemporary spa. And the Neiman Marcus Greenhouse certainly continued the tradition of serving high society; Dallasnews reported that guests included the likes of Grace Kelly, Cindy Crawford, Lady Bird Johnson, Barbara Bush, etc. However, not even the Greenhouse was spared when the spa industry tanked in the mid-2000’s. It was auctioned in 2010 and is now living a second life as the Greenhouse Addiction Treatment center, operated by Treatment Solutions.
What do you readers think? Do you see the similarities? Leave a comment!
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