Lakeland Terrace Hotel

When the Lakeland Terrace Hotel first opened her doors in 1924, she was hailed as one of Florida's finest new year-round inns, which at the time was a rather novel concept. Prior to then, and the wide availability of air conditioning, hotels simply opened for 'The Season,' and closed for the summer.

Fortunately, the prosperity of the early 1920s meant that tourists by the trainload were pouring into cities in the Sunshine State, like Lakeland. The warm weather and the lucrative real estate market made the journey all the more enticing.

Seeing this influx of tourism and trade, Florida Collier Court Hotels built their comfortable hotel in the heart of downtown Lakeland, a sister to other hotels in Miami, West Palm Beach, and Tampa.
In those days, guests entered the hotel from Main Street, via a luxurious tropical garden that opened on to Massachusetts Avenue. Potted palms that accentuated the majestic, high-ceilinged lobby immediately greeted guests. Huge French windows in the lounge overlooked Lake Mirror. From her ample restaurant and bar, visitors enjoyed fine meals served in a restful atmosphere. Guest rooms were simply and thoughtfully appointed with then-modern comforts and conveniences that few other hotels could match.

It's hard to believe that for two decades the hotel sat crumbling and neglected, a symbol of Lakeland's dying downtown. Today the Terrace is proof of city leaders' success in revitalizing historic Downtown Lakeland. In 1998, The Lakeland Terrace re-opened her doors as downtown's newest hotel. FCA Group, headed by Robert Scharar, a Lakeland native, restored her charming historic exterior, completely refurbishing the hotel to luxurious modern standards. In addition to 73 spacious hotel rooms, The Terrace Hotel also offers 15 comfortable guest suites, plus elegant conference and banquet facilities. Professionally decorated, guestrooms capture the hotel's original style while indulging the needs of modern-day travelers.