Ohio Golf Journal November 2019

" UILT IN AS THE CENTERPIECE OF #ORAL 'ABLES BY 'EORGE -ERRICK THE ROOM "ILTMORE (OTEL AND ITS CLASSIC -OORISH 'IRALDA 4OWER BECAME THE PLACE TO BE IN 3OUTH &LORIDA DURING THE 2OARING 4WENTIES )N KEEPING WITH -ERRICKmS INTENTIONS TO CREATE NOTHING BUT THE ÚNEST COUNTRY CLUB $ONALD 2OSS THE PREEMINENT GOLF COURSE ARCHITECT OF THAT PERIOD WAS HIRED TO LAY OUT HOLES IN THE SHADOW OF THE HOTEL 4HE "ILTMORE BECAME A FASHIONABLE MECCA FOR ROYALTY (OLLYWOOD STARS POLITICIANS GANGSTERS AND SPORTS LEGENDS 4HE -IAMI "ILTMORE /PEN BECAME A POPULAR STOP FOR PROFESSIONAL GOLFERS IN THE mS &AMILIAR NAMES SUCH AS 'ENE 3ARAZEN 7ALTER (AGEN (ORTON 3MITH AND 0AUL 2UNYAN ALL WON TROPHIES THERE 4HE HIGH TIMES AT THE "ILTMORE ENDED ABRUPTLY IN WHEN THE 5NITED 3TATES ENTERED 7ORLD 7AR )) 4HE 7AR $EPARTMENT COMMANDEERED THE ENTIRE PROPERTY FOR USE AS A HOSPITAL AND SET ABOUT BRICKING UP WINDOWS AND PUTTING LINOLEUM OVER THE MARBLE ÛOORS !FTER THE WAR THE 6ETERANS !DMINISTRATION USED THE PROPERTY UNTIL WHEN THEY ABANDONED IT !FTER MUCH LOBBYING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TRANSFERRED TITLE TO THE CITY IN 4HE HOTEL THEN SAT EMPTY FOR ANOTHER TEN YEARS AND CONTINUED TO FALL DEEPER INTO DISREPAIR TO THE POINT IT WAS USED AS A MOVIE SET FOR HORROR ÚLMS )N THE CITY SPENT MILLION OVER FOUR YEARS TO RESTORE THE PROPERTY ONLY TO CLOSE AGAIN IN DURING AN ECONOMIC RECESSION 4HE PRESENT OWNERSHIP TOOK CONTROL OF THE HOTEL IN The Iconic Biltmore Has Been Restored to its Former Glory By Wayne Mills Ohio Golf Journal