When the Federal Construction Company began the 1992 renovation, they wanted to remove a vault that was located behind the front desk. It was locked but obviously during the time that the hotel was closed, attempts had been made to get into it. The tumbler was gone and the door had been scorched, but still locked. When the workmen opened it up, they found 1,400 pieces of the original silver wrapped in 1934 newspaper.
Hear more stories like this on a guided tour, every Wednesday through Saturday at 10:30am.
The former servants quarters are reduced to rubble in September of 1980. Photo credit: Tampa Bay Times
These "bathing beauties", standing in front of the Vinoy Park Hotel pool, are believed to be from a series of promotional images captured in the 1940s.
