Vintage John Ringling Hotel Donor Save The Hotel Commemorative Tile EUC #71/2000
The John Ringling Centre Foundation (often referred to in the context of the John Ringling Towers) was one of several groups involved in, or witness to, the ultimately failed efforts to save the El Vernona Hotel (later the John Ringling Hotel/Towers) in Sarasota, which was demolished in 1998.
While they were not able to save the building itself, efforts were made to salvage and preserve its interior elements, including tiles.
Key Facts on the Hotel and Preservation Efforts:
The Building: The El Vernona Hotel was a 1926 Mediterranean Revival building designed by Dwight James Baum.
Destruction: Despite various efforts, including those by the John Ringling Centre Foundation, the building was demolished in 1998.
Saving Tiles and Artifacts: As the building sat vacant and faced demolition in the 1990s, efforts were made to save its architectural elements. Items such as tiles, Venetian glass, chandeliers, and sconces were salvaged by various parties, including members of the public and preservation groups.
Sarasota Architectural Salvage: In 2009, Sarasota Architectural Salvage held an auction for remnants of the John Ringling Towers, which were transferred from the Friends of the Sarasota County History Center and the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art storage.
Confusion with "Ghost Hotel": It is important to distinguish this from the un-finished Ritz-Carlton on Longboat Key (known as the "Ghost Hotel"), which was demolished in 1964.