Gulf Stream Hotel, historic hotel in Lake Worth, Florida
The Gulf Stream Hotel is a six-story building in Florida situated just yards from the water with views of the Intracoastal Waterway. Its sandy-yellow exterior features arched doorways and decorative tilework, while the interior contains 100 rooms with original details from the 1920s including chandeliers and rattan furnishings throughout.
Construction began in 1923 under the name El Nuevo and opened two years later, attracting wealthy visitors from the Northeast and Europe for winter stays despite costs more than doubling. The Okeechobee Hurricane damaged it in 1928, followed by the owner's bankruptcy in 1929 and a seven-year closure, then reopened in 1936 with new owners and served as a major social hub for military officers and their families during World War II.
The hotel served as the main gathering place for wealthy and influential visitors in Lake Worth, where guests attended rooftop dinners and formal dances that defined local society life. It remains a symbol of the area's social traditions, having hosted countless community events including galas and school celebrations that shaped the town's cultural memory.
The hotel sits close to Lake Worth right on the waterfront, making it easy to explore the area on foot and access nearby water views. Since this is a historic building, expect stairs and older architectural features, and check current opening times before visiting.
During World War II, the hotel became the largest social center in the city, drawing not just military personnel but also many local residents to its events and gatherings. This unexpected wartime role as both a military hub and community gathering place set it apart from other resort hotels and made it the cultural heart of Lake Worth during that period.
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