Sunny Isles Beach Hotels
In 1920, Harvey Baker Graves, a wealthy businessman from Rochester, NY bought a 2.26 square mile tract of land from the Flagler Systems Model Land Company, for $60,000. The purchase included riverfront and islands in the upper Biscayne Bay area and he dubbed it Sunny Isles.
Sunny Isles is a barrier island in the north east corner of Miami-Dade County. It is bounded on the east by the Atlantic Ocean and on the west by the Intracoastal Waterway. The area was only accessible by boat until 1925 when the Haulover Bridge was built, connecting it with the mainland.
The first buildings were a bathhouse and casino and in 1936 the 1 ½ mile long Sunny Isles pier was built. The pier still exists and is designated a national monument. The area attracted picnickers and fishing enthusiasts from Miami Beach and South Dade and in 1946 the first 4 story hotel was built, signaling the start of what would become a popular South Florida tourist destination.
In the next decade Sunny Isles came into its own as a vacation spot with the rapid growth of motor hotels, a great attraction to the emergent ranks of the motoring public. A family could pull up and park right beside their room door! The word ‘motel' was quickly coined and the area became known as Motel Row.
The motels were convenient and affordable. In 1949 the Sombrero Motel advertised its rates as "$2 daily for 2 in a room". The motels sought to attract business with their fanciful and exotic facades. The Sahara boasted 2 enormous fake camels complete with robed Bedouins. The Mandalay, The Suez and The Buccaneer epitomized the promise of escape to far away lands- metaphorically at least. The Thunderbird with its massive Native American symbol struck a more American, but equally exotic, note. The motels also vied with each other to offer modern facilities. The Thunderbird had a heated pool and by the 1950's most motels were offering TV and telephone in every room and air conditioning!
Sunny Isles Hotels & Resorts
The Sunny Isles beach hotels and motels kept the tourists coming but slowly Sunny Isles was also attracting residents with single family homes going up in the Golden Shore area. In the day, sun and sea were the main attractions for tourists and residents and at night there was a vibrant night club scene with many popular clubs and lounges attracting famous musicians.
In 1967, Bennet Lifter, a Miami Beach hotelier and real estate entrepreneur, built a beautiful 13 story hotel - The Marco Polo. The Sunny Isles beach hotel had unrestricted beach views and beach access and also its own lively night club - The Swinger and the larger Persian Room, where Las Vegas style acts drew big crowds.
The 1970's ushered in a new era of development targeted at the growing residential market. Mid and high-rise multi-family buildings were constructed and the city began to grow as both year round and seasonal residents bought into the new condominium communities.
By the 1990's Motel Row was losing its luster but Sunny Isles continued to attract big name investors and growth was continuing in new luxury condominiums, such as the Oceania the Trump Royale and the Solé. In 1997 the City of Sunny Isles Beach was incorporated and city services and businesses grew quickly to keep pace with the changing face of Sunny Isles.
From a beginning in sand bars and mangrove thickets, the area has grown into the City of Sunny Isles Beach, with its upscale condominiums, highly desirable single family homes and mix of vacation accommodation.
Hotels in Sunny Isles, Florida
When staying in hotels in Sunny Isles, Florida you will find many fine outdoor amenities offering boating, fishing, water sports and tennis and your will be close to the shopping meccas of Bal Harbor and Aventura. The city is proud of its high standard of living and its range of services for all age groups. And most important, the city's strict adherence to zoning laws is ensuring that beach area pathways and view corridors will continue to provide visitors and residents with beach access and scenic views to frame and enhance a continuing high quality of life.
Sunny Isles Beach Video
Sunny Isles Beach, Florida. Find more information about sunny isles.
For a fully illustrated history of Sunny Isles see:
From Sandbar to Sophistication:
The Story of Sunny Isles Beach by Seth Bramson
The History Press, Charleston,SC