Casa Casuarina, South Beach Miami
The gates of Casa Casuarina hold a storied past and a restored and luxurious hotel. The Italianate villa stands out among the other homes in South Beach’s famous Art Deco district. It was built as a private residence in 1930 and modeled after the Alcazar de Colon in Santo Domingo, a home built by Christopher Columbus’s son in 1510. Casa Casuarina sat quietly and elegantly through South Beach’s rise and fall and its 1980’s renaissance.
During this time the fashion industry discovered the area and began bringing an influx of rich and influential people to the region. A very influential figure during South Beach’s renaissance was Gianni Versace. The famous designer purchased Casa Casuarina in 1990, tore down the hotel next door and added a 6,100-foot addition. Unfortunately, Versace was only able to enjoy the home for seven years before he was brutally slain at the front gate in 1997 by Andrew Cunanan. In 2000 the property was purchased by telecommunications giant, Peter Loftin for an estimated $19 million. After some renovations to the property it was turned into a member’s only club, with a one-time fee of $40,000.
Recently the club has formed an agreement with Leading Hotels of the World and guests can book rooms as temporary members and avoid the large membership fee. Rooms will still cost between $1,200 and $5,000 a night but the nightlife at Casa Casuarina is expected to be incredible and well worth the expense.
If you don’t think you can afford to stay here, book a discount hotel in the vicinity at Hotels Cheap and live vicariously.
Categories: Hotels
