Blue Water Hotel
125 North Birch Road — From tourist hotel to mid-century medical facility.
A Modern Hotel
▲ Fig 1. Original 2-Story Hotel.
Built in 1948-1949, The Blue Water Hotel was a classic piece of mid-century modern architecture located at 125 North Birch Road in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It played a distinct role in the city's post-World War II tourism boom. Because it shared a highly similar name with the much larger, famous Blue Waters Hotel on 74th and Collins Ave in nearby Miami Beach, the Fort Lauderdale property carved out its own niche as a quaint, upscale boutique escape. The history of this coastal landmark is outlined below.
Mid-Century Boom
- ➤ Location: A single block from the Atlantic Ocean shore, the hotel featured a prime waterfront location situated along the Intracoastal Waterway.
- ➤ Owner: Frank R. Peterson
- ➤ Builder: Richardson Construction Co.
- ➤ Architect: Walter E. Pauley
1950s
▲ Fig 2. Credit: Special Collections and Archives, Miami-Dade Public Library System
The Atmosphere
Throughout the 1950s, unlike the massive high-rise mega-resorts being built on the sand, the Blue Water offered a more intimate, upscale retreat for northern "snowbirds" who traveled down to vacation for weeks at a time. The hotel ran seasonally as a home for out of town guests, local society events like birthdays and women's clubs luncheons, and even a water ski show three times a week.
End of an Era
1952
In November 1952, the hotel debuted its new cocktail bar where you could chat and sip at the water's edge. The bar showcased a local musician who played piano and sang.
1956
Property owner sells the hotel to a group with plans to convert the building into a private hospital. Read more.
1957
The last guests leave in the spring of 1957, making way for the first patients to be admitted. Read more.
