[2] In 1925, land developer George E. Merrick joined forces with Bowman-Biltmore Hotels president John McEntee Bowman at the height of the Florida land boom to build "a great hotel...which would not only serve as a hostelry to the crowds which were thronging to Coral Gables but also would serve as a center of sports and fashion."

In January 1926, after ten months of construction at a cost of $10 million, the hotel debuted with an inaugural that brought people down from northern cities on trains marked "Miami Biltmore Specials.

"[5] [citation needed] Visitors included the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Ginger Rogers, Judy Garland, Bing Crosby, Al Capone, and assorted Roosevelts and Vanderbilts as frequent guests.

Franklin D. Roosevelt had a temporary White House office set up at the Hotel when he vacationed in Miami.

There were many gala balls and aquatic shows by the grand pool, with the grounds acting as a venue for weddings and golf tournaments.

While the hotel was undamaged, providing shelter for over 2000 survivors, the disaster signaled the end of the Florida land boom.

[citation needed] As many as 3,000 would come out on a Sunday afternoon to watch the synchronized swimmers, bathing beauties, and alligator wrestling.

[7] In 1973, through the Historic Monuments Act and Legacy of Parks program, the City of Coral Gables was granted ownership control.