Demolition of Longboat Key's Colony Resort Signals End Of Era

LONGBOAT KEY, FL -- Say goodbye to a piece of history. Demolition of Longboat Key's iconic Colony Beach and Tennis Resort began Thursday afternoon, July 26.

Vacant for eight years, the 26 buildings on the 18-acre property at 1620 Gulf of Mexico Drive were ordered torn down in June by the town of Longboat Key due to safety concerns.

Once nationally known for its charming Bohemian beach cottages and award-winning restaurant with tuxedo-attired waiters serving flaming dishes, the Colony was constructed by Sarasota developer Herb Field in 1952.

It was purchased by orthodontist Murray Klauber in 1969 who turned it into the country's first tennis resort complete with a tennis academy where renowned tennis coach Nick Bollettieri was an instructor before starting the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy (now the IMG Academy) in Bradenton.

Up until 2004, the Colony was recognized as one of the top tennis resorts in the country by Tennis magazine.

The resort also made headlines as the place where then-President George W. Bush spent the night before visiting Booker Elementary School in Sarasota on Sept. 11, 2001. As Booker students read a book to him, Bush received word of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Like many resorts across the country, the terrorist attacks took their toll on the resort and, in 2009, the Colony declared bankruptcy.

In 2016, Orlando-based Unicorp National Developments purchased the property for $22 million. Unicorp plans to build the St. Regis Hotel and Residences on the site, including a five-story, 166-room hotel and 78 condominiums in three five-story buildings.

Photos via Colony Facebook page

Vintage photos show the popular Monkey Room Bar and Patio along with the award-winning Gulf Front Dining Room.