The Don CeSar keeps St. Pete Beach's pink palace story
The Don CeSar gives St. Pete Beach a 1928 resort landmark with a wartime chapter and a second life that began in the 1970s.
The Don CeSar opened in 1928 on what is now St. Pete Beach. Its pink towers still make it one of the easiest buildings on Florida’s Gulf coast to spot.
The resort story did not run in a straight line. During World War II, the federal government used the hotel as an Army hospital. It later served as a Veterans Administration office, then sat empty before reopening as a hotel in 1973.
Those chapters give St. Pete Beach more than a postcard landmark. The same building holds the area’s early resort hopes, wartime service, fight for reuse, and modern visitor trade. That is why it anchors old photographs as well as the present skyline.
Non-guests may enter the hotel and use its restaurants and shops. Some other resort features may be available through a day pass when space allows.
Check the hotel FAQ before going because access, reservations, passes, and events can change. Parking is limited and paid, so include it in the plan rather than assuming a quick free stop.
Place paths
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Directly covered
Official sources
- The Don CeSar - Our History
- The Don CeSar - Frequently Asked Questions
- City of St. Pete Beach - Historic Resources Survey
Last checked against these sources: July 31, 2026.
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