Located at 18101 Collins Avenue, the Colonial Inn was built in 1956 by architects MacKay and Gibbs. This impressive building with six Doric columns was associated with Colonial Revivalism defining an era of Americana. The discernable symbol of the inn was the horse drawn carriage painted white and black like the building itself conjuring images of a southern plantation.

Advertisements from 1956 mention rooms starting at $3.00 per day, and an American plan – complete with all your meals for an additional $3.00 per day. This included a hearty breakfast and piping hot coffee. There were 250 luxurious rooms and suites many with private terraces. A center courtyard tropically landscaped surrounded a pool deck area.

Two spacious lobby areas with drop ceilings were decorated in burgundy and gold with sheer drapes.

Meals were served in the elegantly decorated Medallion Room where there was often entertainment. Guests enjoyed casual and elegant meals. According to long-time Sunny Isles Beach resident and advertising company owner Rose Rice, “The Colonial Inn had great food and people would go there for Shabbat diner.”

The Inn became very popular with snowbirds from the northeast corridor of the United States, Europe, and South America.

In a 1990’s brochure, the Inn advertised: Conference Facilities, Olympic Swimming Pool, an entertainment Program with Feature Films, Variety Shows, Stage Shows, Bingo, Ping Pong, Shuffleboard Tournaments-Prizes, Fishing Parties, Race Track and Sports Stadiums nearby.

The Colonial Inn was demolished in 1999 by the Dezer Development Corp. to make way for the luxurious hotel condominium Trump Place.

Compiled by David Udoff and Marlene Calero

If you have stories and pictures to share about the history of the Sunny Isles Beach area, call City Hall at 305-947-0606

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