The Rise and Fall of Jacksonville's Magnificent George Washington Hotel

Back in November 11th 1925, the same month Charles Ponzi’s days of selling Florida swampland to real estate investors was coming to an end,  Robert Kloeppel announced his intentions to construct the largest and most magnificent hotel in Jacksonville, Florida.

Kloeppel was a poor immigrant from Germany when he came to Jacksonville, but became a successful real estate and hotel magnet.

As Jacksonville rose from the ashes from The Great Fire of 1901, so did Kloeppel’s bank account and fortunes.

He studied at night and became a lawyer, then opened a law office in the Flagler hotel.   In 1919 he bought the hotel.

The George Washington Hotel forever called The GW was designed by local architectural firm Marsh and Saxelbue.  The $1.5 million dollar hotel opened its doors on December 15th 1916.

Standing 13 stories tall it was one of seven downtown high-rises under construction that year.

The GW was the nation’s first 100% air conditioned hotel and each of the 350 rooms featured a radio loudspeaker and headphones.

Over the years the GW was the epicenter of activity in Downtown Jacksonville.

In 1927 at a GW Hotel dinner dance party Kloeppel, an aviation enthusiast announced a $1,000 prize for the first flyer to conquer the Atlantic.

Less than a month later Charles Lindbergh accomplished the feat and came to collect on May 16th 1927.

Other famous flyers frequently stopped in Jacksonville to see Kloeppel and stayed at the hotel. Will Rogers, Eddie Rickenbacker, Eddie Stimson builder of the Stimson airplane, Amelia Earhart signed the guest register while on a lecture tour 1936.

Lots of money was raised at the hotel during the dark days of World War II.

In September of 1942 movie star Veronica Lake with her peekaboo tresses covering one eye, came to stump for war bonds.

Lake brought the audience to its feet when she said her Army Captain boyfriend was somewhere overseas and they raised almost 2 million dollars that night.

On October 13th 1954 thousands of people filled downtown streets to watch a German aerialist walk a 175 high tight wire strung from the hotel.

Judy Garland and her mother ate breakfast there in 1938.   Roy Rogers bunked there while in town for the 1959 March of Dimes parade.   Hank Aaron signed autographs there in 1970.

The Capone Syndicate was in control of all of the dog tracks in Florida and frequently stayed at the GW while in town.

The guest book featured the names of Lou Gehrig, Bob Hope, Henry Ford, JFK and many others.

The Beatles had a press conference at the GW on September 11th 1964, before their performance at the Gator Bowl.

Kloeppel sold the hotel in 1963.

Once called the Wonder Hotel of the South was closed in 1971 and torn down in 1973.