Garden City Hotel facts for kids
The Garden City Hotel is a famous hotel found in Garden City, New York. It was first built in 1874 by a wealthy man named Alexander Turney Stewart. The hotel you see today is the fourth one on the same spot, opened in 1983.
This hotel is well-known for hosting many important people. World leaders and celebrities have stayed here over the years. Some famous guests include John F. Kennedy, Margaret Thatcher, and Hillary Clinton. Even Prince Khalid of Saudi Arabia and Irish leader Garret FitzGerald have visited.
A very famous guest was Charles Lindbergh. He rented a room here the night before his amazing flight across the Atlantic Ocean to Paris. However, he didn't actually sleep in the hotel room. Instead, he took a short nap at a friend's house nearby.
Contents
A Grand Welcome: The Garden City Hotel's Story
Building a Dream: The First Hotels
The very first Garden City Hotel began being built in the fall of 1873. It opened with a big celebration on July 30, 1874. This grand hotel was created by millionaire Alexander Turney Stewart. It cost $150,000 to build, which was a huge amount of money back then! Later, this first hotel was made even bigger and more beautiful.
A brand new Garden City Hotel opened its doors in 1895. It was designed by famous architects named McKim, Mead and White. In May 1897, a nine-hole golf course was added for guests to enjoy. This golf course later became the well-known Garden City Golf Club.
Just four years after it opened, the new hotel sadly burned down. This happened on the morning of September 7, 1899. But they didn't give up! A third and very famous version of the hotel was built on the same spot. It opened in 1901.
This third hotel became a favorite place for very rich and important families. Families like the Vanderbilts and the Pierpont Morgans often stayed there. It remained a top spot until it ran into financial trouble. The hotel was torn down in 1973.
A New Era: The Current Hotel and Its Famous Guests
The hotel you see today is the fourth one. It was built to replace the old one and opened on May 20, 1983. This modern hotel was built by Myron Nelkin.
Modern Updates and New Ownership
In October 2007, there were reports that the Nelkin family might sell the hotel. This was several months after Myron Nelkin, the owner, had passed away. The hotel was eventually sold in September 2012. The new owner was Morris Moinian of The Fortuna Realty Group.
After the sale, the hotel went through a big update. About $30 million was spent to make it even better. This included updating all 269 guest rooms and suites. The outside of the building also got a fresh new look. A large 7,000 square foot spa is also being built for guests to relax in.
The Garden City Hotel is part of a special group called the Preferred Hotel Group. This means it's recognized as one of the top hotels around the world.
