Hotel Punta Gorda Mural is Complete

In 2010, a new mural was commissioned for the south wall of the Charlovie Condos along the sparkling shoreline of Charlotte Harbor in the City of Punta Gorda. The mural's subject was to be an image of the historic Hotel Punta Gorda, formerly known as Hotel Charlotte Harbor, which burned down in the early 1900's. The flames that devoured the grand hotel were so great that residents in Arcadia, Florida, nearly thirty miles away, claimed to have seen the fire.

In its glorious days, Hotel Punta Gorda presented lavish hospitality on presidents, celebrities and international dignitaries. It was an appreciated location for fishing tarpon and other coveted game fish. The City of Punta Gorda provided famous guests with small town courtesy so they could enjoy vacations without their privacy and time being usurped by admirers.

The mural depicts the great Hotel Punta Gorda, which stretched along the Charlotte Harbor shoreline between two points now known as the bridges that serve as Northbound US-41, also known as Charlotte Harbor Bridge, and Southbound US-41, also known as Gilchrist Bridge. In the days of Hotel Punta Gorda, only Charlotte Harbor Bridge existed at the east edge of the hotel's expansive property. It was a wooden, single lane bridge that became so narrow at its arch that only one horse carriage could pass at a time. When traveling the bridge south into the City of Punta Gorda, one would travel over the arch to feel that his decent was directly into the Hotel Punta Gorda itself. It was a visual illusion that added to the grandeur of the hotel and the experience.

The mural also depicts the busts of several famous Hotel Punta Gorda visitors, including U.S. Presidents. These portraits serve as a great reminder of Punta Gorda's status as a secret destination for the world's famous individuals who, with having the whole world at their feet, choose to sneak away to Punta Gorda for good fishing, good food and good company.

There are many murals throughout the City of Punta Gorda that tell the story of the area's history and how the history of the world's great events affected this small Florida town. The Hotel Punta Gorda Mural is yet another piece of the puzzle for visitors to delight in viewing to learn about this rich area and enjoy Punta Gorda's deep appreciate for beauty and art.