Hotel Hampton

Taylor County settler, Joe Hampton, whose wife suffered from rheumatism, was guided to the sulfur springs by an Indian. After discovering that the water eased his wife's pain Hampton obtained a government grant to the spring . The Hotel Hampton was build by a Hampton descendant on this site in 1908. A Post Office is on record from 1904 - 1944.
The Hotel Hampton site is four miles west of Perry, Florida. The hotel burned down in 1954 but it was known as "Dixie's Famous Spa" in its heyday. The hotel was popular in the early 1900s; its lush gardens and elaborate fountains were inviting. During a time when Taylor County boomed due to the intersection of several railroads, the hotel hosted Theodore Roosevelt and famous others from the northeast. The luxurious Hotel Hampton sported a gambling casino, nine hole golf course, tennis court, stables, ball room, outdoor dance pavilion, boat ramp and covered excursion boats, a railroad depot and heated swimming/wading pools.
Tourists came to swim in the heated sulfur pool because its medicinal and healing properties. The hotel was located at the junction of Spring Creek and Rocky Creek, which fed into the Fenholloway River. The hotel boasted hunting and fishing lodges on Spring Creek, six miles from the hotel.
With is own bottling plant the hotel was able to ship the healing sulfur water nationwide. The hotel had its own power plant and farm; most of the food served in the dining room was grown and raised on the farm.
The hotel served as barracks for military personnel in the mid 30s and 40s. The military assigned to the Perry-Foley Airport tested military aircraft.
The ruins of the hotel include the swimming pool, concrete pathways, goldfish pond, and a walking bridge over the river, and a boat ramp.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Hampton
• Springs
• Florida
• near
• Perry