PROPERTY SUMMARY
Villa Serena Inn is the Sarasota area's oldest surviving inn and its only remaining original property from the glamorous Roaring Twenties — a distinction as as irreplaceable as the building itself. Built in 1926 for Clarke Douglas Williams, a New York stockbroker, and designed by renowned local architect Clare Hosmer, the Mediterranean Revival structure was known at the time as 'the Italian Palace' for its elaborate period furnishings. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 29, 2000, the property was purchased by current owner in 2014 and became the subject of a $1.5 million restoration and renovation completed by 2019.
The property offers 12 luxury suites across the main building each featuring a full galley kitchen, breakfast nook, private bedroom, sitting room, and original oak floors. While all 12 unit are currently approved for non-transient apartment rentals, four were previously approved for transient (short-term) rental. A shift to a full or partial short term rental model would provide a clear path to profitability. A purpose-built 1,000 square foot Carriage House catering hall accommodates up to 100 guests for weddings, private events, concerts, and art workshops. The grounds span nearly 1.5 acres across three parcels, shaded by towering banyan and live oak trees, with a swimming pool, seven outdoor pergolas, tropical gardens, and a FarmBot robotic organic garden. Vibrant art murals and a curated collection of artworks by local artists are integrated throughout the property.
The Inn’s penthouse hosted American icons including baseball legends Babe Ruth and Dizzy Dean, and champion golfer Bobby Jones — a celebrity provenance that remains one of the property's most distinctive and marketable assets.
