The Return of the Royal Palm Hotel? How a Historic Fort Myers Landmark Could Shape the Future of the Riverfront

What if one of the most iconic names in Fort Myers history returned to the downtown riverfront?

That possibility is generating excitement as new renderings from JAXI Development showcase the proposed Royal Palm Hotel & Residences, a project planned for the heart of downtown Fort Myers.

The City of Fort Myers has confirmed the Riverline Hotel, a Marriott series property, while JAXI Development has confirmed the name Royal Palm Hotel & Residences for the project. If completed, it would bring one of the city's most recognizable historic names back to the waterfront more than a century after it first helped put Fort Myers on the map.

But to understand why the Royal Palm name matters, you have to go back long before the proposed development ever existed.

Before the Royal Palm: The Hendry Hotel Era

The story begins in the late 1800s when Louis Hendry purchased the property from his father, cattle baron F. A. Hendry, for $7,000.

At the time, Fort Myers was still a small but growing community along the Caloosahatchee River. Recognizing the area's potential, Louis Hendry expanded the existing home by adding 14 rooms and converting it into the Hendry Hotel.

Located on the north side of First Street, the hotel quickly became one of the area's most important gathering places.

In an era before modern entertainment venues, hotels often served as social centers where residents, visitors, and business leaders gathered. Historical newspaper accounts describe the Hendry Hotel hosting dances, social events, and community celebrations that helped define early Fort Myers life.

By the spring of 1897, the hotel had become one of the city's premier social destinations.

The Birth of a Grander Vision

Later that same year, businessman Hugh O'Neill purchased the property.

The existing Hendry Hotel was demolished to make way for a larger and more ambitious development. In 1898, the Fort Myers Hotel officially opened on the site, reflecting the city's growing reputation as a destination for visitors escaping northern winters.

As Southwest Florida continued attracting tourists, investors, and seasonal residents, the demand for upscale accommodations increased dramatically.

That growth set the stage for what would become one of the most influential hotels in Fort Myers history.

The Rise of the Royal Palm Hotel

Everything changed again in 1907 when Tootie McGregor Terry and her husband, Marshall Terry, acquired the property.

They transformed the site into the Royal Palm Hotel, which officially opened in 1908.

The Royal Palm quickly became one of the premier luxury hotels in Southwest Florida. Wealthy travelers, seasonal residents, business leaders, and investors traveled from across the country to spend winters in Fort Myers.

At a time when tourism was still emerging as a major economic force, the Royal Palm Hotel helped establish Fort Myers as a desirable destination.

Many historians credit developments like the Royal Palm with helping create the foundation for the modern "City of Palms" identity that continues to define Fort Myers today.

How the Royal Palm Helped Shape Fort Myers

The significance of the Royal Palm extended far beyond hospitality.

Hotels often serve as gateways to a community, and the Royal Palm introduced countless visitors to Fort Myers during a critical period of growth.

Its presence helped support tourism, attract investment, and increase awareness of Southwest Florida's unique waterfront lifestyle.

The hotel became part of the city's identity during a period when Fort Myers real estate, riverfront development, and winter tourism were beginning to shape the local economy.

Many of the growth patterns still visible today can be traced back to investments and developments that occurred during this era.

The End of an Era

Like many historic landmarks, the Royal Palm Hotel eventually faced challenges.

A devastating fire in 1936 significantly damaged the property, and over time its prominence began to fade.

According to newspaper accounts from 1947, businessman Tom Phillips later purchased the property, sold much of the hotel's furnishings, and began dismantling the remaining structure to make way for new commercial development.

The building disappeared, but the Royal Palm name remained part of Fort Myers history.

For generations, it represented an era when the city was establishing itself as one of Florida's emerging destinations.

Why the Royal Palm Name Still Matters Today

One reason this proposed development has attracted so much attention is because it connects the city's future with its past.

The proposed Royal Palm Hotel & Residences arrives during a period of significant growth in downtown Fort Myers. Projects involving luxury condominiums, waterfront hotels, mixed-use developments, and River District revitalization continue reshaping the urban core.

For those following Fort Myers real estate, downtown Fort Myers development, luxury waterfront condos, Southwest Florida investment property, Fort Myers luxury homes, riverfront living, and new construction in Fort Myers, this project represents more than another building.

It reflects how the city continues to balance growth, redevelopment, tourism, and historic identity.

Whether the project ultimately becomes a defining landmark remains to be seen, but its connection to one of Fort Myers' most recognizable names makes it particularly meaningful.

The Bigger Picture

One of the things that makes Fort Myers unique is that every neighborhood, waterfront corner, and historic landmark tells a story.

Understanding those stories provides context for the changes happening today. It reminds us that growth is not new here. Fort Myers has been evolving for more than a century.

The proposed return of the Royal Palm name serves as a powerful example of how the past can continue influencing the future.

To learn more about the history behind the Royal Palm Hotel and see the proposed renderings for the future development, watch the full Stories Behind the City of Palms video.

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So what do you think? Should the Royal Palm name return to the Fort Myers riverfront, or should historic landmarks remain part of the city's past rather than its future?