Gloria's Travel Blog

http://www.gloria305travels.com/google68e958dd14763a9e.html .

 

 

George Merrick,  was the one that planned and built Coral Gables in 1920. His family moved to Florida, when Merrick was 12 years old, he studied at Rollins College in Winter Park.   In 1915 the Governor of Florida selected him to replace F.A. Bryant, as Commissioner of District 1;  he spent 15 months planning the roads and highways for SouthFlorida, including main highways, which then will serve him to connect to his well-planned city of Coral Gables.  Miami was growing significantly and together with Edward DeVere built among others, The US-1, the Tamiami Trail, across the Everglades, the Bay Causeway to Miami Beach, and also Ingraham Highway, (now Old Cutler Rd.).

 

George Merrick

Beginning in 1922, in 3,000 acres covered with pine trees, which had been inherited from his father, he began building his beautiful mediterranean style city,  as he called it “City Beautiful”.  He built it with such details as streets surrounded by trees, bridges, a golf course, a beautiful church, a huge hotel, and even an unusual Water Tower.

The water tower has been modernized, and today may be seen in a small park at Alhambra Circle near Coral Way.

 

Alhambra  Water Tower

 

One of the Entrance to Coral Gables from Tamiami Trail

He was also credited to established the University of Miami in Coral Gables in 1926, donating 600 acres of land and five million dollars.

 

Mediterranean-style house

The hurricane of September 18, 1926, along with the Great Depression, killed his beautiful dream, but didn’t give up and  moved to Matecumbe Key, one of the Florida Keys and open the Caribe Club near Long Key Fishing Camp, but bad luck followed him, and the Labor Day hurricane of 1935,  known as The Storm of the Century, swept the Caribe Club.  He returned to Miami in 1940 and died in 1942 at the age of 55.   But his dream was not in vain, today we have the beautiful city of Coral Gables.  A well-planned community, which is an independent city and belongs to Miami-Dade County.

You can visit his house at 907 Coral Way, Miami.  It has been restored and opened to the public twice a week, on Wednesday and Sunday from 1 to 3 PM.   Adults are $ 5.00,  Seniors and children under 3 years, are $ 3.00.

VENETIAN POOL

It’s a  820.000 gallons swimming pool of spring water, with two waterfalls, designed by DenmanFink,  George Merrick’s uncle, it was restored in 1989 and is something worth visiting.  The address is : 2701 DeSoto Boulevard, Coral Gables, FL 33134. Tel: (305) 460-5306.

I also recommend going to Coral Gables City Hall, there are free maps of Coral Gables, you may need it, since all streets have names instead of numbers. Address: 405 Biltmore Way, Tel: (305) 448-6592.

The stretch of Coral Way between 37th Avenue and   Le Jeune Road is  named “Miracle Miles” , and it is full of good shops, and restaurants, but if you want to visit the new Coral Gables Mall, look for Ponce de Leon Boulevard, which crosses Miracle Miles, and go towards the end which is  VILLAGE OF MERRICK PARK.

 

Biltmore Hotel

The Biltmore Hotel is at 1200 Anastasia.  Kings, Presidents, renowned artists and even Al Capone, have enjoyed this sophisticated hotel.  Is rated one of the best of  USA.  The main tower is a copy of the Giralda in Seville.

Its rooms start at $ 300.00 a night.

Little Flower Catholic Church

This church was built at the request of a Catholic group, and the Bishop said the new parish would be dedicated to St. Therese of Lisieux, who was known as “Little Flower”.  The altar was made of marble and has beautiful carved wooden figures.  It’s situated near the Biltmore Hotel and the Congregational Church.

CORAL GABLES GALLERY NIGHT

15 years ago, on the first Friday of the month, the  Coral Gables galleries  open to the public until 11: PM, in there  there friends and family meet together and enjoy  free cheeses and wines offered by the  galleries, where many hispanic artists are seen.  If you see a trolley, do not hesitate to climb in, they are “free” and you may avoids long walks.

I hope my article will be useful during your visit to Coral Gables.  ENJOY.

Photos by: Gloria and Vily