Miami Biltmore Hotel

The Miami Biltmore Hotel is a luxury hotel in Coral Gables. It was designed by Schultze and Weaver and was built in 1926 by John McEntee Bowman and George Merrick as part of the Biltmore hotel chain. When completed it became the tallest building in Florida at 315 feet (96 m) holding the record until 1928 when the Dade County Courthouse was built. At one time the pool was the largest pool in the world and among the many attractions was swimming instructor (and later Tarzan actor) Johnny Weissmuller. It served as a hospital during World War II and as a VA Hospital and campus of the University of Miami medical school until 1968. Abandoned for many years it became a hotel again in 1987.