Mission Resort + Club, located in Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida, was recently inducted into Historic Hotels of America, the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
“The entire team is thrilled that the resort is being recognized by Historic Hotels of America for its rich Central Florida history,” said Cindy Staley, General Manager of Mission Resort + Club, whom I first met earlier this year when the resort played host to the LPGA’s Epson Tour.
Back in January, Mississippi-based and family-owned MMI Hospitality Group added Mission Resort + Club to its robust portfolio of award-winning hotels, resorts, and restaurants across the Southeast.
“We will work to preserve the natural beauty and history of Mission Resort + Club, paying homage to its storied past while working toward future growth,” added Staley.
Mission Resort + Club is recognized for preserving and maintaining its historic integrity, architecture, and ambiance.
“Historic Hotels of America is delighted to induct Mission Resort + Club, a Spanish-style hotel built in 1916.” said Lawrence Horwitz, Executive Vice President of Historic Hotels of America and Historic Hotels Worldwide. “We commend Mission Resort + Club, MMI Hotel Group, and leadership team for their careful historic preservation work, stewardship and vision that will allow future generations of travelers to experience this unique historic destination.”
Mission Resort + Club is a gem of a property and well worth the 35-minute drive northwest of Orlando. It’s also just 80 minutes northeast of Tampa and home to two championship golf courses.
The El Campeón (The Champion) layout, built in 1917 by George O’Neil, is one of the oldest courses in the South with a classic design featuring unusually sharp elevation changes in the typically flat central Florida terrain. It plays host to multiple professional, college, and high school tournaments. Las Colinas (The Hills) was created in 1992 by former PGA Tour winner Gary Koch, and it lives up to its name with wide fairways rolling over gentle rises. Both courses at Mission Inn feature undulating greens surrounded by tropical vegetation and incorporate large water hazards on many holes.
The resort is built upon generations of hospitality; in 1964, Nick Beucher arrived from the Midwest and purchased what was at the time branded as the Floridan Country Club. He reimagined the property with a motif of Spanish Colonial architecture, and through the years, the resort has expanded to include four restaurants, fresh-water fishing, a full-service spa, and 30,000 square feet of group space for meetings, weddings, and special events.
Following its acquisition earlier this year, the resort is undergoing a series of renovations intended to improve the guest experience, amenities, and accommodations, including a recent rebranding.
Previously known as Mission Inn Resort & Club, it’s now known as Mission Resort + Club and recently reopened a fully transformed pro shop at the golf courses.
