Restoration St. Louis has been selected as the preferred company to restore the Walesbilt Hotel. RSL was chosen over a competing proposal from the Blackmon and Adoniades Families, a St. Petersburg-based alliance of two operators who control scores of hotel and residential properties across west central Florida.
In a 5-0 vote, the Lake Wales Community Redevelopment Agency authorized City Manager James Slaton and “agents of his choosing” to negotiate a contract with the firm. CRA Assistant Director Ronni Wood noted the historic nature of the vote, calling it the most significant of the last 80 years, surpassing even the adoption of the Lake Wales Connected plan.