History of Schenley Park Pt.4: An Intriguing Tale of The Depression Era.

George Merrick at The Colonnade Hotel, 1926

Photo sourced at The Coral Gables Museum

There’s a captivating community story that deserves to be shared, though it hasn’t been officially verified. According to neighborhood lore, during the Great Depression, real estate developer George Merrick faced financial challenges and decided to sell land west of Red Road (modern-day 57th Avenue). The property reportedly extended toward what is now the Palmetto Expressway.

Even more intriguing, that parcel that is now home to the hospital may have been planned as a sister hotel to the famed Biltmore in Coral Gables. Some believe this is why features like the grand entrances, the promenade, and Devonshire Boulevard lead directly toward the hospital area.

While this story adds a fascinating layer to our neighborhood’s history, it remains unconfirmed. If you have any reliable records or local memories that can help verify or expand on this piece of Schenley Park’s past, we’d love to hear from you! Message us on our Instagram or Facebook account with your fun facts!