Lost but not Forgotten: The Dixie Grande Hotel

Long before modern offices stood at the corner of 6th Avenue and 13th Street West, the Dixie Grande Hotel rose above downtown Bradenton as a symbol of growth, hospitality and ambition.

Constructed in 1925, the hotel was originally planned as the Southland Hotel by a group of local businessmen known as the Southland Corporation. Late in construction, however, the building became part of the Griner Hotels chain, each property carrying the name “Dixie,” and was renamed the Dixie Grande Hotel before opening.

The hotel officially opened in April 1926. Standing eight stories tall with 175 guest rooms, it was a striking addition to the Bradenton skyline and a significant investment at the time, costing $900,000 to build, according to historical records from the Manatee County Historical Records Library. Early views from nearby Pine Street, now 13th Street West, captured the scale of its construction and the energy of a growing city.

The Dixie Grande was part of a broader network of “Dixie” hotels operated by Griner Hotels Inc., a Jacksonville-based company founded by hotelier Charles Benjamin Griner. Other properties in this chain included the Dixie Walesbilt Hotel in Lake Wales and the Dixie Pelican Hotel in Stuart, reflecting a coordinated effort to build recognizable destinations across Florida during the 1920s boom, according to Abandoned Florida.

Even before opening, ownership began to evolve. J.W. Fieldhouse purchased a majority stake in the hotel. In 1934, his daughter, Annetta Causey, became the hotel’s manager. Just two years later, in 1936, she bought out the remaining minority stakeholders. By 1940, Causey owned the hotel outright, running it independently and establishing herself as a prominent figure in Bradenton’s business community. She continued to lead the Dixie Grande for decades, later marrying Vernon Arbuckle in 1954, and managing the hotel until her death in 1970.

The Dixie Grande Hotel stood apart from many Florida destinations of its time. While much of the region catered primarily to winter visitors, the hotel operated year-round, offering a steady and welcoming presence for both travelers and local residents.

The Dixie Grande was more than a hotel. Period photographs suggest it included a small coffee shop, open to both guests and the public, offering a welcoming space for conversation and connection in downtown Bradenton.n.

After nearly five decades, the Dixie Grande’s story came to a close. The hotel was demolished in August 1974, making way for First City Federal Savings and Loan. Today, the site is home to Sunz Insurance, a reminder of how spaces change while their histories endure.

A postcard from that era offers a glimpse into both the hotel’s final days and the passage of time. “Remember when you could still get a cup of coffee for a nickel?” it reads, reflecting on 1974, the year the Dixie Grande was replaced. The message continues with a lighthearted nod to rising real estate values and changing times, blending nostalgia with the realities of a growing community.

Though the building no longer stands, the Dixie Grande Hotel lives on through photographs, postcards and shared memories. Its story reflects a period of transformation in Bradenton, shaped by vision, resilience and a strong sense of place.