Lido Beach Casino Historical Marker

This historical marker commemorates the Lido Beach Casino, which opened in 1940, as well as architect Ralph Spencer Twitchell. During its three decades of operation, the casino was a leading attraction that attracted tourists and locals alike with its iconic live music lounge and popular pool. Twitchell, a leading figure in what became known as the Sarasota School of Architecture, designed the casino in the Mediterranean Revival style. It featured restaurants, a ballroom, shops, curved cabanas, and a pool with a high dive. The venue hosted political rallies, pageants, conventions, and countless other events that made Lido Beach the center of social life. A small beach pavilion currently stands on the property today.

The idea for the casino originated with local real estate developer and civic leader Roger Flory, who wanted the city to create a municipal bathing beach. In 1936, the Chamber of Commerce formally proposed the idea in hopes of boosting tourism to Sarasota. At the time, the property was owned by the John Ringling estate and managed by Ringling's nephew, John Ringling North, who agreed transfer the property to the city. Another architect, Albert Moore Saxe, submitted plans for an "Hawaiian-style" casino. Twitchell's design was selected instead, but it did resemble Saxe's proposal.

The casino was a huge hit when it opened in 1940. The building's design was new and modern, featuring glass blocks, murals of tropical scenes, and large cast concrete seahorses. The casino was most popular during World War II when service members in the region stationed at the Sarasota Army Airbase, the Venice Airbase, the McDill Airbase, and Carlstrom Field visited the casino on leave. A big band leader, Rudy Bundy, and his group regularly performed in the ballroom.

The casino declined by the late 1950s and was in need of repair. Residents approved a bond referendum in 1964 to restore the building but the project never happened. The exact reason why it was demolished appears to be unknown. Although while in need of restoration, the building was found to be structurally sound. However, the casino did see a decrease in revenue in the 1960s and no preservation organization was formed or in existence to lead the effort to save it. The public was not warned of the demolition, which occurred in early 1969. The work took a long time since the concrete building was so solidly built. Apparently, a local Elvis Presley impersonator acquired the seahorses. Two copies of the seahorses are now housed in the Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium.

"Discovering the Lido Beach Casino on the Suncoast." WWSB ABC7. September 13, 2023. https://www.mysuncoast.com/2023/09/13/discovering-lido-beach-casino-suncoast.

LaHurd, Jeff. "In Sarasota, a look at Lido Beach's casino." Herald-Tribune. October 8, 2018. https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/columns/2018/10/08/lahurd-in-sarasota-historic-look-at-lido-beachs-casino/9607116007.

"Lido Beach Casino/Ralph Spencer Twitchell." The Historical Marker Database. Accessed October 16, 2023. https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=146244.

Shank, Ann A. "The Lido Casino." Sarasota History Alive. Accessed October 16, 2023. http://www.sarasotahistoryalive.com/index.php?src=directory&srctype=detail&refno=1243&category=Articles&view=history&back=history.