Eight original cypress beams from the former Ringling Hotel are being carefully restored by local wood artists Ryan Tremblay and Tim Steller, and they’re destined for the new Sarasota County History Center when it opens in early 2027. The hotel opened in 1926 as the El Vernona, built by developer Owen Burns, and was later purchased by John Ringling after the 1929 crash. Despite its place on the National Register of Historic Places, the building was demolished in 1998.
The beams sat in storage for more than two decades before Tremblay was asked to restore them. Some pieces weigh up to 400 pounds and can take three days or more of hand-sanding and sealing to bring back, all while preserving the original 1920s paint. Tremblay describes the work as feeling like an archaeologist chiseling away at a big dinosaur bone.
When completed, the beams will form an indoor pergola and serve as a permanent centerpiece of the History Center, giving visitors a tangible connection to a landmark that no longer stands. Which piece of Sarasota’s history do you wish had been preserved? Let us know in the comments.
