A $150 million makeover and so much more for the famed Boca Raton Resort & Club

New Boca Beach Club vibes are just the first step in “A New Golden Era” for the luxurious South Florida resort destination

The last time the Boca Raton Resort & Club underwent a major renovation, the city of Boca Raton acquired its tallest tower – the iconic pink tower.

It was 1967 and Arvida Development Corp. built the 27-floor tower with a restaurant at the top. At that time, it was the tallest structure between Tallahassee and Miami and would quickly become a landmark for the city of Boca Raton.

My father, one of the first full-time dentists in town, snapped these photos during the tower’s construction.

Fast forward 50-plus years, several smaller renovations and ownership exchanges to today... just when you think a resort can’t get any better, its new leaders create a plan to do so.

The Boca Raton Resort & Club is currently undergoing a $150 million renovation that will completely transform its main spaces. MSD partners and Northview Hotel Group have launched A New Golden Era with renovations scheduled to be completed prior to the peak of the 2021/2022 season.

Highlights for phase 1 of A New Golden Era include:

• 4-acre lakefront oasis featuring 4 pools, a lazy river, two 3-story slides, splash park, double standing wave, luxury cabanas, two bars, lakefront dining options, kids club, teen’s lounge

• Full reconfiguration/renovation of the Tower: newly designed guestrooms (suites, executives suites & Presidential Suite)

• Palm Court and The Cloister Garden will be reinvented with an all-day concept

• New restaurants, eateries & bars

-Morimoto moves to a larger space and offers inside/outside dining

- Lucca will double in size and have lakefront dining

- 501 East will be renovated (reopens 2021)

The main resort Cloister and Tower areas are currently closed due to construction and because of that and the weight of the coronavirus pandemic, nearly 1000 Resort employees were furloughed then terminated in 2020. A New Golden Era and reopened rooms and restaurants will mean good things for the local economy and most likely, many more job opportunities in the area.

What’s important to note is the Beach Club, larger bungalow rooms, tennis, golf and member areas remain open and active through it all. Designers have recently stepped it up a notch at the Beach Club with improvements that will make any vacation or staycation truly enjoyable.

Event planner for the stars, Creative Director & lifestyle impresario Colin Cowie worked his magic in the Beach Club lobby lounge and surrounding restaurants adding glamour, sophistication and a warmly welcomed brand new Beach Club vibe.

“The guest’s journey is paramount in whatever I do and as I began to envision the Beach Club, a resort that I have always loved, it was important for me to truly redefine the experience by appealing to all five senses,” says Cowie.

Of all things, Boca Raton has not had an oceanside restaurant – until now.

Cowie teamed up with the Resort & Club’s Executive Chef Andrew Roenbeck to develop delicious menu items for the new oceanside restaurant Marisol and lobby lounge seating areas featuring signature cocktails, seafood towers, sushi and tapas.

Along with Marisol and Marisol Bar, the Beach Club boasts three pools (adult, family and kiddie), beach activities, a fitness center and an enjoyable AirStream pop-up restaurant, often times with nearby live music to boot.

The Hilton CleanStay program throughout the property is much appreciated during these challenging COVID-19 times. There are Lysol wipes in the rooms, hand sanitizer stations throughout the resort, temperature checks, physical distancing encouraged everywhere and plenty of outdoor activity options.

The Harbourside Tennis Center is one of the top places in the country to play tennis (and now even pickleball) and is home to nearly 20 clay courts with a subsurface watering system called HydroGrid. There are also 36-holes of championship golf, an award-winning Waldorf Astoria Spa, a 32-slip full service marina and many fitness options including Orangetheory and Hydrow.

If you are a local, a staycation at the Boca Beach Club should not disappoint and if you live anywhere other than South Florida, put the Boca Raton Resort & Club on your travel to-do list for when you need some sunshine on those shoulders.