Tag: New Port Richey Florida

Celebrating The Restored Hacienda Hotel

Carol 36 Comments

The HACIENDA

5621 Main St, New Port Richey, FL 34652

On March 4, 1926, James E. Meighan, brother to Thomas Meighan, leading man of the silver screen throughout the 20s and 30s, donated land for the construction of a new Spanish Colonial Revival-style hotel befitting New Port Richey’s growing popularity with arts, society, and sports luminaries. 96 years ago on February 5, 1927, Ed Wynn acted as the master of ceremonies for the grand opening and ribbon cutting of The Hacienda Hotel in New Port Richey. The Hacienda and New Port Richey became known as “Hollywood East” due to the celebrities that enjoyed the town and hotel, including reported sightings of Thomas Meighan, Gloria Swanson, Lupe Velez, Charlie Chaplin, and Ann Harding, among other notables. The Hacienda was a popular gathering spot for sports and entertainment figures for many years.

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April in Sims Park, New Port Richey, Florida

Carol 17 Comments

Withlacoochee River: The name “Withlacoochee” is derived from one of Florida’s Native American tribes, the Creek.  It means “Little Big Water”, which makes sense as both floods and droughts have caused the water levels to rise or drop many times over its history.  Another meaning is “crooked river”, which accurately describes the twists and turns it makes on its way towards the Gulf of Mexico.

Close to my home is a wondeful small town, New Port Richey, Florida. I’ve shared photos taken in New Port Richey before. Sims Park has been featured in several posts. Last week I stopped by the park early one morning. It was a beautiful spring day with blue skies, mild temperatures, and low humidity. These days are gold because summer in Florida is really hot and humid.

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A Beautiful Day at James E. Grey Preserve

Carol 28 Comments

James E Grey Preserve

6938 Plathe Rd, New Port Richey, FL  (727) 841-4560

 

James E. Grey Preserve is an amazing treasure in New Port Richey. Quiet, peaceful, and so old Florida, it is an 80-acre riverfront preserve offering many birds & other wildlife, 2 miles of trails & a playground. This City of New Port Richey park is quiet and very pretty. I saw plenty of pretty birds, gopher tortoises and turtles in the river.

 

 

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