History

1513

Ponce de Leon discovers Florida

1821

Spain cedes Florida to United States

1900

First land-based hotel built on St. Petersburg’s Gulf beaches

1925

Palm Harbor named

1957

Clearwater metro area is the fastest growing U.S. city

1968

James Curtin and Gene Pease purchase land with the intent of developing a major golf resort complex in response to their growing frustration with a lack of quality courses coupled with long waiting lines.

1970

Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club opens The Island Golf Course, a clubhouse and three residential lodges. The natural beauty of the land proves a major attraction to golfers from all over the country.

1971

Sandpiper Golf Course (which will eventually become the North and South courses) and the Highlands Clubhouse opens in conjunction with five additional residential lodges

1972

The signature Copperhead Golf Course opens

1985

Innisbrook completes the last of its 28 residential lodges on the 900-acre property, and becomes established as one of nation’s top resorts for leisure guests, conferences and avid golfers

2007

Sheila C. Johnson discovers Innisbrook and embraces the challenge of restoring the resort to prominence through her investment elevation of service

2008

Transitions Optical announces that it will sponsor the PGA TOUR event held on the Copperhead Course each March for the next five years – a testimony to the next great chapter to be written in Innisbrook’s history. The Postal Service also recognizes Innisbrook, FL as its own community.

2009

The completion of the resort’s extensive renovations, including the opening of the new luxurious Indaba spa and resort restaurants, coincides with Tampa hosting Super Bowl XLIII. Numerous celebrities stay at Innisbrook, celebrating its dramatic rebirth.