75.9 F
Lake Wales
Saturday, May 31, 2025

City Officially Acquires Ownership of Dixie Walesbilt Hotel

Date:

Photo provided by City of Lake Wales

The City of Lake Wales released the following press release on May 9, 2025:

City of Lake Wales reached a milestone, officially obtaining the deed to the iconic Dixie Walesbilt Hotel on May 9thafter a three-year legal battle with Walesbilt LLC owner Ray Brown.

The City paid Brown $450,000 to transfer ownership of the property to the City’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). Brown relinquished all claims against the city.

A unanimous vote by the city commission to approve the settlement agreement took place in April.

“Negotiating a deal and avoiding a protracted legal battle was the strategic course of action,” City Manager James Slaton said. 

Slaton, who also serves as the executive director for the Lake Wales CRA spent eight hours with Lake Wales’ attorney Kevin Ashley negotiating the deal with the Dixie Walesbilt legal team.

A comprehensive assessment of the hotel will take place before City staff prepares a request for quotation for prospective developers.

author avatar
Maria Iannucci

Share post:

Subscribe

Popular

More like this
Related

Avon Park Woman Arrested For Alleged DUI In Lake Wales With Child in Vehicle

Lake Wales, FL – A woman identified as Madisyn...

Lake Wales Women’s Club Planning 3rd Annual Plant and Garden Festival Oct. 18 -19

by James Coulter   The Lake Wales Woman’s Club is planning...