In researching the founding of Punta Gorda this week, we found an ad in the February 6, 1887 issue of the New York Tribune for a new hotel in Florida under label Winter Resorts. The Hotel Punta Gorda was described as being 100 miles further South than any other First Class hotel in the United States. Before the town of Punta Gorda was officially born (it was still Trabue at the time), it was being marketed as a tourist destination.
Why we wondered was the Hotel --- the Hotel Punta Gorda before the City was even named officially Punta Gorda in December of that year. Vernon Peeples, our resident historian explains why.
"The name of the big, fat point on Charlotte Harbor was "Punta Gorda". The railroad being built was to "Punta Gorda". The railroad built and owned the Hotel Punta Gorda at Trabue. The railroad went through Trabue in order to get to Punta Gorda. Punta Gorda was on the map and Trabue was not."
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