WINTER PARK, Fla. — A 66-year-old hotel that stood on one of Winter Park's busiest streets for more than 60 years was demolished Monday.
The demolition of the Mount Vernon Inn, which was most famous for its Red Fox Lounge, happened at 10:30 a.m. on U.S. Route 17-92 and Morse Boulevard.
Raw: Winter Park Mount Vernon Inn demolition
Slideshow: Demolition of Mt. Vernon Inn
The project was approved last year by city commissioners, and the site will be used for a new shopping center.
Once all the buildings are down and the site is cleaned, work will begin on the $25 million development.
"We're actually adding 40 extra parking spaces for across the street. Lakeside has been so popular across the street, and it's great. People come all the time, so we are going to facilitate that need by putting more parking here for over there," said Unicorp developer Chuck Whittall.
The new development is expected to open in about a year. It will include more retail and restaurants, officials said. So far, Chuy's and Kona Grill have signed on as tenants.
WFTV
