Casa Marina and Key West history — the Flagler legacy
Casa Marina Key West traces to Henry Flagler’s Florida railroad-era expansion and opened on New Year’s Eve 1920; the resort preserves historic 1920s character while offering renovated rooms, oceanfront pools, Spa al Maré, and beachfront event space. Today Casa Marina operates as a 4-star oceanfront resort with private beach access, two pools (one adults-only), on-site dining including Dorada and The Canary Room, and 311 renovated rooms and suites.
In this guide
Flagler and Casa Marina: a short history
Casa Marina was conceived as part of Henry Flagler’s push to connect Florida by rail and opened on New Year’s Eve 1920 to serve rail passengers and seasonal visitors. The property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and retains architectural features from the early 20th century.
Over the decades the resort has been renovated; most recently it underwent a full property renovation completed in 2024 that refreshed guest rooms, public spaces, and added a 5,000 sq ft oceanfront event lawn while preserving historic ballrooms and original design elements.
- Opened: New Year’s Eve 1920
- Originally built to serve passengers of Flagler’s railroad
- Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
- Major renovation finished in 2024
| Historic Detail | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Flagler connection | Resort built for railroad-era visitors |
| Original ballrooms | Flagler Ballroom with arched windows and hardwood floors |
| Preservation | Historic features maintained alongside modern updates |
Where Casa Marina sits in Key West
Casa Marina sits on more than 1,100 feet of private shoreline and is described as Key West’s largest private beach. The resort’s beachfront location places it within easy walking range of several local landmarks.
On foot you can reach the Southernmost Point marker in about 15 minutes and Ernest Hemingway’s Home in roughly 20 minutes at a leisurely pace; many Old Town attractions and Duval Street lie about a mile away and are accessible without a car.
- Private beach length: roughly 1,100 feet
- Southernmost Point: ~15-minute walk
- Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum: ~20-minute walk
- Duval Street: about a mile on foot
| Nearby Place | Typical pedestrian time |
|---|---|
| Southernmost Point | ~15 minutes |
| Ernest Hemingway Home | ~20 minutes |
| Duval Street (shops & dining) | About 1 mile on foot |
Rooms, suites, and what to expect
Casa Marina offers 311 rooms and suites across four floors, with 22 room types ranging from standard ocean-view rooms to multi-bedroom lofts and themed suites. Wheelchair-accessible rooms are available and the property completed a renovation in 2023–2024 to refresh interiors.
Room categories include named configurations such as Pool View with Walkout Lanai Room, Partial Oceanview Suite with Lanai, Oceanfront Suite with Balcony, Room (Key West View), Lilly Pulitzer Suite 2 Queens with Balcony, and Oceanfront Walkout Suite among others listed by the resort.
- Total rooms and suites: 311
- Accessible rooms available
- Examples of room names exactly as written:
- Pool View with Walkout Lanai Room
- Partial Oceanview Suite with Lanai
- Oceanfront Suite with Balcony
- Lilly Pulitzer Suite 2 Queens with Balcony
- Oceanfront Walkout Suite
| Room Type | Notes |
|---|---|
| Pool View with Walkout Lanai Room | 1 King Bed listed by the resort |
| Lilly Pulitzer Suite 2 Queens with Balcony | Patterned, themed suite with balcony |
| 2 Bedroom Loft, Ocean View | Multiple-bed configuration for groups |
Dining and bars tied to Flagler-era spaces
Casa Marina’s food-and-beverage offerings pair updated menus with historic settings. Flagler's Restaurant operates within the historic Flagler Ballroom area for breakfast and other meals, while Dorada serves Baja-Med dishes at an oceanfront location.
The Canary Room is the lobby cocktail bar inspired by Ernest Hemingway and a 1920s aesthetic; it offers handcrafted cocktails and small plates and is open in the afternoons and evenings.
- Dorada — oceanfront Baja-Med restaurant (lunch & dinner; Bar open 11 am–11 pm; Lunch 11:30–4:30; Dinner 5:30–10:00)
- The Canary Room — lobby cocktail bar (open daily 2 pm–12 am; Happy Hour 2–4 pm)
- Flagler's Restaurant — breakfast in historic Flagler Ballroom (7–11 am) and other meal periods
| Venue | Primary offering |
|---|---|
| Dorada | Oceanfront Baja-Med lunch & dinner |
| The Canary Room | Lobby cocktail bar with light bites |
| Flagler's Restaurant | Breakfast in historic ballroom setting |
Pools, beach and Spa al Maré
Casa Marina has two refurbished oceanfront pools: one family-friendly pool with a maximum depth of 4 feet 6 inches and a separate adults-only pool. Day rentals of cabanas and beachfront day beds are available at both pools, with food-and-beverage service.
Spa al Maré operates in a beachfront cabana across the street from the main resort building and offers massages, facials, aromatherapy, oxygen facials, reflexology, and specialty prenatal and couples treatments. The spa is open daily (hotel lists 9:00 am–6:00 pm).
- Two oceanfront pools — family pool (max depth 4 ft 6 in) and adults-only pool
- Poolside cabana and daybed rentals with F&B service
- Spa al Maré — beachfront cabana location; indoor and cabana treatments; signature Ocean Breeze Massage
- Beach amenities: chaises, umbrellas, hammocks, beach volleyball, watersports launch
| Amenity | What’s included / notes |
|---|---|
| Family Pool | Depth up to 4 ft 6 in; family-friendly |
| Adults-only Pool | Separate quiet pool area |
| Spa al Maré | Open daily; beachfront cabana treatments |
Events, weddings and the Flagler legacy
The resort retains several historic event spaces, including the Flagler Ballroom with arched 10-foot windows and hardwood floors, and multiple large ballrooms and patios suitable for weddings and conferences. Casa Marina lists over 11,000 square feet of indoor event space and added a 5,000 sq ft Oceanfront Event Lawn during recent renovations.
Outdoor beachfront venues known as Flagler Beach Venue and East Beach Venue provide large-capacity options for ceremonies and receptions on the sand; the resort advertises capacities ranging up to 3,000 guests outdoors and up to 530 guests in the largest indoor ballroom configuration.
- Historic Flagler Ballroom — 3,080 sq ft; capacity listed at 320
- Keys Ballroom — 4,840 sq ft; capacity listed at 530
- Oceanfront Event Lawn — 5,000 sq ft added during renovation
- Flagler Beach Venue — beachfront event space with capacity up to 3,000
| Venue | Notable capacity / size |
|---|---|
| Flagler Ballroom | 3,080 sq ft; capacity 320 |
| Keys Ballroom | 4,840 sq ft; capacity 530 |
| Flagler Beach Venue | Up to 3,000 guests outdoors |
Practicalities: check-in, fees, transport and accessibility
Check-in begins at 4:00 PM and standard check-out is 11:00 AM; the front desk operates 24 hours with staffed arrivals assistance available until 1:00 AM. The property charges a mandatory daily resort fee that covers items such as beach access, pool and fitness center access, and in-room coffee and bottled water.
Casa Marina is family-friendly and pet-friendly (pets under 25 lbs, fee applied), and wheelchair-accessible rooms and public-path accessibility are offered. On-site services include a fitness center (part of the resort fee), tours/ticket assistance, and shuttle service between Casa Marina and its sister property The Reach.
- Check-in: 4:00 PM; Check-out: 11:00 AM
- Mandatory daily resort charge (covers beach access, fitness center, pool concierge, etc.)
- Minimum age to register as primary guest: 21
- Pet policy: up to 2 pets per reservation, fee about $75 per pet, per day
- Accessible rooms and accessible pool available
| Policy | Detail |
|---|---|
| Late check-out fee | Listed fee of $50 per hour from noon until 4 pm; after 4 pm a full night is charged |
| Early departure fee | An early checkout fee of $150 may apply |
| Parking | Self-parking and valet on site for fees (listed by third parties) |
