Saddlebrook Resort in Tampa Bay is undergoing a $92 million transformation. The project will touch nearly every facet of the guest experience, from the lobby, 451 accommodations and restaurants, to event spaces, outdoor areas and multiple pools.
The refreshed porte-cochère will receive a new outdoor entrance, lighting and landscaping. Inside, the redesigned lobby will house a memorabilia area paying tribute to the resort’s heritage and Saddlebrook Academy’s sports alumni. A new coffee shop concept will be added just off the lobby, where guests can enjoy coffee, baked goods and a selection of grab-and-go items.
The refreshed accommodations will include a range of standard guestrooms up to the three-bedroom suites. The guestrooms will receive new furniture, including wood-accented dressers, plush seating and new dining areas. In the suites, updated kitchens will include white cabinetry and stainless steel appliances.
The resort’s dining experiences are being revitalized, too, with multiple concepts and venues opening in the coming months. Once complete, Saddlebrook will offer four F&B experiences, including the lobby’s coffee shop, a new poolside restaurant and bar, a sports bar and all-day dining destination. Guests can, alternatively, lounge around Saddlebrook’s 500,000 gallon Super Pool, named in honor of the 1984 Super Bowl hosted in Tampa, the same year the pool originally opened. The Super Pool’s new esthetic will reflect a palette of vibrant pinks and lush greens.
Saddlebrook’s golf courses will be comprehensively upgraded to elevate the player experience. The two existing 18-hole courses will be redesigned into a challenging 27-hole layout made up of three interchangeable nine-hole courses. These can be combined in various ways to create three distinct 18-hole championship courses. Greens will be reconstructed using the USGA method for improved performance, fairway bunkers will be invigorated with upgraded drainage and crisp sand and tee surfaces will be rebuilt and laser-leveled for consistency. A new irrigation system will also be introduced to optimize course conditions.
These upgrades build upon the December 2024 opening of Saddlebrook’s new 13-acre driving range that includes a double-sided range, two TifEagle bermudagrass putting greens and three short-game areas with greenside bunkers.
Good to know: Saddlebrook offers a total of more than 200,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor event space. The revamped ballrooms were unveiled this February. More than 40,000 square feet of flexible indoor meeting and event spaces were completely transformed with new chandeliers and patterned carpets throughout. Two signature ballrooms, including the 12,500-square-foot Royal Palm Ballroom and the 8,000-square-foot Pegasus Ballroom, can be segmented into nearly two dozen separate rooms. Upgraded technology, including high-speed internet and digital wayfinding displays, gives advanced connectivity and convenience.
For those seeking an open-air setting, Saddlebrook offers more than 175,000 square feet of outdoor space, including the Sports Village, Fountain Courtyard and the pool deck, each delivering dynamic backdrops for team-building activities, wedding receptions and al fresco gatherings. Among the resort’s venues is its 60-yard football field, constructed by the same team behind select pro sports fields.
In 2022, Mast Capital and Amzak Capital Management acquired the resort with a long-term commitment to its revitalization. In addition to the $92 million renovation with financing from Beach Point Capital, the property’s evolution includes a forthcoming town center with 465 luxury apartments, 25 townhomes, 75,000 square feet of retail and office space, and a pedestrian-friendly promenade. Adjacent development will also introduce a 120-unit townhome community and 25,000 square feet of commercial offerings.
The majority of the renovation will debut in summer 2025, with the golf course upgrades following in fall 2025. Saddlebrook is part of Benchmark Resorts & Hotels, a collection of independent resorts and hotels operated by Pyramid Global Hospitality.
For details, visit www.saddlebrookresort.com.
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