Illuminated brick building with multiple stories, arched windows, and a central entrance under a clear evening sky.
Memories are a funny thing. Even as your own memories become faded with time, certain details can remain in bold print on the pages of your mind – the smell of your grandmother’s kitchen on a Saturday morning; the sound of the breeze finding its way through the leaves of the tree outside your open bedroom window; the feel of the cool grass under your feet on a hot summer night. When triggered, each seemingly insignificant detail is a time machine that leads straight back to that specific place and to that specific moment. All of the feelings and emotions of a split second of your existence rush back into your consciousness and, all too briefly, past and present become indistinguishable. All it takes is one small shred of a memory to remain in tact for it to endure a lifetime. Once it’s gone, however, it’s gone.
In 2012, the historic Cavalier Hotel, perched high on the hill at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront, was facing demolition and, with it, the end of an era for all who have walked its prestigious halls. If the hotel was destroyed, so too would a crucial piece to all of the memories housed within it’s Flemish bond brick and limestone exterior.
Historic multi-story brick building with a central tower, surrounded by trees and a curved driveway, viewed from a paved road in the foreground.
The Cavalier Hotel on the Hill – Photo Credit: Norfolk Historical Society
Cavalier Hotel Opening
Opening to national acclaim in 1927, the “Grand Dame of the Shore” has played host to everyone from society’s elite of the 20s and 30s, to local families and friends gathering for weddings and reunions. Ten U.S. Presidents have walked through the hotel’s grand entrance, including Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry Truman, and John F. Kennedy. Author F. Scott Fitzgerald swam laps in the filtered salt water plunge pool. Movie stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood like Judy Garland, Bing Crosby, Ginger Rogers, Doris Day and Bob Hope have danced until dawn at The Cavalier Beach Club to sounds of Cab Calloway, Glen Miller, Benny Goodman, and Frank Sinatra. Notorious gangster, Al Capone relaxed by the Hunt Room’s enormous fireplace. The United States Navy even took over the hotel during World War II and used it as a radar training school.
People dance and socialize on a bustling boardwalk by the beach, with parasols and seated onlookers in the background.The Cavalier Beach Club – Photo Credit: Sargent Memorial Collection Norfolk Public Library
With such an intricate history, naturally ghosts are said to have been spotted by many who have walked through The Cavalier’s grand lobby. The piano in the opulent Crystal Ballroom would play with no one seated at it. A long lost cat could be heard scratching and meowing at guest room doors. A kind, old bellman had, on many occasions, been seen on the stairs leading from the fifth floor to the sixth, warning of ghosts ahead, only to vanish when guests turned to question him. Even famed brewer, Adolph Coors, whose lifeless body was found below his sixth story window in 1929, had been spotted walking the corridors in the dead of night.
To lose The Cavalier would have meant losing a piece of our collective memory and, for many, an important reminder of days past. Fortunately, thanks to a last-minute purchase from local hospitality and real estate management company, Gold Key | PHR, an extensive 4-year renovation has restored the legendary hotel to its former grandeur, preserving it and all of the stories within.
Historic Restoration
In March 2018, The Cavalier reopened as a distinguished member of Marriott’s Autograph Collection. While the renovation worked wonders in bringing the hotel into the 21st Century, in many ways it can still be enjoyed as it originally was by all who walked its floors before us. Enter through the grand lobby, which has been returned to its pre-war form with Jeffersonian-style woodworking and original terrazzo flooring. Spend your nights dancing and drinking under the magnificently-high ceilings and large windows of the Crystal Ballroom, which has been painstakingly restored to its former grandeur. Dine in the historic Hunt Room, where guests who once hunted native fowl, such as ducks, on the original property’s 4,000 acres of land, would bring their bags of game to be prepared by the hotel’s masterful chefs. The historic grand fireplace in the center of the eatery, which was found to have been structurally compromised, has been restored brick-by-brick, with each brick being placed in its original order and location. Relax for awhile in the Raleigh Room, the hotel’s new take on the original Grand Salon, with plush seating, drink carts, game tables, and billiards, and enjoy expertly crafted cocktails before dinner and tea time in the afternoon. Take a dive into the plunge pool, which looks as it did when the aforementioned F. Scott Fitzgerald spent his days lounging by its saline-based waters. It has even been rumored that his long days by the luxurious pool inspired him to write “The Great Gatsby.”
Room with a black grand piano surrounded by framed art on walls, featuring portraits and floral images. Pink armchairs and checkered flooring complete the decor.The Raleigh Room at The Cavalier
Indoor pool area with lounge chairs and greenery on both sides. "The Cavalier" logo is projected on the wall above. Ceiling features glass panels for natural light.The Plunge Pool at The Cavalier
The New Cavalier
The painstaking effort to stay true to The Cavalier’s storied past does not mean that everything has remained unchanged, however. While the original building housed 195 guest rooms, each a tight 12 feet by 12 feet, the new Cavalier offers 62 guest rooms and 23 suites, all of which are beautifully designed and much larger than the original rooms. Today’s guests can choose from 11 different types of rooms, including the Legacy Suites, each of which were designed in correspondence with the board members who helped make the renovation possible, so no two Legacy Suites are the same. No matter which room you stay in, however, the hotel’s rich history and the modern day are seamlessly blended with rich finishes and clean lines, as well as an uncanny attention to detail in amenities like clawfoot tubs and marble baths.
A cozy living room with a leather sofa, armchair, and round coffee table on a patterned rug. Golf clubs decor on a wooden accent wall. Floor lamp and sideboard with framed picture.Legacy Suites at The Cavalier
Stylish living room with a gray sofa, blue chairs, oval glass coffee table, and orange accent wall. Mid-century modern decor includes a golden floor lamp and a wooden sideboard with decor items.Legacy Suites at The Cavalier
Room with green damask wallpaper, brown leather sofa, green armchair, wooden coffee table, and multiple framed pictures on the wall. A chandelier and lamp provide lighting.Legacy Suites at The Cavalier
From your room, retreat to the SeaHill Spa, which offers lavish serenity with nine massage treatment rooms, a full service hair and nail salon, deep soaking tubs, and a pink Himalayan Salt-walled sauna. You can further unwind at Tarnished Truth Distilling Company, the country’s first craft distillery to be located inside of a hotel. This small batch distillery’s portfolio includes their signature bourbon, rye whiskey, and AVA Vodka, which you can enjoy in the Hunt Room, or even take a bottle home with you. They also offer private and hourly tours, flight tastings, and a private room for dinners, cocktail classes, and special occasions.
A modern spa reception area with a curved desk, ceiling lights, and a decorative wall. Skincare products are displayed on a front counter, and a ladder is visible in the background.SeaHill Spa at The Cavalier
Dimly lit bar with glass panel windows, black and green decor, "Hunt Room" sign, and checkered floor tiles.The Hunt Room and Tarnished Truth Distilling Company at The Cavalier
In addition to the Hunt Room and the Raleigh Room, guests can enjoy an evening dining at Becca, the hotel’s modern farm to fork restaurant offering decadent American fare crafted from the freshest local ingredients. In fact, many of Becca’s ingredients are grown in their on-site garden, which also features a grand stone fireplace and views of the Atlantic Ocean, making for a spectacular outdoor dining experience. While Becca is an entirely new addition, the name is a nod to the namesake for the hotel’s original signature restaurant, Pocahontas, who changed her name to Rebecca when she converted to Christianity.
Elegant restaurant interior with white-clothed tables, cushioned chairs, and warm lighting. Large floral centerpiece on a dark wood counter. Arched windows in the background.Becca Dining Room at The Cavalier
They say that history has a funny way of repeating itself, and with a history like that of The Cavalier’s, it would certainly be a welcomed sight. No one can say exactly what excitement and grandeur the future will hold for what was once considered the finest resort hotel in America, but one thing is for certain; the full story of this Grand Dame has yet to be written. Her legend continues to grow every day, one new memory at a time.
