{"id":678,"date":"2013-12-05T13:40:57","date_gmt":"2013-12-05T13:40:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/?p=678"},"modified":"2016-07-18T02:49:13","modified_gmt":"2016-07-18T02:49:13","slug":"historic-lantern-lane-apartment-building-becomes-birchwood-inn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/historic-lantern-lane-apartment-building-becomes-birchwood-inn\/","title":{"rendered":"Historic Lantern Lane Apartment Building Becomes Birchwood Inn"},"content":{"rendered":"<div\n\tclass=\"ngg-galleryoverview\"\n\tid=\"ngg-gallery-4e1ff390ec83c584d19796cf673c20ae-1\">\n\n    \t\t<!-- Thumbnails -->\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"ngg-image-0\" class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box\" >\n\t\t\t\t        <div class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail\">\n            <a href=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/bw_0101.jpg\"\n               title=\"A historic shot of the original Lantern Lane Apartment building\"\n               data-src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/bw_0101.jpg\"\n               data-thumbnail=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/thumbs\/thumbs_bw_0101.jpg\"\n               data-image-id=\"191\"\n               data-title=\"bw_0101\"\n               data-description=\"A historic shot of the original Lantern Lane Apartment building\"\n               class=\"ngg-fancybox\" rel=\"4e1ff390ec83c584d19796cf673c20ae\">\n                <img\n                    title=\"bw_0101\"\n                    alt=\"bw_0101\"\n                    src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/thumbs\/thumbs_bw_0101.jpg\"\n                    width=\"120\"\n                    height=\"90\"\n                    style=\"max-width:100%;\"\n                \/>\n            <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"ngg-image-1\" class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box\" >\n\t\t\t\t        <div class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail\">\n            <a href=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/bw_0103.jpg\"\n               title=\"St. Petersburg&#039;s historic Lantern Lane Apartment building was recently remodeled into the Birchwood Inn.\"\n               data-src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/bw_0103.jpg\"\n               data-thumbnail=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/thumbs\/thumbs_bw_0103.jpg\"\n               data-image-id=\"192\"\n               data-title=\"bw_0103\"\n               data-description=\"St. Petersburg&#039;s historic Lantern Lane Apartment building was recently remodeled into the Birchwood Inn.\"\n               class=\"ngg-fancybox\" rel=\"4e1ff390ec83c584d19796cf673c20ae\">\n                <img\n                    title=\"bw_0103\"\n                    alt=\"bw_0103\"\n                    src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/thumbs\/thumbs_bw_0103.jpg\"\n                    width=\"120\"\n                    height=\"90\"\n                    style=\"max-width:100%;\"\n                \/>\n            <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"ngg-image-2\" class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box\" >\n\t\t\t\t        <div class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail\">\n            <a href=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/bw_0106.jpg\"\n               title=\"A view from the rooftop lounge overlooking Tampa Bay.\"\n               data-src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/bw_0106.jpg\"\n               data-thumbnail=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/thumbs\/thumbs_bw_0106.jpg\"\n               data-image-id=\"193\"\n               data-title=\"bw_0106\"\n               data-description=\"A view from the rooftop lounge overlooking Tampa Bay.\"\n               class=\"ngg-fancybox\" rel=\"4e1ff390ec83c584d19796cf673c20ae\">\n                <img\n                    title=\"bw_0106\"\n                    alt=\"bw_0106\"\n                    src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/thumbs\/thumbs_bw_0106.jpg\"\n                    width=\"120\"\n                    height=\"90\"\n                    style=\"max-width:100%;\"\n                \/>\n            <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"ngg-image-3\" class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box\" >\n\t\t\t\t        <div class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail\">\n            <a href=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/bw_0108.jpg\"\n               title=\"A view from the rooftop lounge overlooking Tampa Bay.\"\n               data-src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/bw_0108.jpg\"\n               data-thumbnail=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/thumbs\/thumbs_bw_0108.jpg\"\n               data-image-id=\"194\"\n               data-title=\"bw_0108\"\n               data-description=\"A view from the rooftop lounge overlooking Tampa Bay.\"\n               class=\"ngg-fancybox\" rel=\"4e1ff390ec83c584d19796cf673c20ae\">\n                <img\n                    title=\"bw_0108\"\n                    alt=\"bw_0108\"\n                    src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/thumbs\/thumbs_bw_0108.jpg\"\n                    width=\"120\"\n                    height=\"90\"\n                    style=\"max-width:100%;\"\n                \/>\n            <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"ngg-image-4\" class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box\" >\n\t\t\t\t        <div class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail\">\n            <a href=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/bw_0110.jpg\"\n               title=\"Originally the Lantern Lane Apartment building, the hotel was reconfigured to create the historic, yet modern, Birchwood Inn.\"\n               data-src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/bw_0110.jpg\"\n               data-thumbnail=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/thumbs\/thumbs_bw_0110.jpg\"\n               data-image-id=\"195\"\n               data-title=\"bw_0110\"\n               data-description=\"Originally the Lantern Lane Apartment building, the hotel was reconfigured to create the historic, yet modern, Birchwood Inn.\"\n               class=\"ngg-fancybox\" rel=\"4e1ff390ec83c584d19796cf673c20ae\">\n                <img\n                    title=\"bw_0110\"\n                    alt=\"bw_0110\"\n                    src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/thumbs\/thumbs_bw_0110.jpg\"\n                    width=\"120\"\n                    height=\"90\"\n                    style=\"max-width:100%;\"\n                \/>\n            <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"ngg-image-5\" class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box\" >\n\t\t\t\t        <div class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail\">\n            <a href=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/bw_0111.jpg\"\n               title=\"Chef Jason Cline, previously of Bin 27 in South Tampa, has taken the reins of Birch &amp; Vine, the hotel\u2019s flagship restaurant.\"\n               data-src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/bw_0111.jpg\"\n               data-thumbnail=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/thumbs\/thumbs_bw_0111.jpg\"\n               data-image-id=\"196\"\n               data-title=\"bw_0111\"\n               data-description=\"Chef Jason Cline, previously of Bin 27 in South Tampa, has taken the reins of Birch &amp; Vine, the hotel\u2019s flagship restaurant.\"\n               class=\"ngg-fancybox\" rel=\"4e1ff390ec83c584d19796cf673c20ae\">\n                <img\n                    title=\"bw_0111\"\n                    alt=\"bw_0111\"\n                    src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/thumbs\/thumbs_bw_0111.jpg\"\n                    width=\"120\"\n                    height=\"90\"\n                    style=\"max-width:100%;\"\n                \/>\n            <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"ngg-image-6\" class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box\" >\n\t\t\t\t        <div class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail\">\n            <a href=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/bw_0112.jpg\"\n               title=\"Owner Chuck Prather met with the St. Petersburg Preservation Society to help preserve the building exterior\u2019s historical integrity.\"\n               data-src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/bw_0112.jpg\"\n               data-thumbnail=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/thumbs\/thumbs_bw_0112.jpg\"\n               data-image-id=\"197\"\n               data-title=\"bw_0112\"\n               data-description=\"Owner Chuck Prather met with the St. Petersburg Preservation Society to help preserve the building exterior\u2019s historical integrity.\"\n               class=\"ngg-fancybox\" rel=\"4e1ff390ec83c584d19796cf673c20ae\">\n                <img\n                    title=\"bw_0112\"\n                    alt=\"bw_0112\"\n                    src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/thumbs\/thumbs_bw_0112.jpg\"\n                    width=\"120\"\n                    height=\"90\"\n                    style=\"max-width:100%;\"\n                \/>\n            <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"ngg-image-7\" class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box\" >\n\t\t\t\t        <div class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail\">\n            <a href=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/bw_0113.jpg\"\n               title=\"The 18-room boutique hotel Birchwood Inn on Beach Drive opened May 2013.\"\n               data-src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/bw_0113.jpg\"\n               data-thumbnail=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/thumbs\/thumbs_bw_0113.jpg\"\n               data-image-id=\"198\"\n               data-title=\"bw_0113\"\n               data-description=\"The 18-room boutique hotel Birchwood Inn on Beach Drive opened May 2013.\"\n               class=\"ngg-fancybox\" rel=\"4e1ff390ec83c584d19796cf673c20ae\">\n                <img\n                    title=\"bw_0113\"\n                    alt=\"bw_0113\"\n                    src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/thumbs\/thumbs_bw_0113.jpg\"\n                    width=\"120\"\n                    height=\"90\"\n                    style=\"max-width:100%;\"\n                \/>\n            <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"ngg-image-8\" class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box\" >\n\t\t\t\t        <div class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail\">\n            <a href=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/bw_0114.jpg\"\n               title=\"The rooms blend modern amenities with historic features like bear-claw bathtubs that help place guests in the Roaring 20s era.\"\n               data-src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/bw_0114.jpg\"\n               data-thumbnail=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/thumbs\/thumbs_bw_0114.jpg\"\n               data-image-id=\"199\"\n               data-title=\"bw_0114\"\n               data-description=\"The rooms blend modern amenities with historic features like bear-claw bathtubs that help place guests in the Roaring 20s era.\"\n               class=\"ngg-fancybox\" rel=\"4e1ff390ec83c584d19796cf673c20ae\">\n                <img\n                    title=\"bw_0114\"\n                    alt=\"bw_0114\"\n                    src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/thumbs\/thumbs_bw_0114.jpg\"\n                    width=\"120\"\n                    height=\"90\"\n                    style=\"max-width:100%;\"\n                \/>\n            <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"ngg-image-9\" class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box\" >\n\t\t\t\t        <div class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail\">\n            <a href=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/bw_0115.jpg\"\n               title=\"An interior room shot.\"\n               data-src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/bw_0115.jpg\"\n               data-thumbnail=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/thumbs\/thumbs_bw_0115.jpg\"\n               data-image-id=\"200\"\n               data-title=\"bw_0115\"\n               data-description=\"An interior room shot.\"\n               class=\"ngg-fancybox\" rel=\"4e1ff390ec83c584d19796cf673c20ae\">\n                <img\n                    title=\"bw_0115\"\n                    alt=\"bw_0115\"\n                    src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/thumbs\/thumbs_bw_0115.jpg\"\n                    width=\"120\"\n                    height=\"90\"\n                    style=\"max-width:100%;\"\n                \/>\n            <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"ngg-image-10\" class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box\" >\n\t\t\t\t        <div class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail\">\n            <a href=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/bw_0116.jpg\"\n               title=\"The building&#039;s original door knobs were salvaged and used as decoration in the lobby.\"\n               data-src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/bw_0116.jpg\"\n               data-thumbnail=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/thumbs\/thumbs_bw_0116.jpg\"\n               data-image-id=\"201\"\n               data-title=\"bw_0116\"\n               data-description=\"The building&#039;s original door knobs were salvaged and used as decoration in the lobby.\"\n               class=\"ngg-fancybox\" rel=\"4e1ff390ec83c584d19796cf673c20ae\">\n                <img\n                    title=\"bw_0116\"\n                    alt=\"bw_0116\"\n                    src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/thumbs\/thumbs_bw_0116.jpg\"\n                    width=\"120\"\n                    height=\"90\"\n                    style=\"max-width:100%;\"\n                \/>\n            <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"ngg-image-11\" class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box\" >\n\t\t\t\t        <div class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail\">\n            <a href=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/bw_0117.jpg\"\n               title=\"A view of the dining room.\"\n               data-src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/bw_0117.jpg\"\n               data-thumbnail=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/thumbs\/thumbs_bw_0117.jpg\"\n               data-image-id=\"202\"\n               data-title=\"bw_0117\"\n               data-description=\"A view of the dining room.\"\n               class=\"ngg-fancybox\" rel=\"4e1ff390ec83c584d19796cf673c20ae\">\n                <img\n                    title=\"bw_0117\"\n                    alt=\"bw_0117\"\n                    src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/thumbs\/thumbs_bw_0117.jpg\"\n                    width=\"120\"\n                    height=\"90\"\n                    style=\"max-width:100%;\"\n                \/>\n            <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"ngg-image-12\" class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box\" >\n\t\t\t\t        <div class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail\">\n            <a href=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/img_0490.jpeg\"\n               title=\"Pre-construction photos provided by Birchwood Inn.\"\n               data-src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/img_0490.jpeg\"\n               data-thumbnail=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/thumbs\/thumbs_img_0490.jpeg\"\n               data-image-id=\"203\"\n               data-title=\"img_0490\"\n               data-description=\"Pre-construction photos provided by Birchwood Inn.\"\n               class=\"ngg-fancybox\" rel=\"4e1ff390ec83c584d19796cf673c20ae\">\n                <img\n                    title=\"img_0490\"\n                    alt=\"img_0490\"\n                    src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/thumbs\/thumbs_img_0490.jpeg\"\n                    width=\"120\"\n                    height=\"90\"\n                    style=\"max-width:100%;\"\n                \/>\n            <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"ngg-image-13\" class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box\" >\n\t\t\t\t        <div class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail\">\n            <a href=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/img_0536.jpeg\"\n               title=\"Pre-construction photos provided by Birchwood Inn.\"\n               data-src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/img_0536.jpeg\"\n               data-thumbnail=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/thumbs\/thumbs_img_0536.jpeg\"\n               data-image-id=\"204\"\n               data-title=\"img_0536\"\n               data-description=\"Pre-construction photos provided by Birchwood Inn.\"\n               class=\"ngg-fancybox\" rel=\"4e1ff390ec83c584d19796cf673c20ae\">\n                <img\n                    title=\"img_0536\"\n                    alt=\"img_0536\"\n                    src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/thumbs\/thumbs_img_0536.jpeg\"\n                    width=\"120\"\n                    height=\"90\"\n                    style=\"max-width:100%;\"\n                \/>\n            <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"ngg-image-14\" class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box\" >\n\t\t\t\t        <div class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail\">\n            <a href=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/img_1047.jpeg\"\n               title=\"Pre-construction photos provided by Birchwood Inn.\"\n               data-src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/img_1047.jpeg\"\n               data-thumbnail=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/thumbs\/thumbs_img_1047.jpeg\"\n               data-image-id=\"205\"\n               data-title=\"img_1047\"\n               data-description=\"Pre-construction photos provided by Birchwood Inn.\"\n               class=\"ngg-fancybox\" rel=\"4e1ff390ec83c584d19796cf673c20ae\">\n                <img\n                    title=\"img_1047\"\n                    alt=\"img_1047\"\n                    src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/thumbs\/thumbs_img_1047.jpeg\"\n                    width=\"120\"\n                    height=\"90\"\n                    style=\"max-width:100%;\"\n                \/>\n            <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"ngg-image-15\" class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box\" >\n\t\t\t\t        <div class=\"ngg-gallery-thumbnail\">\n            <a href=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/img_1401.jpeg\"\n               title=\"Pre-construction photos provided by Birchwood Inn.\"\n               data-src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/img_1401.jpeg\"\n               data-thumbnail=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/thumbs\/thumbs_img_1401.jpeg\"\n               data-image-id=\"206\"\n               data-title=\"img_1401\"\n               data-description=\"Pre-construction photos provided by Birchwood Inn.\"\n               class=\"ngg-fancybox\" rel=\"4e1ff390ec83c584d19796cf673c20ae\">\n                <img\n                    title=\"img_1401\"\n                    alt=\"img_1401\"\n                    src=\"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-content\/gallery\/birchwood\/thumbs\/thumbs_img_1401.jpeg\"\n                    width=\"120\"\n                    height=\"90\"\n                    style=\"max-width:100%;\"\n                \/>\n            <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t\t\n        \n\t\t\n\t\t<!-- Pagination -->\n\t<div class='ngg-clear'><\/div>\t<\/div>\n\n<p>Birchwood Inn<\/p>\n<p>Built 1924<\/p>\n<p>Then: Lantern Lane Apartments<\/p>\n<p>Now: Birchwood Inn<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>One of Beach Drive\u2019s most historic buildings was recently reopened as a boutique hotel featuring California chic flair and a South Beach-style rooftop lounge. Birchwood Inn is the brainchild of Chuck Prather, who bought the former Lantern Lane Apartment building for $1.8 million in May 2011 with the idea of marrying an upscale hotel with a high-end, farm-to-table restaurant to create a vacation experience that St. Pete has never seen before.<\/p>\n<p>The original building was designed by architect George Feltham and built in 1924 as an apartment, which in those days was more like an extended-stay hotel. At the time, Prather says the Spanish Mission-style building was the only hotel overlooking Tampa Bay. The beleaguered Grayl\u2019s Hotel occupied the building until 2003 when the owners filed for bankruptcy.<\/p>\n<p>Enter Prather, who immediately saw the property\u2019s potential. He met with the St. Petersburg Preservation Society and developed a historically accurate plan for his three-story, 18-room hotel. According to the <i>Tampa Bay Times<\/i>, he spent an estimated $6 million on renovations. And the results are rather spectacular. Chef Jason Cline, previously of Bin 27 in South Tampa, has taken the reins of Birch &amp; Vine, the hotel\u2019s flagship restaurant. The rooms blend modern amenities with historic features like bear-claw bathtubs that help place guests in the Roaring 20s era.<\/p>\n<p>The Canopy Rooftop Lounge gives St. Pete guests a luxurious patio space with a great aerial view of Straub Park and the Bay. The lounge is furnished with living room seating, fire pits and a full-service bar. Combined with the upstairs ballroom, the Inn has two levels of balconies to enjoy St. Pete\u2019s waterfront.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>In the details<\/p>\n<p>The hotel is named in recognition of a housing complex owner Chuck Prather\u2019s father built in Tennessee.<\/p>\n<p>The original crystal doorknobs were salvaged and used as decoration in the first-floor lobby.<\/p>\n<p>A tile mosaic was revealed around the scaffolding during renovations. Prather decided to restore it for the first time in decades.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Birchwood Inn Built 1924 Then: Lantern Lane Apartments Now: Birchwood Inn &nbsp; One of Beach Drive\u2019s most historic buildings was recently reopened as a boutique hotel featuring California chic flair and a South Beach-style rooftop lounge. Birchwood Inn is the brainchild of Chuck Prather, who bought the former Lantern Lane Apartment building for $1.8 million [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":680,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1759,5,1764],"tags":[1539,1538,1541,1540,1543,1542],"class_list":["post-678","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-city","category-editorial","category-history","tag-beach-drive","tag-birchwood-inn","tag-chuck-prather","tag-downtown-st-petersburg","tag-george-feltham","tag-lantern-lane-apartment","issue-december-2013"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/678","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=678"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/678\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/680"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=678"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=678"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/southtampamagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=678"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}