Few properties in South Florida, or ones well beyond the area, embody vision and resilience quite like Pier Sixty-Six. With its unmistakable spire-crowned tower, set along Fort Lauderdale’s storied Intracoastal Waterway, the landmark has defined the city’s skyline for more than half a century. As a multi-billion-dollar redevelopment of this 32 acre (13 ha) waterfront is now complete, Pier Sixty-Six stands as a model for how iconic real estate assets can be reborn, honoring their history while shaping the next century of urban waterfront development.
The Pier Sixty-Six story actually begins with energy, not hospitality. In the early 1900s, Frank Phillips struck oil and founded Phillips Petroleum in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. To stabilize the cash flow of these risky ventures, he and his brother established the Citizens Bank & Trust Company. They used the bank’s steady revenue to fund drilling operations. By the 1910s, Phillips Petroleum was a formidable force, and during the interwar years, the company became one of the country’s most influential energy players.
When Kenneth S. Adams became president of the organization in 1938, Phillips Petroleum accelerated its national expansion and technological innovation. During World War II, the company produced synthetic rubber, butadiene, and high-octane aviation fuels—all advances that helped power Allied fighter planes while laying the groundwork for the postwar consumer boom. After the war, Adams pushed aggressively into retail fuel, building the now-famous Phillips 66 service-station network and extending supply pipelines along the Atlantic Seaboard.
Fort Lauderdale came into play because Adams frequently vacationed there, and he quickly recognized the city’s potential. By the mid-1950s, with the city emerging as a major port and tourism hub, Phillips Petroleum began experimenting with new concepts. The company opened a distinctive V-shaped-canopy gas station in 1955 and soon envisioned a waterfront marina complex unlike anything seen in the Sunshine State. The Intracoastal location was perfect: close to Port Everglades, minutes from the Atlantic, and boosted by miles of nearby canal-lined neighborhoods.
In 1956, the company broke ground on what would become Pier 66, a yacht marina with a fuel dock, service facility, and plans for recreation and hospitality. By 1959, the site featured a nine-hole par-3 golf course and a 102-room motor hotel. Then came the boldest step. In 1963, Phillips Petroleum announced a 19-story hotel tower designed by company architects Richard F. Humble and Clarence Reinhardt with South Florida partners Robert E. Todd and George C. Weisman. Completed in 1965, the hexagonal tower with alternating floor plates and bold, space-age concrete forms embodied Googie architecture, the exuberant mid-century style that celebrated America’s car culture and fascination with flight. Its spire-crowned profile instantly became Fort Lauderdale’s most recognizable silhouette and a symbol of a city more than ready to grow.
Inside, the design was equally daring. The revolving Pier Top lounge completed a full rotation every 66 minutes, while a glass elevator whisked visitors to the crown in exactly 66 seconds. Guests were treated to sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean and the intricate canal system that earned Fort Lauderdale its nickname, “the Venice of America.” Celebrities such as Frank Sinatra and Liza Minnelli stopped in, cementing the property’s reputation as the city’s “social harbor.”
Ownership changes, new possibilities
Corporate turbulence prompted Phillips Petroleum to sell Pier Sixty-Six in 1985 to a group led by entrepreneur Wayne Huizenga. Huizenga, already shaping South Florida through such ventures as Waste Management and Blockbuster, replaced the golf course with low-rise lanai buildings that added 132 rooms and reinforced the property’s stature as Fort Lauderdale’s premier yachting resort.
Guests arriving by boat could dock within sight of the tower’s glowing crown and step directly into a lobby buzzing with vacationers, A-listers, and power brokers. The hotel became an anchor for the growing Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, which launched in 1959 and, by the 1980s, was evolving into one of the world’s largest marine-industry events.
In later years, private-equity giant Blackstone held the asset briefly before selling to Tavistock Group in July 2017. For Tavistock, the acquisition was much more than a hotel purchase. It was an incredible opportunity to reimagine a historical icon for the 21st century, blending resort, residences, retail, and public space into a cohesive waterfront district.
The Tavistock team envisioned a place where travelers, residents, and locals could meet, mingle, and celebrate the marine lifestyle that defines the city and the broader region. The team also saw the chance to reintroduce a sense of grandeur that matched the tower’s original ambition, while creating new amenities that reflect the evolving expectations of global travelers and residents.
A re-imagination fueled by resilience
Hurricane Irma’s landfall in September 2017 served to accelerate redevelopment plans. The storm’s wind and storm-surge damage exposed vulnerabilities in the aging building, rendering most of its guestrooms unusable. Rather than retreat, Tavistock embraced the challenge. A master plan emerged that would preserve the tower’s mid-century character while unifying properties north and south of the 17th Street Causeway into a single, connected destination. In 2018, Tavistock acquired the adjacent parcel, creating the foundation for a continuous waterfront campus with residences, club amenities, public promenades, and a world-class marina.
Preservation and architectural integrity were essential. In 2024, the city of Fort Lauderdale designated the original tower, including the Pier Top lounge, as a historic landmark, thus ensuring that the beloved spire remains a beacon for generations to come. The tower’s 66-element crown, the panoramic elevator’s 66-second ascent, and Pier Top’s 66-minute rotation still delight visitors and locals alike, linking today’s guests to the property’s origins.
Inside, Jeffrey Beers International reimagined the interiors with a warm palette of wine red, dusty rose, peacock green, and subtle gold accents that complement exposed concrete and retro geometry. The result is a design conversation across eras, in which an iconic form meets a hospitality experience calibrated for today’s traveler. Guests sip avant-garde cocktails as the room slowly revolves, just as visitors did nearly six decades ago, yet the atmosphere feels distinctly modern.
Sustainability, design, and community partnership
Redeveloping a 1965 tower to meet modern flood standards required vast ingenuity. The Tavistock team incorporated flood-proof walls and deployable panels, raised new construction more than a foot and a half above the original grade, and added perimeter walls to guard against king tides and storm surge. Stormwater now flows through exfiltration trenches that filter sediment and oils before gravity-fed drainage wells carry it deep into porous limestone, eliminating runoff to the Intracoastal. These measures create a model for sustainable waterfront development that balances strength, safety, and environmental responsibility.
Landscape architecture by longtime partner EDSA layers native plantings, shaded paths, and outdoor rooms to enhance biodiversity and buffer coastal conditions while preserving the marina’s daily rhythm. Guests and residents can stroll from lush botanical gardens to open lawns to vibrant courtyards, experiencing a seamless blend of ecological performance and resort luxury.
Equally important was engagement with the surrounding community. The property has hosted meetings at Pier Top, in neighborhood boardrooms, and within industry roundtables to discuss density, traffic, construction impacts, and sustainability. Neighbors voiced concerns about construction noise, work hours, and potential road closures. Marine-industry stakeholders wanted assurances that the marina would remain fully operational during redevelopment.
These conversations shaped a landmark development agreement with Fort Lauderdale, a first-ever for the city, that allows entitlements to flow across both north and south parcels, enabling a unified master plan. Recently, residents’ stories and photographs have even inspired a prospective “memories wall” inside the hotel to honor decades of celebrations and milestones. By listening first and designing second, community trust has been earned. It’s a destination that feels authentic to the city that surrounds it.
Economic engine and culinary epicenter
Phase one alone generated more than 5,100 local construction jobs. It’s projected to drive, in full operation, approximately $208 million in annual economic impact. The campus now includes a renovated resort with 325 guestrooms and suites; a 2.5 acre (1.0 ha) pool deck; more than 40,000 square feet (3,700 sq m) of event space indoors and outdoors; 88 residences starting at $2.85 million; and a marina promenade with restaurants, retailers, and offices. Meeting planners can choose from three ballrooms, 15 boardrooms, and expansive outdoor lawns, making Pier Sixty-Six one of the region’s top-tier venues for corporate retreats, weddings, and civic gatherings.
The marina itself—one of the largest superyacht facilities on the eastern seaboard—has 5,000 linear feet (1,500 m) of dockage and 164 slips, anchoring Fort Lauderdale’s $8.8 billion marine industry and hosting the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, which annually generates almost $1.8 billion of economic output in just five days. Each visiting superyacht supports an average of 30 jobs, rippling benefits throughout the local economy. The property’s split basins—127 slips north of the 17th Street Causeway and 37 slips to the south—offer deepwater access to the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean, concierge services, and shore power of as much as 600 amps, all protected by around-the-clock security.
Dining is equally transformative here. Pier Sixty-Six has 12 restaurants and bars, an unprecedented concentration for a Broward County destination. The collection ranges from Calusso, inspired by the French and Italian rivieras, to Sotogrande, celebrating the flavors of southern Spain and the eastern Mediterranean. Garni serves all-day brunch with Champagne mimosas and caviar omelets, whereas the Nectar Room delivers Asian-inspired bites beside an adults-only pool.
Saltbreeze offers Latin-inspired fare and a deep tequila selection at the resort-style pool. The whimsical Sweet 66 candy shop delights children and nostalgic adults alike. Once open, Pelican Landing, perched above the marina, is anticipated to draw boat-up business from visiting captains and local ones alike. At the pinnacle, the historic Pier Top lounge returns with 360-degree views and a rotating room that remains a Fort Lauderdale legend. Each concept draws talent from around the world while celebrating South Florida’s coastal ingredients, furthering the city’s reputation as an emerging culinary capital.
Weekly live music on the promenade, rotating art installations featuring local creatives, and seasonal markets showcasing South Florida artisans all encourage public engagement. These events turn the resort into a civic gathering place where visitors and locals can mingle, which reinforces the “social harbor” identity that has defined Pier Sixty-Six for decades.
Living the brand, looking ahead
At its core, Pier Sixty-Six really is Fort Lauderdale’s social harbor, guided by brand pillars of marina lifestyle, culinary excellence, wellness perfected, of the water, and community.
Residential opportunities now help define the property for the first time in its history, with Pier Sixty-Six Residences’ 88 luxury condos split among four
buildings whose design comes from architecture and interior design firm garciastromberg. Indigo’s record $14.5 million penthouse sale underscores the demand for ownership that merges private living with resort amenities. Residents can enjoy private elevators, sweeping terraces that all have private plunge pools (a first for Broward County), and direct access to the marina and all resort offerings, together creating a seamless blend of home and hospitality.
The two earlier Resort Residences can be entered into the hotel’s reservation pool as an investment opportunity. The dramatic Azul building, with wraparound terraces reminiscent of coral reefs, further diversifies the ownership opportunities and highlights architecture inspired by life on the water.
As the demand of private clubs continues to trend, Tavistock introduced the Club at Pier Sixty-Six with exclusive experiences for its residents and future members alike to drive a further sense of networking and community. The Club at Pier Sixty-Six offers tailored experiences alongside access to the full resort and private spaces, including two member-only dining room and event spaces, Orchid Room and Garden Room; private cabanas; a 5,000 square foot (1,500 sq m) fitness space; and exclusive pop-up activations, events, and collaborations.
As for what’s ahead, Tavistock will build on this foundation with additional residential offerings, expanded retail, and new public spaces that strengthen the connection between the Intracoastal and the city. Continuing collaboration with civic partners and neighbors will ensure that the next chapter reflects Fort Lauderdale’s ever-evolving needs and aspirations. The guiding principle is simple: Every new element must enhance the waterfront experience for residents, visitors, and the wider community.
From a Phillips Petroleum fuel dock to a 1960s tower that redefined the skyline, from hurricane damage to a comprehensive plan for preservation, resilience, and mixed-use vitality, Pier Sixty-Six demonstrates what is possible when vision, patience, and community partnership beautifully mesh. The spire is lit once again. The elevator still takes 66 seconds. The room atop still turns.
