From Gilded Age luxury hotel to a modern liberal arts campus

Countries & Cities · Published 14 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 1888, the Ponce de León Hotel opened as a monument to railroad tycoon Henry Flagler. Today, that same architectural grandeur serves as the heart of Flagler College, a private institution navigating a complex history of prestige, scandal, and academic reinvention.

The centerpiece of the 49-acre St. Augustine campus is the Ponce de León Hotel, designed by architects John Carrere and Thomas Hastings. Originally built in 1888 for industrialist Henry Flagler, the structure is now a National Historic Landmark. The college itself was established in 1968, driven by the vision of Lawrence Lewis Jr., who sought to transform the hotel grounds into a private liberal arts institution. Lewis, a relative of Flagler, directed significant personal and foundation funds into the college's restoration and expansion.

However, the institution's reputation has faced significant challenges. In 2014, it was revealed that the vice president of enrollment management, Marc Williar, had been manipulating student GPAs, test scores, and rankings. A legal probe conducted by a firm in Jacksonville revealed the institution supplied inaccurate statistics to multiple bodies, such as the U.S. Department of Education, beginning in 2004. The college also faced student protests in 2006 and 2007 regarding alleged administrative censorship of the student newspaper, The Gargoyle.

Despite these setbacks, the college has seen recent academic recognition. In 2024, U.S. News and World Report ranked Flagler #2 in Most Innovative Schools and #3 among Best Regional Colleges in the South. The campus continues to evolve, housing the Proctor Library—built in 1994-95 on the site of a former Shingle Style home—which holds over 102,000 printed volumes and a vast digital collection accessible to anyone with an internet connection.

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