The Historic Cavalier Hotel and Beach Club, a Virginia Beach icon, has earned the distinguished honor of being accepted to the National Register of Historic Places. National Register properties are chosen based on age, integrity and significance of the property to the history of their community, state or nation.

Constructed in 1927 by architect Clarence Neff, the Historic Cavalier Hotel and Beach Club is currently undergoing a 2-year renovation to be restored to its original grandeur by Gold Key | PHR Hotels & Resorts in conjunction with the architecture firm Hanbury Evans Wright Vlattas + Company and the general contractor W.M. Jordan Company.

The historic Historic Cavalier Hotel and Beach Club will reopen in 2017 as a 5-star member of Marriott’s distinguished Autograph Collection. As part of the Autograph Collection by Marriott, the new Cavalier Grand Hotel will boast 90 guest rooms, an onsite bourbon distillery, a ballroom for lavish weddings and social events and a world class restaurant. The mixed-use plan for the overall site development also calls for an additional 85 homes, including estate homes, cottages and bungalows. These residences will be built on the expansive ocean-facing lawn of the Grand Hotel. For nearly a century, the Historic Cavalier Hotel and Beach Club has hosted beach goers and celebrities alike including F. Scott Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Will Rogers, and Bette Davis. The rich history of the hotel, including hosting seven U.S. Presidents, has helped the Historic Cavalier Hotel and Beach Club secure its place on The National Register of Historic Places.

“The Historic Cavalier Hotel and Beach Club is an iconic landmark. It’s no wonder it’s known as the hotel that ‘made Virginia Beach famous.’ We are honored to preserve the history while making the Historic Cavalier Hotel and Beach Club a luxury destination for decades to come,” said Bruce Thompson, the CEO of Gold Key | PHR Hotels & Resorts.

The rooms in the Cavalier will be completely gutted and rebuilt bigger. The main floor will be renovated but will feature trappings common in the early-20th century, including crystal glass pieces and phonographs. The poolside vistas and loggias, those enclosed porches that can open up to sea breezes, will also remain.

The Cavalier’s sister hotel on the oceanfront will be rebuilt and called the Oceanfront Marriott Hotel. The oceanfront hotel sits next to the Cavalier Beach Club, which opened in 1929 and will undergo a $4 million facelift. The historic Cavalier is expected to reopen in 2017; the Oceanfront Marriott is expected to open in 2018.