Cypress Lodge: A Historic Treasure in Canal Point, Florida
Prepared by Ellen Gillette for Indiantown River Magazine
Introduction
Located at 18681 SW Conners Highway in Canal Point, Florida, directly across from Lake Okeechobee, Cypress Lodge is a historic three-story frame country inn completed in 1936. Commissioned by Paul M. Hoenshel and designed by architect Isaac Matthew Elkins in the Neo-Classical Revival style, it served as the Hoenshel family home and a refined inn, known as “A Country Inn with City Comforts.” Added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on November 12, 2008, the lodge has hosted luminaries like Ernest Hemingway and Burt Reynolds, with rumors of a guest book featuring President John F. Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe. Local lore also suggests a visit by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Purchased by Deborah Ann and Jim Stroscheim during their September 2024 anniversary week, Cypress Lodge is set to become a vibrant bed-and-breakfast, event venue, and cultural hub.
Historical Context and Construction
Cypress Lodge emerged from the vision of Bessemer Properties, a Phipps family enterprise rooted in steel wealth through their partnership with Andrew Carnegie. In the 1920s, the Phipps’ Mayaca Corporation planned a grand city in Port Mayaca on 6,500 acres along Lake Okeechobee, envisioning homes, a resort, and a yacht basin. The St. Lucie Canal (completed 1927) and Conners Toll Highway (1924) spurred development, but the 1928 Okeechobee Hurricane and Florida’s land boom-bust disrupted these plans. Bessemer Properties persisted, supporting agriculture led by Paul Hoenshel.
In 1932, Hoenshel acquired seven acres from the Phipps family and, in September 1935, hired Isaac Matthew Elkins to build Cypress Lodge. Completed in 1936, the three-story, 7,600-square-foot inn served as the residence for Hoenshel, his wife Amy, and daughters Amy and Mary Louise, opening to guests in 1938. Its prime location across from Lake Okeechobee made it a haven for travelers.
Architectural Significance
Cypress Lodge exemplifies Neo-Classical Revival architecture with eight towering white columns and a symmetrical facade. Built with cypress timber, concrete, and brick, it features cypress paneling and 10-foot ceilings. While historical records note Dade County pine flooring, a wood flooring expert has confirmed the floors are oak, adding to the lodge’s unique character. The first floor includes a foyer, living room, music room, dining room, kitchen, bar, and storage. The second floor houses seven bedrooms and one suite, each with a full bathroom updated with smart toilets and modern fixtures. The third floor offers an attic with dormer windows.
The basement, known as the owner’s suite, includes a kitchen, eating nook, main bedroom, powder room, full bathroom with steam shower, craft room, laundry, storage, and two walk-in closets with future plans for spa conversions. Additionally, the basement houses a charming salon, perfect for a bridal party, girls’ weekend, or preparing for a special event or dinner. Equipped with a shampoo area, two styling stations, and a pedicure station featuring a luxurious hydro tub, the salon offers a cozy yet functional setup for pampering and glamming. Its modern amenities, paired with the lodge’s historic ambiance, create an ideal setting for creating memorable experiences. Whether it’s bridal hair and makeup, a relaxing pedicure for a group of friends, or getting red-carpet-ready for an evening out, the salon’s intimate design ensures a personalized, elegant experience.
Engineered with a floating foundation on tar-coated cypress log platforms embedded in the muck, the lodge adapts to Lake Okeechobee’s water level changes. Originally on the lake’s shoreline (Okeechobee Ridge), it now sits across the street due to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ flood control measures. The basement, with a concrete floor added between 1941 and 1944, was designed to resist flooding, showcasing Elkins’ innovative design.
Community Role and Celebrity Connections
From 1938, Cypress Lodge was a vital hub for Canal Point, Port Mayaca, Pahokee, Belle Glade, Indiantown, and Okeechobee. Offering rooms at $2.50 and meals from 50 cents, its restaurant and bar drew locals and travelers, later famed for Southern fried chicken and baked ham. It hosted Rotary, Lions, and Masons meetings, bridge clubs, dances, weddings, and banquets, fostering community bonds. Mary Louise Hoenshel met Thomas Stanley “Stoney” Smith, a guest, and married him at the lodge on November 4, 1938. Two rental cottages included the “Hemingway Cottage,” occupied by Hadley Hemingway in the late 1930s. Even today, curious visitors frequently stop by to share stories, memories, and their personal connections to the lodge, reflecting its deep ties to local heritage. Jim Stroscheim can often be found in one of the eight rocking chairs on the front porch, warmly welcoming these guests and listening to their tales of the lodge’s past.
The lodge’s guest list shines with celebrity allure. Ernest Hemingway, drawn to Florida’s fishing, stayed in the late 1939s. Burt Reynolds, a Florida native, frequented the restaurant and bar, likely in the 1970s or 1980s. A rumored guest book, yet to be located, reportedly includes signatures from President John F. Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe, suggesting an early 1960s visit during Kennedy’s Key West trips or Monroe’s Florida appearances. The lodge’s proximity to Palm Beach (45 miles) and Miami (80 miles) made it a magnet for notable figures.
The Roosevelt Connection
Local stories claim President Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) visited Cypress Lodge, likely between 1936 and 1938. During his presidency (1933–1945), FDR was campaigning and overseeing New Deal projects in 1936, including Lake Okeechobee flood control and the Cross-Florida Barge Canal ($5 million in 1935). His Florida visits, such as Titusville in 1936, and ties to Warm Springs, Georgia, support a potential South Florida stop. As a prominent property owned by Hoenshel, linked to Bessemer Properties, the lodge may have hosted FDR for an agricultural or infrastructure review. Further research into FDR’s travel logs or local archives could confirm this.
Agricultural Legacy and the St. Lucie Canal
Cypress Lodge is tied to Port Mayaca’s agricultural boom, enabled by the St. Lucie Canal’s irrigation and drainage systems. Hoenshel’s 600 acres of Valencia oranges in the 1920s marked Martin County’s citrus success, with peppers grown on 1.5 lodge acres. Bessemer Properties’ vision transformed the region into a farming hub.
Ownership and Preservation
Closed in the early 1940s due to wartime restrictions, the lodge saw multiple owners: Anderson and Hazel Chastain (1947–1949), Col. William and Dorothy Evans (1949–1971), Charles and Bea Dorrell (1971–1982), Vern and Cindy Quigley (1984–1988), Ned and Karen Struna (1988–1990), and Steve Roe with Rev. Richard Tourigny (1993–2000s). Roe sold five acres in 2000, leaving 1.75 acres. Saved from demolition in 2006, the lodge earned National Register status in 2008. Jim and Deborah Ann Stroscheim, who purchased it in September 2024, are restoring it for new ventures.
Future Plans
Deborah Ann and Jim envision Cypress Lodge as a bed-and-breakfast, pending zoning and licensing approvals, featuring a restaurant named “Hadley’s” (honoring Hadley Hemingway) and a bar called “1936” (marking the lodge’s completion). They plan to host weddings, corporate events, and yoga retreats, leveraging the lodge’s serene lakeside setting. Guests can enjoy Afternoon Tea, featuring special recipes from Deborah Ann’s etiquette training, in the spacious dining room, fostering refined social experiences. A restored concrete slab, poured in 1936 for an additional building, will be transformed into a dynamic community hub, integrating a community store showcasing local goods, a dedicated space for a diverse array of creative workshops like painting, pottery, jewelry making, and textile arts, and an outdoor kitchen and porch for al fresco dining and events, fulfilling a dream to create a vibrant, multifunctional gathering place. Committed to community ties, they aim to source ingredients from local farms, enhancing the lodge’s role as a regional destination.
Preservation and Legacy
Cypress Lodge’s National Register status preserves its legacy as a survivor of economic and natural challenges. Its history reflects Canal Point’s resilience and agricultural innovation. Researchers can explore the Martin County Historical Society, local libraries, or newspaper archives to uncover details, including the guest book’s location. Oral histories from Hoenshel or Smith descendants may reveal more about Hemingway, Reynolds, or Kennedy and Monroe.
Conclusion
Cypress Lodge is a historic jewel, blending Paul Hoenshel’s agricultural legacy, Isaac Elkins’ architectural genius, and a star-studded past. From Hemingway’s stays to Reynolds’ visits and whispers of Kennedy and Monroe, it captivates with stories of glamour and community. As Deborah Ann and Jim Stroscheim restore and reimagine it, Cypress Lodge promises to shine as a bed-and-breakfast, event venue, and cultural landmark, celebrating Florida’s heritage.