MAR-A-LAGO

'Mar-A-Lago' (''"mahr-ah-lahgo"''), built 1924-1927, is the name of the Marjorie Merriweather Post estate in Palm Beach, Florida. Post built the house with her (then) husband, Edward F. Hutton. The house was designed by Joseph Urban.
Now home to the 'Mar-A-Lago Club', the 118-room, 110,000 square foot (10,219 m²) Trump Honored for Preservation of Mar-A-Lago estate is owned by Donald Trump. The house itself is 62,000 square feet (5,636 m²). Trump Honored for Preservation of Mar-A-Lago After acquiring the property in 1985, Trump had the property restored to its original state, with 58 bedrooms, 33 bathrooms, a 29-foot-long pietra dura marble dining table, 12 fireplaces, and three bomb shelters. Further additions and improvements have been made since then, including the recent construction of a 20,000 square foot ballroom. The name Mar-A-Lago is Spanish for "Sea to Lake".^[1] According to Donald Trump himself, in the past he has turned down offers of over $200 Million from various businessmen and even a Middle Eastern Sheikh to sell the landmarked estate.^[2]
In 2005, The Mar-A-Lago Club became home to the International Red Cross Ball, one of the last annual white tie, tails, and tiara balls in the world. Founded by Mrs. Post, it has a history of attracting wealthy socialites and ambassadors from across the world in support of the mission of the American Red Cross. Donald Trump reportedly donates his private jet to fly ambassadors down from Washington D.C. to attend the event. "The Ball," as it is known in Palm Beach, features a red carpet, Marine Corps escorts, and world class entertainment.
The Mar-A-Lago Club is seen by some to represent "new" Palm Beach society. Where the older Palm Beach clubs long had official or unofficial rules excluding blacks, Jews, and anyone else deemed to be from the wrong sort of background, Trump made waves by opening membership to anyone who could afford the $150,000 initiation fee.^[3]
On October 3 2006, Trump raised a 15'x25' flag on an 80' flagpole at Mar-a-Lago. Town zoning officials asked Trump to adhere to town zoning codes which limit flagpoles to a height of 42'. Trump had contemporaneously installed oversized flags at all his resorts and golf club around the country.^[4] This dispute led the town council of Palm Beach to charge Trump $1,250 for every day the flag at Mar-A-Lago remains. Trump has filed a lawsuit stating that the flag is protected by his constitutional rights. ^[5]
The flag pole incident has since then been quietly resolved. The six-month stand off ended as town officials agreed to a settlement that will lower the banner 10 feet and move it away from the ocean.
All fines will be dropped and Trump will contribute $100,000 to various charities for Iraq War veterans, the American flag or veterans' hospitals.
Trump will also drop a $25 million dollar lawsuit against the town.

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External links

Notes

1. History of The Mar-a-Lago Club
2. [1]
3. Real Estate Journal- The Wall Street Journal Guide to Property
4. Town cites Trump, but big banner still waves ''October 31, 2006''
5. City to Trump: You're Fined! CNN, Jan. 19, 2007

References

★ ''Florida'', DK Eyewitness Travel Guides, 2004, pg. 117

★ ''The Trumps'', Gwenda Blair, 2000, pg. 364

External links

Official Mar-A-Lago Club Website