Outside of central Floridians, there are two groups of people who would have reason to know about the small town of Ocala, Florida: equestrian types and fans of the hardcore band A Day To Remember, whose hometown roots here spawned all sorts of angst-fueled anthems. But many more will now start hearing about Ocala, because The Equestrian Hotel has arrived to wake up what has long been considered sleepy horse country.

Prepare to be blown away by the 248-room, $800-million resort that quietly opened in summer 2021 as part of the 380-acre World Equestrian Center. In the neoclassical French architecture-inspired building, guests will find Hermès-reminiscent carpeting, more than 80 Schonbek Swarovski crystal chandeliers, and a front desk staff clad head-to-toe in Ralph Lauren. Regulars here include John Travolta, who has lived in Ocala for decades, and Olympians in town for equestrian events.




Aside from the visual "wow factor," there are seven restaurants (including a horse-shaped bar in the Yellow Pony Pub), a wine program curated by an in-house master sommelier, a spa, a pool, and high-end retail shops such as Lugano Diamonds. Kids will delight in the stay, too: the hotel is home to a fancy toy shop housing the original 15-foot-tall Toys"R"Us Geoffrey from Times Square and there's a six-foot-tall stuffed bear made of Coach leather in the lobby.

Guests don't have to know anything about horses to enjoy the pageantry of the weekly equestrian competitions, where up to 7,500 spectators gather in the on-property Grand Arena to watch the athletes (and their horses) display their prowess. Just make sure to gussy up for the occasion: rather than rodeo attire, the dress code here could rival the Kentucky Derby. 

The owners of the new hotel are betting on Ocala becoming a destination in its own right — in addition to the equestrian culture, there are some beautiful natural springs in the area. They've even announced plans to add a second hotel in 2024.

Stay Tuned.. Blog Credit goes to: https://www.travelandleisure.com/hotels-resorts/hotel-openings/equestrian-hotel-ocala-florida