By Victor Block
I visited President Trump at Mar-a-Lago – sort of.
I could have been driving along any street in the United States. The sun was shining, traffic was light, and there was no indication that I was passing through anything other than an ordinary neighborhood.
Suddenly everything changed. Police cars were everywhere: Slowly patrolling the streets, parked along sidewalks, driving into, and out of, a gated community. Police officers crowded the pavement and spilled out into the narrow road I was following.
Welcome to Mar-a-Lago, a lavish estate with a storied history known today primarily as the home of Donald J. Trump.
That ornate estate was built (1924-1927) for businesswoman and society figure Marjorie Merriweather Post. Nestled on a barrier island in Palm Beach, Florida, it was acquired in 1985 by then-real estate investor Donald Trump, who used it as his residence.
Ten years later, he converted it into the Mar-a-Lago Club, an exclusive members-only institution with guest rooms, a spa and other hotel-style amenities. When they are there, members of Trump’s family stay in private quarters in a closed-off area of the grounds.
During his first presidency, Trump visited Mar-a-Lago frequently and held meetings there with international leaders like Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese president Xi Jinping.
The name Mar-a-Lago means “sea to lake” in Spanish. The estate extends from one side of Palm Beach Island to the other, touching both the Atlantic Ocean and Lake Worth Lagoon. The property is said to span 126 rooms and extend over an acre and a half.
Ms. Post, who died in 1973, willed the estate to the United States government to serve as a Winter White House for presidents and visiting foreign dignitaries. The property was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1980 because it exemplified “the baronial way of life of the wealthy who built mansions in Florida during the Florida land boom of the 1920s.”
I asked several residents of the area what it’s like to live near such a legendary property that is visited by heads of state, leading political figures and other known dignitaries. The response of most of them was surprising: a big yawn.
“We don’t usually know who’s there,” one young man told me. “All it means for locals is traffic jams,” a 60-something woman explained.
“I voted for Trump but if I’d known how much his being president would mess up traffic here, I would have voted differently,” admitted a well-dressed gentleman.
For visitors to the Palm Beach area, Mar-a-Lago offers an intriguing diversion from the sun, sand and surf attractions for which the destination is best known. Worth Avenue, a shopper’s dream, is lined by upscale boutiques, designer stores, and art galleries.
Waterfront settings offer a choice of inviting stretches of sand fronting deep blue water. Golfers have a choice of over 100 courses, including six at the PGA National Resort.
History buffs and culture lovers will appreciate Palm Beach’s legacy of luxury and splendor. Must-see spots include the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum, the historic Breakers Palm Beach hotel and the Society of the Four Arts,, which encompasses an art gallery, concert hall and gardens.
Mar-a-Lago adds a unique touch which combines historical tidbits, opulent architecture and a lovely semi-tropical setting.
In addition, if you’re lucky – or unlucky, depending upon your politics – an opportunity to see a motorcade leave or arrive which includes a car transporting the president of the United States.
