Casa Feliz Historic Home Museum
Casa Feliz, or Happy House" in Spanish, is the signature residential work of noted architect James Gamble Rogers II. Initially known as the Barbour Estate, this Andalusian-style masonry farmhouse has significantly influenced the architectural and cultural aspects of this community. In 1932, when Massuchusetts industrialist Robert Bruce Barbour commissioned Rogers to design a home on the shore of Lake Osceola, the young architect described it as a "dream come true." Barbour offered Rogers unheard-of freedom for an architect; "Design it any way you like. If I don't like it, I'll sell it." Thus, perhaps more than any of Rogers' buildings, Casa Feliz bears his imprimatur. Built during the Great Depression for a cost of$28,000, the house was Rogers' only project at the time. He set up hid drawing board on site, rolling up his shirt sleeves to help with the carpentry and masonry.Barbour loved the resulting house, as did the Winter Park community which cherised the home as the crown jewel in this "City of Homes" over the next 70 years. Community members rallied around the house in the year 2000, when the property faced the threat of demolition. More than $1.2 million was raised in privae donations to save and restore the home. The first step was to move the house across Interlachen Avenue to its present location on the Winter Park Golf Course. The event became a media spectacle, as the 750 ton behemoth, balanced on 20 pneumatically leveled dollies, rode the 300 yards to its new home. Once the house was positioned in its new location, restoration began. Highly skilled craftsmen and artisans worked to restore the house to its original design. Copies of Rogers' original drawings and interior photographs taken in 1937 by Harold Haliday Costain were used to ensure authenticity.Today, Casa serves the community as a historic home museum and rental location for private parties, weddings, and business events. Come visit during our public open house–each Sunday from 12-3. Private tours can be arranged by calling 407.628.8200.Facility Rentals Information:Main House RatesRental rates quoted include 4 hours of event time. Catering fees are separate.Weekend Rates (Friday-Sunday). Wedding ceremony & reception (5 hours event time/ 3 hours setup): $2,000. Wedding reception only (4 hours event time/ 2 hours setup): $1,800. All other weekend events (4 hours event time/ 2 hours setup): $1,500. Weekend rentals of main house include use of garden room at no additional charge.. Additional setup time can be added at the rate of $100/hour.Weekday Rates for Main House (Monday-Thursday). Full-day rental (8 a.m.-5 p.m.): $1,000. Evening rental (after 5 p.m.): $800 for groups of up to 40; $1,000 for groups of 41 to 80; $1200 for groups of 81 to 120. H Hourly rate (weekdays before 5 p.m. only): $125/hour with 4-hour minimumGarden Room Rates. Full-day rental (8 a.m.-5 p.m.): $500. Evening rental (after 5 p.m.): $500. H Hourly rate (weekdays only): $75 per hour with 4-hour minimum. The garden room rates quoted apply primarily to weekdays.. The garden room is generally not available to rent on its own on Friday evenings or Saturdays. Please call for details.Banquet furniture available for all events: ten 48-inch round tables, two 60-inch round tables, 75 mahogany Versailles chairs, executive chairs for board/business retreats.Florida sales tax of 6.5% is added to all rental fees. Fees are subject to change without notice. We accept personal checks, VISA, and MasterCard. "
