OCEAN CITY – The City of Ocean City, along with county and state officials, was part of a ribbon-cutting event, Sept. 20, intended to kick off the next 100 years for the Flanders Hotel.
The hotel, which has both flourished and struggled on the Ocean City beachfront, was born as part of America’s “greatest generation.” When it opened in 1923, the memory of World War I was still on the minds of most Americans. The Canadian war poem, “In Flanders Fields” by soldier and poet John McCrae was written in 1915 in the midst of World War I. The hotel is named after the poem to honor those who fought and died in the “war to end all wars.”
The hotel trudged on despite a destructive boardwalk fire, the stock market crash of 1929, and the Great Depression that followed, as well as World War II. Ironically, it wasn’t until the first part of the 21st century that economic struggles caused the hotel to close.
The hotel closed its doors in May 1995 before being purchased by developer James Dwyer, who had grand designs for what are now five $1 million penthouses in The Flanders. He also helped convert the 200-room hotel into 95 condominiums. The project developed its own set of financial problems and in 2003, The Flanders was again in bankruptcy. In 2006, almost one-third of the condo units were for sale, and the hotel infrastructure was in “extremely poor condition,” according to Peter Voudouris, president of the board of trustees for the Flanders condo association.
As the 100th anniversary loomed, Voudouris said that Ocean City is embracing the celebration of 100 years. His as president of the board was to tie the event and the city together.
A well-attended ribbon-cutting was part of the festivities and was a way for city officials to mark the occasion. But the ribbon cutting was mainly a kick-off celebration for a gala that recognizes a century of the luxury hotel’s operation in Ocean City.
On Dec. 27, 2005, Voudouris was elected board president, and he and his wife Arlene, who volunteered to help with the project, began working to manage the Flanders and pull it out of its dire conditions.
The Flanders still operates as a lodging destination for 100,000 people every year. The Flanders still operate Emily’s Restaurant, which saw its revenues increase 250% since the board took over the management of the hotel. Gross revenues for the hotel have increased 300% during the same time frame. The hotel employs over 210 people, which makes it one of the largest private employers in Ocean City. The Flanders was also inducted into the Knott’s Hall of Fame for Best Wedding Venue voted on by married couples.
Ocean City Chamber of Commerce membership sales and events coordinator Karen Bergman worked at The Flanders for 13 years as director of catering. She said the hotel is very important to Ocean City.
“At least 100,000 visitors come through every year, there are 75-plus weddings, 50-plus events, it’s right in the center of town, right in the hub of the boardwalk,” she said.
Bergman said a lot of work has gone into restoring the hotel to its former luster, including restoring the ballrooms with their high ceilings.
A press release that announced the ribbon-cutting and the November 2023 gala said, “The Flanders is no ordinary resort hotel and the Centennial Gala is no ordinary celebration of longevity. During much of its rich history, the hotel’s current stability, prosperity, and acclaim would have been unimaginable. At its heart, this is a celebration of triumph over adversity, reverence for the achievements of our past, and determined preservation of the valuable landmarks that recall our cultural history of connection and community.”
Voudouris has spent 18 years negotiating construction loans, fostering owner collaboration and contribution through assessments, creating new partnerships, acquiring historical registration, and devoting countless hours to the work of restoring this beloved centerpiece of “America’s Greatest Family Resort,” as Ocean City has been known over the years.
The Centennial Gala will be held on Saturday, Nov. 18, from 4 to 9 p.m. For more information and tickets to the Gala, please visit: www.theflandershotel.com/celebrate100.
Thoughts? Questions? Call Christopher South at 609-886-8600 x-128 or email csouth@cmcherald.com.
