Church of Scientology’s Fort Harrison Monthly Tours Educate on Vibrant Part of Clearwater’s History

CLEARWATER, Fla., March 08, 2018 -- More than a dozen local residents, interested in Clearwater’s history and visiting one of its iconic landmarks, took part in the Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization February tour of the Fort Harrison, the Church’s international religious retreat.  The monthly tour begins in the stately Fort Harrison lobby.

The hotel was constructed in 1926 by Clearwater real estate developer Ed Haley and soon became a favorite of those visiting the city, including the Philadelphia Phillies, who lived in the hotel during spring training, and the Rolling Stones, who are rumored to have written ’Satisfaction’ there on their first U.S. tour.

A highlight of the tour is the tenth floor Crystal Ballroom. Included in the original 1926 plans at the urging of the original architect, the ballroom provides guests with an expansive view of the bay. The Fort Harrison rooftop restaurant was open to locals and hotel guests during the 20’s and 30’s for nightly dinner dances with performances by the Fort Harrison Band. Today, the ballroom is home to a host of charitable events, including monthly Swing Dances for Charity and the Tampa Bay Charity Coalition bimonthly luncheons.

In 1975, the Church of Scientology purchased the Fort Harrison as part of its Clearwater-based international spiritual headquarters. Every year, thousands of Scientologists from all over the world visit Clearwater for advanced religious services. The Church also hosts hundreds of community and nonprofit events at the Fort Harrison.

The next tour is scheduled for March 17 at 1:30 p.m. To attend, or for more information about community events held at the Fort Harrison, contact Amber Skjelset, Scientology Information Center Manager, at (727) 467-6966 or email [email protected].

The Fort Harrison Religious Retreat:

Since its construction in 1927, the Fort Harrison has been the home for many community events and charitable organizations. The Fort Harrison's current owner, the Church of Scientology, has hosted over 500 community events there since a top-to-bottom restoration in 2009. The Scientology religion was founded by humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard, and incorporated in 1954. To learn more, visit www.scientology.org.

Contact:
Pat Harney, Public Relations Director
727-467-6860
[email protected]