The Fort Harrison Hotel, Where Scientologists Check In... But Minds and Wallets Check Out
The Fort Harrison Hotel in Clearwater, Florida was established in 1926. Its Mediterranean Revival style with marble floors and exquisite furnishings made it Clearwater's most luxurious hotel back in its day. Rich with history, the Fort Harrison survived the Great Depression and World War II.
Eventually it was repurchased by Jack Tar Hotels in 1965, and was called the New Fort Harrison Hotel and this is where the Rolling Stones wrote "I Can't Get No Satisfaction". Little did the Stones know back then, how those lyrics would ring so true today for its current occupants.
The hotel fell in disrepair in the 1970's, and in typical Scientology style, the cult type skulked into town in 1975 under the name of the United Churches of Florida and snatched it up. Unethical? Maybe, but considering "Scientologists are some of the most ethical people on the planet" as stated by founder L. Ron Hubbard, what did you expect?
The Fort Harrison hotel is the spiritual headquarters for Scientologists. It supplies lodging, courses and auditing for those who wish to climb the upper levels to what is referred to as Scientology's "Bridge To Total Freedom", or what we educated people refer to as the "Bridge To Total Bankruptcy." It also houses Scientology's Sea Org members and staff. The Sea Org is Scientology's para military branch which is alleged to engage a slave labor force and is currently at the center of a major lawsuit brought by ex-member Marc Headley.
Today after a year of renovation the 82-year old Fort Harrison had a 40 million dollar make over. It brags of marble floors from Spain gold leaf moldings, fine rugs imported from South Africa, three restaurants and a Crystal ballroom.
Interestingly, Scientology has announced that the hotels three restaurants and the grand ballroom will be closed to the public. This contradicts earlier claims by Scientology officials during construction:
Church staffers made thousands of custom wood and plaster moldings at Scientology's local wood mill and workshop.The hotel has three restaurants — none of which will be open to the public, despite what the church previously said. The ballroom won't be rented out for weddings either.
And the hotel won't be hiring because it is staffed by members of the Sea Org, the legion of uniformed church staffers who dedicate their lives to Scientology.
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