Trip Planner:   USA  /  Florida  /  Gainesville  /  Thomas Center

Thomas Center, Gainesville

4.7
#19 of 56 in Things to do in Gainesville
Historic Site · Hidden Gem · Tourist Spot
Create an itinerary including Thomas Center
The Thomas Center, formerly known as Hotel Thomas and Sunkist Villa, is an historic building in Gainesville, Florida, United States. It was built starting in 1910 in the Classical Revival style by noted Atlanta-based architect, William Augustus Edwards, designer of academic buildings at 12 institutions in Georgia, South Carolina and Florida, including the original University of Florida campus, as well as a dozen or more county courthouses in those states plus other building and houses,
The building began as the private home of William Reuben Thomas, his wife Kathryn, and their five children, when it was known as Sunkist Villa. In 1928 Thomas more than doubled the size of the home and converted it to a hotel. On July 16, 1973, the building was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

The Thomas Center celebrated its 100th anniversary on February 12, 2010.
Add Thomas Center and other attractions to your Gainesville trip itinerary using our Gainesville sightseeing planner.
Source
Create a full itinerary - for free!

Thomas Center reviews

Rate this attraction
TripAdvisor traveler rating
TripAdvisor traveler rating 4.5
67 reviews
Google
4.7
TripAdvisor
  • A visit to the Thomas center is well worth your time. There are four fully furnished period rooms where every detail has been included. There are a number of fascinating displays that highlight the... 
    A visit to the Thomas center is well worth your time. There are four fully furnished period rooms where every detail has been included. There are a number of fascinating displays that highlight the...  more »
  • The Historic Thomas Center is a gorgeous venue and we wanted to have our wedding ceremony and reception there. Being public property and having many COVID-19 restrictions, it was a challenge, but... 
    The Historic Thomas Center is a gorgeous venue and we wanted to have our wedding ceremony and reception there. Being public property and having many COVID-19 restrictions, it was a challenge, but...  more »
Google
  • For our 3/26/22 wedding, we booked the Historic Thomas Center. We had a great experience throughout the entire touring/booking process. Kathy and Jessica provided excellent service and had timely responses to all of my questions. This venue allows you to book out different rooms/areas based upon what you need, and for what length of time. However, the venue as a whole only books one event per day, so the entire grounds are basically exclusive. We rented out the Turtle Court, Veranda, Period Room, Long Gallery, and Spanish Court for different areas, and all of the spots were clean, well maintained, and gorgeous for our guests! The pricing for this venue was also extremely competitive with others that we looked into and found that it was worth every penny. We took bridal and family pictures out in the garden. Please be advised that while the signs clearly state dogs are not allowed, there were multiple dogs in the park, and dog feces on the ground. Be careful where you step!
  • Nice place to spend a few hours outside, lots of places to hang out and read, very laid back area of town that’s nice to walk or bike around

Plan your trip to Gainesville

  • Get a personalized trip
    A full day by day itinerary based on your preferences
  • Customize it
    Refine your trip. We'll find the
    best routes and schedules
  • Manage it
    Everything in one place. Everyone on the same page.