Fountain Returned to Glory at Hacienda

New Port Richey’s Public Works department brought a little more beauty to the fountain in the Hacienda Hotel’s courtyard Thursday, July 25.

 The city decorated the fountain with restored and newly recreated features under an overcast sky while an audience of current and former city council members watched. They installed bowls, pedestals and a new headpiece.

The fountain at the former hotel had seen better days, so workers restored parts from broken pieces and installed new additions, including a cherub that now stands atop the fountain. They worked from old photos to get it to look as much like it did in its glory days as possible.

The Hacienda opened in the 1920s. It opened as a hotel  but later served as an assisted living facility.

The city has been on a campaign to spruce up the Hacienda, which New Port Richey bought in the middle of last decade. Hundreds of volunteers helped clean up the building in January, and the city has installed new lighting there to deter vandalism and trespassing. 

The fountain was allowed to go dry years, but  the city started pumping water ion and running  it again weeks ago. The additions were installed Thursday.