Hospitality House - BGT History - Busch Gardens Tampa History

Offering guests free samples of Anheuser-Busch products and views of the lagoon and gardens, the Hospitality House was a popular spot for those visiting Busch Gardens after enjoying a tour of the Anheuser-Busch Brewery.

Fast Facts

Official Open Date: June 1, 1959
Location: Bird Gardens
Replaced By: Garden Gate Cafe

History

The heptagonal (seven-sided) roofed structure was designed by St. Petersburg architect William B. Harvard. The building spanned 95 feet across with a roof supported by 14 inclined steel columns, giving the effect of floating over the structure. The main glass-enclosed room with the bar offered over 3,000 square feet of space. Altec Stereophonic Music was used in the Hospitality House and elsewhere in the gardens when the park opened in 1959.

In a June 1960 newspaper article, Anheuser-Busch company president August A. Busch Jr. mentioned two new projects at the gardens, one of which was a $500,000 expansion at Hospitality House. Also in that article was a glimpse into the daily life at Hospitality House, managed at the time by Thomas Pinta, with a dozen bartenders employed to dispense the free beer samples. Pinta and his teams were also in charge of lost & found, for both items and children; first aid, which was well stocked including a stretcher and a direct telephone line to call for an ambulance if needed; and opening park gates and ensuring all guests had left at the end of the day. On the subject of dealing with any guest who had too much to drink, Pinta said that the average amount of beer sampled was only three ounces per guest, and in the rare circumstance where a guest had a bit reached their limit, his bartenders did what would happen anywhere – the guest was simply cut off.

The gardens and its venues also saw usage outside of normal daily hours, with special events often being held at the park. The Hospitality House hosted the Temple Terrace Little Theater on September 8, 1961, where a free one-act play entitled ‘Squaring it with the Boss’ was performed.

A late 1960s brochure states visitors could enjoy complimentary Budweiser, Busch, and Michelob products.

Hospitality House also featured a cantilevered deck overlooking the lagoon where adults could enjoy their complimentary drinks. A 1970 brochure noted there were also restrooms, first aid, lost & found, stroller & wheelchair rentals, and general information about the park available at the Hospitality House.

Along with the free beer samples, other light refreshments and snacks were available. Various entertainment was also presented at Hospitality House, including a Banjo Duo listed during the 1974 season.

In 1976, guests of age could enjoy three free samples of Anheuser-Busch products at Hospitality House and Treetops.

Today, the former Hospitality House building is known as Springs Taproom, which offers a variety of beers and light snacks for purchase.