Luxury in the Heartland

The Equestrian Hotel at Ocala’s World Equestrian Center promises a first-class adventure.

BY MARCIA BIGGS

Ocala has long been known for several things — as the home of the famous Silver Springs glass bottom boats and as an internationally renowned center for breeding and training thoroughbred horses. An estimated 1,200 horse farms are found throughout the gently rolling hills of Marion County in North Central Florida, which is why it’s often referred to as “The Horse Capital of the World.”

It’s no surprise, then, that the Equestrian Hotel at the World Equestrian Center (WEC) is a destination that speaks to the luxury traveler with a fondness for anything equine. Situated on 378 acres of former ranchland, WEC is a world-class horse and event center, with the Equestrian Hotel the showpiece at its center.

A two-hour drive from Tampa/St. Petersburg, the WEC opened in 2020 (the hotel in 2021) as the vision of an Ohio couple, Ralph and Mary Roberts, who founded a World Equestrian Center in Wilmington, Ohio, and are respected longtime tourism developers in the Ocala area. The Ocala resort is the perfect weekend getaway for couples or families who crave high-end lodging and amenities, a variety of dining options, and plenty of fresh air and relaxation.

But you don’t need to be an equestrian to appreciate all the World Equestrian Center has to offer.

From the moment you drive onto the grounds and see the grand white hotel spread before you, you know you are in for something special. Stepping into the white marble Grand Lobby seals the deal. High windows allow the sunlight to bathe opulent furnishings, crystal chandeliers, a five-foot floral display and exquisite oil paintings of stately horses and hunting dogs. A baby grand piano sits next to a two-story fireplace. Sofas and chairs in black leather and velvet are piled with pillows trimmed in gold. Bronze horse sculptures and lamps beg to be admired.

Rooms and suites are not so lavish, but tasteful and spacious, with equestrian touches from the carpet design to the gold bit handles on the dressers. Most of the rooms look down on the Grand Arena, giving guests a free view of any horse show or competition that happens to be booked.

Getting Around

Your best bet is to rent a golf cart so you can explore, but take a map. The resort is massive with five indoor arenas and 16 outdoor show arenas. Guests are free to wander and visit any horse shows or events going on; most of them are free. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch a bit of a training session with a young thoroughbred, a dressage show or a kennel club dog show.

If you’re looking for a trail ride, you’ll need to go elsewhere. This is a full-service training and event center, so there are no public rentals or trails. Concrete climate-controlled stable barns can accommodate nearly 3,000 horses, complete with showers, matted floors and individual ceiling fans for each stall.

On our visit, we enjoyed the opportunity to wander the beautiful grounds in our cart – trails go everywhere making it easy to visit an arena for a horse show or stop in at one of the various eateries on premises. A picturesque chapel on the grounds is worth a stop and even holds services on Sundays. On your cart ride, you can also find an RV park, an emergency care facility, a veterinary hospital operated by the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine that specializes in horse and small animal care, and a new 400-room suite-like hotel being constructed intended to be moderately priced for extended stays. It’s slated for an opening in 2024.

The lobby at the Equestrian Hotel sets the mood.

There are some 30 fine boutiques to keep you busy, too, especially if you’re in the market for some fancy Western boots and leather goods, home furnishings for the upscale country lifestyle, a custom designed saddle, or some intricate gold and diamond horseshoe cuff links.

A large pool adjacent to the hotel will keep kids busy and a number of nearby attractions in the Ocala area are perfect for day trips. One day, we visited the beautiful Silver Springs State Park just 20 minutes away where the famous glass bottom boats still delight visitors as they glide over the crystal clear spring. This summer, the resort is promoting a WEC Great Florida Adventure Package with two tickets to The Canyons Zip Line and Adventure Park, about 15 minutes away, plus a $50 property credit.

Stirrups Restaurant at the Equestrian Hotel

Culinary Adventure

A highlight of our weekend stay was dining in the elegant Stirrups restaurant in the Equestrian Hotel. While dinners here are known to be five-star affairs, we indulged in a Sunday Brunch experience that was beyond amazing. From the attentive service to the perfectly prepared cuisine, we felt like royalty. And it’s no wonder, as we were seated in a palatial dining room with plush white furnishings, high ceilings with crystal chandeliers, and surrounded by a collection of gold-framed oil paintings of stately hunting dogs.

From our table we could view the Grand Arena where a photographer was snapping photos of a winning show horse, a rider astride sporting a floral garland around her neck. All at my table agreed that we had found the most divine Bloody Mary in the universe.

In addition to Stirrups, more casual fare and a lively crowd on weekend nights can be found at the Yellow Pony Pub on the hotel’s main floor. Here you can mosey up to a saddle at the bar, or sit at a regular table. More dining options can be found on the grounds of the resort, where families can grab a pizza at Viola & Dot’s Italian Kitchen & Pizzeria, munch burritos and tacos at Filo’s Mexican Cantina, or enjoy burgers and fries at Ralph’s Burger & Sandwich Shop.

Guests can tour the grounds and visit the stables.

Events like the Festivals of Speed are held year-round at the World Equestrian Center.

Time to Indulge

A weekend stay at WEC demands a bit of pampering at the luxurious Calluna Spa in the hotel. I reveled in the peaceful bliss, where I drifted away to gentle music and the soft caressing hands of my esthetician. An extensive menu of massages, facials, manicures, pedicures and wellness packages are ready to bring you a slice of nirvana, too, like the Milk & Honey Nourishing Wrap with a whipped honey and fine sea salt scrub or the Steamed Lavender Milk Pedicure. Note to self: Book here for my next Girlfriends Getaway.

Don’t be surprised to hear accents from around the world during your stay — race horse owners and athletes from around the globe are discovering the WEC.

“During the winter we have a number of international horse owners who stay for six or eight weeks at a time,” said Justin Garner, Director of Hotel and Hospitality Operations, as he toured me around the grounds in a golf cart. “They fly in with their horses from Saudi Arabia and South America to train. It’s really an exciting time to be here and watch them.”

IF YOU GO

November 3-5 join celebrated chefs at the 3rd annual Ocala Food & Wine festival at WEC as they serve up dishes paired with wines, beers and cocktails. Enjoy tastings, demonstrations, intimate dinners with celebrity chefs and more as you experience the magnificent resort. A bi-monthly Stirrups Wine Series is an exclusive wine and food tasting on the veranda with live music. The next one is September 22 with a Pacific Northwest theme.

For more information on the World Equestrian Center, go to worldequestriancenter.com/ocala-fl/ or call (352) 414-7900. Room rates start at $330, plus taxes, for Florida residents.

With all the arenas, plus two state-of-the-art air-conditioned expo centers, WEC is booking events from horse shows and dog shows to trade shows and festivals. Check the Event Calendar online if you’re looking to add some entertainment to your weekend visit. We were there in May for a lively Kentucky Derby weekend when WEC held an outdoor Derby Hat Party on the veranda, and the Festivals of Speed luxury and classic car show was added entertainment.