The City of Lake Wales released the following press release on May 9, 2025:
City of Lake Wales reached a milestone, officially obtaining the deed to the iconic Dixie Walesbilt Hotel on May 9thafter a three-year legal battle with Walesbilt LLC owner Ray Brown.
The City paid Brown $450,000 to transfer ownership of the property to the City’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). Brown relinquished all claims against the city…