Vero Beach Art Village Welcomes First Neighborhood Bed-and-Breakfast

Hotel Ronita, one of the city's oldest apartment buildings, is being converted into a new overnight stay option for visitors.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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VERO BEACH — As the local arts community worked to establish a vibrant artist village near downtown, Bailey Schlitt saw an opportunity to transform one of the city's oldest apartment buildings into Vero Beach's first neighborhood bed-and-breakfast. Hotel Ronita, which has operated as apartments for decades, is now being renovated and reimagined as an intimate overnight destination catering to visitors drawn to the area's thriving arts scene.

Why it matters

The addition of a bed-and-breakfast in the heart of Vero Beach's emerging arts district is expected to provide a boost to local businesses and cultural attractions by offering a convenient and immersive lodging option for tourists. It also represents a creative repurposing of an aging property, preserving the building's historic character while adapting it to meet modern hospitality needs.

The details

Hotel Ronita, which dates back to the 1940s, is undergoing a full renovation to convert its 12 apartment units into guest rooms. The property's new owners plan to retain many of the building's original architectural features while adding modern amenities like en-suite bathrooms, high-speed internet, and communal gathering spaces. The bed-and-breakfast will cater to visitors drawn to Vero Beach's growing arts scene, with plans to highlight the work of local artists throughout the property.

  • Hotel Ronita first opened as an apartment building in the 1940s.
  • The property is currently undergoing renovations to convert it into a bed-and-breakfast.
  • The new bed-and-breakfast is expected to open to guests in summer 2026.

The players

Bailey Schlitt

The new owner who envisioned transforming the historic Hotel Ronita apartment building into Vero Beach's first neighborhood bed-and-breakfast.

Hotel Ronita

A historic apartment building in Vero Beach that is being converted into a new bed-and-breakfast catering to visitors to the city's arts district.

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What they’re saying

“When arts enthusiasts dreamed of creating a village where artists could live and create near downtown, I was struck with a vision of my own.”

— Bailey Schlitt (tcpalm.com)

What’s next

The new bed-and-breakfast is expected to open to guests in summer 2026 after the completion of renovations.

The takeaway

The conversion of the historic Hotel Ronita building into a new bed-and-breakfast represents a creative repurposing of an aging property to support Vero Beach's growing arts community, providing a convenient and immersive lodging option for visitors drawn to the area's cultural attractions.