The El Verona Hotel was located at 111 N. Tamiami Trail,  Sarasota, Florida. It was built by Owen Burns to honor his wife Verona Hill Freeman of New York..  The architect was Frank Baum.  The building was described as the most perfect example of Spanish Architecture.  The Hotel opened with a grand ball and New Years eve celebration on  12/31/1926.

     The hotel had 150 rooms.  The exterior was brownish gold facade.  Construction costs were $800,000.

     The ownership of the hotel  changed after the land crash of the Florida Boom. John Ringling took over the hotel and renamed it the John Ringling Hotel.  It featured circus acts in the main dining room.  John Ringling owned the hotel from 1930 to 1950.

     After 1950, the former  El Verona Hotel was converted to an apartment complex. It was renamed Ringling Towers in 1964.  By 1980, the building was vacant.  It was demolished in 1998 It was replaced by the Ritz Carleton.