While we’ve known for years that this was in the pipeline, the project has now officially been announced by Four Seasons.
Continue reading: Four Seasons Jacksonville Opening 2026
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Im happy for Jacksonville. I went to school there and have family. I hope this project goes better than the last 20 years of trying to rejuvenate downtown and get people to live and play there outside of business hours. The only thing thus far with any staying power has been Hooters at Jacksonville Landing. Will be interested to see the market for this hotel given all the vacation-y things aren’t really close to it. I think rates will be reasonable and this will end up seeing a lot of Amex FHR credit redemptions.
I’m pretty pro-Jacksonville and find it to be a fun weekend getaway. I will say I’m kind of puzzled by the location- downtown has really struggled over the years to turn itself around, and when I saw the headline, I assumed it would be a proper beachside development like the Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island is. I’m guessing there are significant tax incentives attached to this project that made it attractive.
Despite being the largest city in Florida, Jacksonville doesn't really have anything popular, and do not even get any foreign tourists, so building one fo the, if not, the most lavish hotel in this city is quite surprising
Before reading the article title based on the photos thought at first it was about some cruise ship!
I think rates will be comparable at least to the nearby RC amelia island
Yang Jin-Hong, while Jacksonville is *techinally* the largest city in Florida by population, that statistic is quite misleading. It is the largest city proper, but certainly not the largest metro. It has an impressive population number only because the municipal boundaries of the city are so huge. It is a consolidated city-county, so the city actually extends across the entire county. Other major Florida cities like Miami, Orlando, and Tampa are much smaller geographically, because the suburbs are distinct municipalities that are independently governed, and the cities themselves only encompass their respective urban cores. If you compare the actual metropolitan areas, Jacksonville ranks well below Miami, Tampa, and Orlando.
There's gotta be some sort of a tax break or other tax scam at play here.
Because why?
Surely Jacksonville is only the largest city in Florida because of where it’s city boundaries lie, the metropolitan areas of Miami and Orlando would be larger overall. Also, having been to Jacksonville, there is indeed not much to do.
Surely Jacksonville is only the largest city in Florida because of where it’s city boundaries lie, the metropolitan areas of Miami and Orlando would be larger overall. Also, having been to Jacksonville, there is indeed not much to
Nah, it can’t be. They did just elect the evening news anchor as Mayor and the consumer reporter to city council.
At least it’ll smell nice. It’ll be on Bay Street it looks like right next to the Maxwell House plant. And safe too. The Sheriff Dept and jail are only two blocks away.
What is there to do in downtown Jacksonville when it isn't game day? Absolutely nothing. Crime, lack of attractions, and parking issues killed The Landing, Harbor Masters, and the Riverwalk. They'll kill this too.
Actually, I believe that Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. in terms of land area. This is because most of the land around it is incorporated into the city. Meanwhile, other major cities have many smaller municipalities that make up the city metro area. It is a bit misleading, as the Jacksonville metro area has a smaller population than Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, and Orlando.
The city itself doesn't have too much to do (I lived there for 7 years). There was a water themed development opening on the other side of I-95 from St John's County. Otherwise, most people come to visit St Augustine, Ponte Vedra, and the TPC golf tournament. The city does have a number of corporate offices though.
It is the second largest in the lower 48 in terms of land mass. There are 2 or 3 in Alaska larger.
It was largest in lower 48 until 3-4 years ago when the least populous county in Kansas merged with the one town in it (or like 1200 people) as a cost savings measure.
I live in Jacksonville, about a 5-7 minute drive down Riverside Ave/Bay Street from where this is.
I'll say that Shad Khan has been talking about wanting to revitalize Downtown Jacksonville for several years, and this is part of his vision. I'm definitely not opposed to it - the only times I go downtown are to go to games. I was just down at the Minor League Ballpark on Wednesday and they've got some beautiful looking apartments going up there that are not terribly priced (about the same as I pay for rent now, with mine being right on the river).
Does downtown need to get cleaned up quite a bit still? Absolutely. The talk of them moving the jail from right across the street out to where the County Prison is (out past the airport) would help. I mean, having the county pre-trial lockup literally across the street from a Four Seasons doesn't exactly scream "luxury" to me. I think if this project can "bridge" the area between downtown (around where the Hyatt ends) and the Stadium complex and move the jail and the Maxwell House plant out, it could spark a very nice Riverfront area.
Ok the rest is true but the app?? Have you used the four seasons app? It’s god awful. Can never check in on the app, and even if you do it doesn’t matter because you still have to check in in person. Every request is at the mercy of someone replying to a message. Even the slightest account change causes the app to meltdown
Bring it on! Now I'll have somewhere 'nice' to stay during 'Porchfest' 2026 🙂
To whoever suggested that JAX doesn't attract international visitors, you were just proved wrong.
I'd agree, however pleasant Jacksonville is (lots of history along the Riverwalk etc), it is a somewhat strange location for such a premium brand. While Naples FL is a relatively wealthy community, the decision on that one seems even stranger - I would have thought that fast-growing Sarasota would have been a more appropriate choice, especially given the number of transient cashed-up NYC and BOS snowbirds that visit regularly.
"While Four Seasons doesn’t have a traditional loyalty program, personally I think it’s the only major hotel brand (with 100+ properties) that consistently provides a great customer experience." said by a biased loyalty blogger. There are other excellent hotels in the Four Seasons league.
Sure! Which other brands would you say are consistently great? Ritz and Waldorf can be pretty good, but I don’t think I’d call them CONSISTENTLY great.
Jacksonville is a major insurance hub. This is probably targeting that segment more than leisure.
Oh my Lord a Four Seasons in downtown Jax. Who wants to go to downtown Jacksonville and stay in a crime infested cessful. The Landing didn't survive because of the crime. All the locals know the problems. My family has lived in Jacksonville for generations and every generation has moved further out in the suburbs to get away from the crime which has followed them. I have one aunt left in Duval the rest live in surrounding counties. A murder happens almost every night in the northside and its moved to the westside and Arlington. All the people in Northside will march against crime ,the mayor will form a committee and nothing changes. I give the Four Seasons five years. Build it at Jax Beach.
Greg. How long has it been since you have been in that area? Do have any statistics to back up what you claim? Several very nice & pricy restaurants have been operating downtown for a long time. The modern art museum at Hemming Plaza and the beautiful library do fine. The two larger hotels & the condos don't seem to have any major issues on either the North Bank or The South Bank. Its gets a bit shakier north of the stadium but that is also being worked on with new apartments, condos and businesses. We need to revitalize this area for all the people. I remember going downtown every weekend with my mom to JC Penny, Iveys & others. Lunch at the cafeteria. Bands in the park. Then they built Regency Square and downtown died. Downtowns are nice. Support our city. Be Better.