Downtown New Port Richey
In 1883, Aaron McLaughlin Richey settled off the banks of the Pithlachascotee river with his family. Coming from Missouri, the Ohio native had also tried his luck in California, panning for gold. Moving south to Florida, the intrepid Richey set up a post office, and the area became known as Port Richey.
To the south on the other side of the river, through what was known as the “Devil’s Woodyard,” was Hickory Hammock. Populated by farmers and ranchers, things there were slow and simple. Pioneers made rope from dried-out vines, and square wells were dug by hand. Eventually, the name Hickory Hammock was dropped, and they borrowed their neighbor’s name, calling themselves “New” Port Richey.
The city of New Port Richey was officially incorporated in 1924. Investors flocked to build along the beautiful Pithlachascotee or “Cotee” river, hoping that the sunny area would attract movie stars and become a metropolis for the silver screen. The Meighan Theatre was built in 1926 to show movies, and the glamourous Hacienda Hotel was constructed in 1927 to pamper movie stars.
Unfortunately for those investors, California became the destination for movie sets and glamorous stars. That isn’t to say that stars didn’t visit (or build winter homes) in New Port Richey, but the hopes of becoming a Hollywood boom town were not to be. Following the Great Depression, many of the beautiful buildings downtown were left to dust and disrepair.
While living in New Port Richey post-boom was difficult, it was not without excitement. During prohibition, moonshine stills were hidden in the underbrush, and law enforcement chased down suspected perpetrators. The famous gangster Al Capone is even rumored to have hunted at the nearby Moon Lake Dude Ranch that opened in 1937.
Today New Port Richey has a vibrant downtown, with original buildings giving it historic warmth and charm. Local businesses reside in original structures, breathing new life into them. The Meighan Theatre is the local playhouse, Richey Suncoast Theatre, offering a unique cultural experience, and the Hacienda Hotel has undergone extensive renovation. It is set to re-open its doors in 2022.
Ghost tours and historic walking tours connect the modern visitor to the past, and new structures have been erected to keep up with the expanding business and traffic. Still, the city retains its historical integrity and charm and has kept its small-town feel amid its impressive growth.
