Casa Feliz Historic Home Museum

09/03/2026

Let the rhythm of Brazilian jazz transport you at the next Music at the Casa concert!

Join us on Thursday, September 17, from 6:30–8:30 PM for an exciting evening with Ella & The Bossa Beat. Led by vocalist, pianist, and composer Ella Blu alongside Grammy-nominated drummer, percussionist, and producer Magrus Borges, this dynamic ensemble brings fresh energy to the timeless sounds of bossa nova with soulful vocals, captivating rhythms, and inspired musicianship.

Experience beloved Brazilian classics, original compositions, and the special chemistry of a father-daughter musical partnership in the intimate setting of Casa Feliz.

Wine and beer will be available for purchase from The Good Pour, along with light snacks.

🎟️ Reserve your tickets today: https://buy.stripe.com/9B628s0qdeyn9GWbJq4c80r

08/31/2026

POV: Your Casa Feliz docent understood the assignment.

Casa Feliz is iconic, and our Open House Tours return tomorrow, September 1!

Step inside one of Winter Park’s most treasured historic landmarks and discover the people, architecture and stories behind Casa Feliz and its renowned architect, James Gamble Rogers II. Last year, visitors from 40 states and 27 countries toured the house. Now it’s your turn. (Period.)

OPEN HOUSE
Tuesday–Thursday | 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

DOCENT-LED TOURS
10:15 a.m. • 11:15 a.m. • 12:15 p.m. • 1:15 p.m.

Come for the history, and get the tea on Casa Feliz.

08/30/2026

A Japanese version of Casa Feliz! 🇯🇵 🏯

In Japan, the ancient tradition of hikiya involves moving buildings with ropes and rollers. About 4,000 people teamed up to try it on Hirosaki Castle.

08/26/2026

Wonderful Wednesday: The Comstock-Harris House 🏡

This Wonderful Wednesday, we’re going way back to the earliest days of Winter Park.

Built in 1871 as the winter residence of Chicago businessman William Charles Comstock, the Comstock-Harris House, known as “Eastbank,” still stands on Bonita Drive. Comstock, who served as president of the Chicago Board of Trade, was also one of the founders of the Winter Park Public Library.

At the time, Eastbank was surrounded by 60 acres of orange groves. Its Shingle Style architecture features an expansive porch, irregular roofline, and distinctive corner tower. Even more remarkable is how it was built. Much of the lumber, glass, and other construction material had to be shipped from New York to Sanford and then hauled to Winter Park by ox-drawn sledges.

And here’s a piece of the house’s history you may drive beneath today: Comstock planted camphor trees along the road leading to Eastbank. Those trees grew to form the leafy canopy that still arches over much of Bonita Drive.

Inside, the three-story home included nine rooms, five bedrooms with their own baths, soaring ceilings, stained-glass windows, and three large pantries. It was also a gathering place for the community, where members of the Fortnightly Club met to share poetry.

Eastbank was later acquired by the Harris family and survives today as one of Winter Park’s most important historic residences, a remarkable reminder of what our community looked like when Winter Park itself was just beginning.

(Photos by Phil Eschbach)

08/25/2026

Experience the vibrant sounds of Brazil at the next Music at the Casa!

Join us for an enchanting evening with Ella & The Bossa Beat, featuring vocalist, pianist, and composer Ella Blu alongside Grammy-nominated drummer and percussionist Magrus Borges.

This talented father-daughter duo brings fresh energy to bossa nova, blending inventive arrangements of beloved Brazilian classics with soulful original compositions. Expect vibrant rhythms, lyrical melodies, and world-class artistry in the beautiful setting of Casa Feliz.

Thursday, September 17
6:30–8:30 pm
Casa Feliz Historic Home Museum

Wine and beer from The Good Pour and light snacks will be available for purchase.

Learn more and purchase tickets here: https://casafeliz.us/music

08/24/2026

Merrywood update: no demolition, at least for now.

The Orlando Sentinel has a new story on what may come next for Merrywood following last week’s sale of the property.

For now, the most important news is that demolition does not appear to be imminent. The proposed lot split and related Comprehensive Plan amendment remain unresolved, and the future intentions of the new ownership are still unclear.

That leaves many unanswered questions, but it also leaves something important: time.

We remain hopeful that the new owners will be open to a preservation solution for this significant James Gamble Rogers II home. The past several weeks have also made one thing very clear: there is tremendous community interest in Merrywood and in protecting the places that give Winter Park its distinctive character.

We will continue to follow developments closely and share updates as we learn more.

Orlando Sentinel story in the comments. Photo by Joe Burbank.

08/19/2026

An important update on Merrywood.

The Winter Park Voice is reporting that Merrywood has been sold for $15 million to a newly formed company, Lake Osceola Holdings LLC. The new owners reportedly closed on the property without any guarantee that the City will approve the requested lot split, and the second reading of the Comprehensive Plan amendment scheduled for next week is now expected to be tabled.

At this point, we simply do not know what the new owners intend for Merrywood. They have chosen to remain anonymous at this juncture. Preservation, demolition, and other options reportedly remain on the table. A demolition permit is still in place, and could be activated any day.

For Friends of Casa Feliz, our position remains simple: until Merrywood comes down, we remain hopeful that a preservation option exists. This significant 1939 home is still standing, and there is still a known, vetted buyer willing to purchase and preserve it. We are grateful to Matt Morgan for coming forward with a fair preservation alternative.

There are clearly more chapters to come in this story. We will continue to follow developments closely and advocate for an outcome that gives Merrywood every reasonable chance to survive.

Full Winter Park Voice story in the comments.

08/14/2026

Two weeks ago, the beautiful Ervin Theodore Brown house, a stunning Colonial Revival designed by James Gamble Rogers II, proudly anchored this corner in the Ellno-Willo neighborhood. Today, this is what remains. But there’s still time for Merrywood.

The Orlando Sentinel reports that Mayor Sheila DeCiccio is now seeking answers about the status of the historic Merrywood property and the outstanding offer from Winter Park resident Matt Morgan to purchase and preserve it.

Morgan has offered $12 million for the property, an amount he says reflects the price of the existing contract, and has also said he would purchase only the portion containing Merrywood if that provides a path to preservation. Yet he has reported receiving no response to his offer. Meanwhile, a demolition permit remains posted at the property.

This matters because the City Commission is being asked to make a significant exception to Winter Park’s long-standing planning policies in order to permit the property to be divided. City staff originally recommended that any such approval be conditioned on historic designation of Merrywood, but that protection was removed after commissioners were told there was no willing buyer who could save the house. We now know that a willing buyer has stepped forward.

We appreciate Mayor DeCiccio asking questions. Before the City takes the extraordinary step of changing its Comprehensive Plan for a single property, every reasonable alternative that could preserve Merrywood should be fully explored.

Merrywood is one of the dwindling number of significant Winter Park homes designed by James Gamble Rogers II. Once it is demolished, there is no second chance.

We hope the coming days bring transparency, conversation, and, ultimately, a path that protects both private property interests and an irreplaceable piece of Winter Park’s architectural heritage.

Read the Orlando Sentinel story linked below.

08/12/2026

Wonderful Wednesday: Calling all artists and photographers!
If you have ever painted or photographed Casa Feliz, we’d love to hear from you. We are looking for a variety of renderings of Casa to display during our 25th Anniversary Celebration Year. If you have a piece you’d be willing to lend for our exhibit please reach out through a DM or email us at [email protected]. Beautiful paintings below by Don Sondag, Mauricio Maso and Paul Crumrine.

08/07/2026

Music at the Casa returns this fall with three exciting evenings of live music! Set against the timeless backdrop of Casa Feliz, each intimate concert is the perfect opportunity to relax with friends, discover exceptional artists, and enjoy thoughtfully curated wine and beer selections from The Good Pour.

Ella & The Bossa Beat
📅 Thursday, September 17 | 6:30–8:30 p.m.
Experience sophisticated Brazilian jazz with Ella & The Bossa Beat performing timeless bossa nova classics and contemporary originals, led by the dynamic father-daughter duo of Ella Blu and Grammy-nominated percussionist Magrus Borges.

Fritz Klezmer Trio
📅 Thursday, October 15 | 6:30–8:30 p.m.
Acclaimed clarinetist Joe Fritz jazz clarinetist brings an evening of American jazz standards, Hungarian favorites, and original compositions, delivering a performance filled with warmth, artistry, and swing.

Tanner Johnson Trio
📅 Wednesday, November 18 | 6:30–8:30 p.m.
Berklee-trained violin virtuoso Tanner Johnson Violin delivers an energetic performance spanning jazz, classical, and contemporary influences, showcasing the artistry that has captivated audiences around the world.

🎟️ Tickets are on sale now! Visit https://casafeliz.us/music to reserve your seats.