Merrywood at a Crossroads
Friends of Casa Feliz is working in cooperation with the contracted buyer to identify a qualified purchaser for Merrywood, the historic Caroline Griggs Plant House on Lake Osceola. Our goal is to connect this architecturally significant property with individuals who have both the means and interest to restore and steward it. As part of this effort, the contracted buyer has expressed interest in partnering with a prospective purchaser to explore potential solutions with the City—including the possibility of a lot split—that could support preservation of the house. Information about the property and opportunities to view the house will be shared with prospective buyers through this page. Serious inquiries only.
Expression of Interest
Friends of Casa Feliz is assisting in connecting the property with individuals who may have interest in purchasing and restoring the house. Prospective buyers who wish to learn more are invited to complete the Interest Form linked below. Additional information about the property and opportunities to view the house may be shared with qualified inquiries.
For more questions, please contact Betsy Owens, Executive Director at Casa Feliz, at betsy@casafeliz.us.
The Caroline Griggs Plant House
Merrywood, also known as the Caroline Griggs Plant House, is a historic residence located at 1020 Palmer Avenue in Winter Park, Florida, overlooking Lake Osceola. The house was completed in 1939 and designed by the architect James Gamble Rogers II, one of the most influential architects associated with the development of Winter Park’s residential architecture.
The house contains approximately 7,300 square feet, with five bedrooms and seven bathrooms, and sits on approximately 4 acres between Palmer Avenue and Lake Osceola.
Architectural Description
Merrywood is a two-story stucco residence designed in the Spanish Eclectic / Mediterranean Revival tradition. The central portion of the house is covered by a side-facing gable roof, with additional cross gables and varied roof heights used to break down the scale of the long lakeside façade.
The building extends more than 125 feet along the lake, making it one of the larger historic residences on the Winter Park chain of lakes.
The organization of the house reflects Rogers’ interest in creating connections between interior spaces and the surrounding landscape. Along the lakeside façade, nearly every room was designed with views toward the courtyard and Lake Osceola.
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A central entrance hall approximately 45 feet in length
A sequence of reception and living rooms opening toward the lake
Triple-arched openings leading to a loggia and terrace
A sunken patio and courtyard located between the house and the lake
Tile flooring in principal public rooms and oak floors in bedrooms
Built-in cabinetry and bookshelves
Decorative plaster arches and wrought-iron railings
The outdoor spaces—including terraces, balconies, planters, and retaining walls—were designed so that the house appears to descend gradually toward the lake.
The property originally included a separate two-car garage and service wing, connected to the main house by a walkway.
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Description text James Gamble Rogers II (1901–1990) was one of the most important architects working in Winter Park during the twentieth century. Born in Chicago into a family of architects, he later moved to Florida and opened a practice in Winter Park in 1928, establishing his own firm in 1935.
Rogers designed numerous houses and institutional buildings in Winter Park and throughout Central Florida. His work is known for its careful attention to scale, materials, and traditional architectural forms, often drawing from Spanish Revival, Mediterranean Revival, French Provincial, and Colonial Revival styles.
Among his most recognized projects are:
Casa Feliz Historic Home Museum (the Barbour House)
Greeneda Court shops on Park Avenue
Multiple buildings on the campus of Rollins College
The Florida Supreme Court Building in Tallahassee
Over the course of his career, Rogers’ work helped shape the architectural character of Winter Park and the surrounding region.
Merrywood is notable as the largest residence Rogers designed.goes here
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The property lies within one of the historic residential areas surrounding the Winter Park chain of lakes. The area developed primarily in the early twentieth century as Winter Park attracted seasonal residents and permanent homeowners drawn to its lakes, gardens, and architecture.
The house occupies a long, narrow parcel extending from Palmer Avenue to the shore of Lake Osceola, with the primary living spaces oriented toward the lake.
Restoration Possibilities
Because of its size, plan, and structural organization, Merrywood offers several potential approaches for restoration or rehabilitation while retaining its historic character.
Possible work may include:
Restoration of original architectural materials and finishes
Modernization of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems
Reconfiguration or renovation of kitchen and service areas
Rehabilitation of terraces, courtyard, and lakefront landscaping
Adaptive updates to accommodate contemporary residential use
Any future work would need to consider the historic architectural character of the building.
Original hand-drawn renderings of Merrywood by James Gamble Rogers II
Merrywood in the News & other Links
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Demolition clock starts on Merrywood as preservation push builds
March 12, 2026 | By Beth Kassab
The clock is ticking on the fate of Merrywood.
The sprawling Winter Park estate — among the largest and most ornate homes designed by architect James Gamble Rogers II — could be demolished in as soon as 90 days unless preservationists can find a buyer willing to save it.
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Future of Historic Merrywood in Question as Demolition Filing Triggers 90-Day Review
March 6, 2026 | Board of Directors, Friends of Casa Feliz
Preserving historic places is how a city honors its past while shaping its future. Today, Winter Park has an opportunity to truly live up to its designation as The City of Culture and Heritage by preserving the Caroline Griggs Plant House—more commonly known as Merrywood—at 1020 Palmer Avenue, one of the city’s most significant architectural treasures.
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Lot Split Request Puts Future of Gamble Rogers Estate in Question
February 7, 2026 | By Beth Kassab
The fate of 1020 Palmer Avenue — a once-grand home and among the largest and most ornate ever designed by James Gamble Rogers II (think velvet-covered handrails) and known in recent years as “Merrywood” — appears to hinge on whether a unicorn buyer emerges to save the property.
Such a feat would take not only millions of dollars, but also approval from city officials to break one of Winter Park’s cardinal development rules: No lakefront lot splits allowed.
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10 Homes That Matter
June 4, 2015 | Randy Noles
James Gamble Rogers II designed this Spanish eclectic-style house, which was built in 1938 for New Englander Caroline Plant, who named it Merrywood. At nearly 7,000 square feet, it’s the largest residence ever designed by Rogers. But, apart from its size, Merrywood is typical of the architect’s work, with its buff-colored stucco exterior and red tile roof. When Plant died, the house was sold and her estate was distributed to Rollins College and other charitable organizations. Merrywood was later bought by George S. Marsh, who hired Rogers to design modifications and additions. However, the architect said in the 1980s that a two-story extension at the house’s western end, which features round-headed windows on the first story, was not part of his plan.