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ROOM 538 - A REQUESTED DESTINATION
CLEARWATER BEACH, Fla. - (October 3, 2005) - As recently recounted in USA Today's "Whiff of Scandal Draws Guests to Certain Rooms," the notoriety brought on by scandals can have a lasting effect - a fact that the Sheraton Sand Key Resort of Clearwater Beach, Florida can certainly affirm.
"Scandal breeds buzz." It has always been said and, for better or for worse, there is no controlling it. The Sheraton Sand Key is a prestigious resort unto itself, but it also draws, occasionally now, those intrigued by its affiliation to a scandalous past. One night transformed Room 538 into more than a room with a fantastic view of the Gulf.
On December 6, 1980 renowned televangelist Jim Bakker, of the PTL ministry, checked into Room 538 of the Sheraton Sand Key Resort and made the room infamous. He was caught there having an extramarital affair with his church secretary, Jessica Hahn, which spurred months of investigations, drama and the uncovering of dark secrets.
Those who still request Room 538 will recall that the scandal was the beginning of the end for Bakker. Despite $265,000 of hush money, a jury found Bakker guilty on 24 counts, and he received a 45-year sentence along with a $500,000 fine.
The draw of the scandal left many unable to resist the temptation to visit the very room in which the story unraveled. Although for awhile the room was requested quite consistently, it has become somewhat more infrequent as of late. There was a time Sales Director Jack Guy says, "[that] we wanted to change all the rooms to 538 and be done with it". Despite the decline in requests, the room still sees its fair share of curious visitors.
