Shangri-La Audio/Visual

Shangri-La was a grassy lakeside retreat owned by the University of South Florida Foundation, a private organization that raises money for the university. Donated to USF in 1969, the 29-acre property on the north shore of Lake Thonotosassa sat about 20 minutes away from the USF Tampa campus. The name “Shangri-La” was given to the log-and-shingle cabin that sits on the property when it was originally built by dentist Dr. Malcom Smith in 1929, after the utopian paradise of the same name featured in James Hilton’s 1933 novel Lost Horizon.

Until the mid-1990s, Shangri-La was a recreational hub for USF students, alumni, and staff. The USF Sailing Club launched boats while the Water Ski Club would pull skiers there. Fraternities and even university staff were known to utilize the cabin and surrounding land—including barbecue pits, picnic tables, and a volleyball net—for recreational activities.

In the late 1980s, the University of South Florida Foundation evaluated future uses for the property and determined that leasing or selling the land could provide greater support for the university’s broader mission. The proposal prompted considerable interest from the USF community, with more than 1,500 students signing petitions in support of maintaining Shangri-La as a recreational area, and Student Government exploring options to preserve access to the site. Ultimately, the property was sold for just over $1 million to a Tampa businessman for private ownership.