Creditor sues Crown Hotel, seeks foreclosure

INVERNESS -- When new owners took over the venerable Crown Hotel less than a year ago, business was brisk. The landmark drew tourists from as far away as Britain who were attracted to the building's Old World charm.

The owners, a Central Florida businessman and his chiropractor wife, promised to build on that reputation by adding a European-style spa and improving the main dining room.

Now it appears they may not even be able to keep the historic hotel's doors open.

A creditor is suing owner Thomas Dryburg, accusing him of defaulting on the $1.15-million loan he used to purchase the hotel. The Small Business Loan Source Inc. is asking a judge to foreclose on the property unless Dryburg can repay the balance immediately.

According to the lawsuit, which was filed in Citrus County earlier this month, Dryburg promised to pay $8,687 each month to repay the loan. However, he made only two payments, the last one in March.

According to the lawsuit, Dryburg and his wife, P.C. Hyland, failed to provide the Delaware-based loan corporation with current financial information, including federal and state tax returns. The Dryburgs are also accused of selling their house without notifying the corporation, even though the company had already filed a mortgage lien against it.

Finally, Dryburg and his wife have "acted in a manner causing the encumbered real and personal property to suffer decline in value," the lawsuit states.

Dryburg and Hyland did not return a request for comment Monday.

The once bustling hotel was quiet on Monday. A hand-lettered sign on the restaurant's door said it would be closed until today.

Bill Bentley, a former Crown Hotel employee who was fired about 10 days ago, said only a few employees remain. Most have either quit or been fired after they were accused of stealing by the owners, he said.

"It was really something," said Bentley, who had worked at the Crown since February. "The only thing that kept me going back was to see what was going to happen next."

As their ranks dwindled, staffers were asked to work double and triple shifts without overtime, he said. At one point, Bentley said, he served as a bartender, head of security and cook.

On Aug. 6, Dryburg reported a theft of $15,700 to the Inverness Police Department, alleging his employees overcharged guests for their rooms and stole the hotel's chairs and lamps. Detective Michael Erb said the case is still under investigation.

Eddie Lopez, a former employee who quit July 23, said he never witnessed any stealing and was insulted by the accusations. He said he is taking Dryburg to small-claims court to collect his final paycheck. Lopez started in March as front-desk clerk but also worked as "basically everything you can imagine," he said.

"That hotel -- I'm surprised it's open," he said. "I would never stay there."

The Dryburgs have attracted controversy since they purchased the hotel in November. Less than a month after taking over, they offended the Rotary Club of Inverness by announcing the club was no longer welcome to hold weekly meetings at the hotel.

Inverness police officers have handled several disturbance complaints, and the structure caught fire in February, forcing about 10 guests to evacuate. The case is being investigated by the State Fire Marshal's Office.

Later that month, Hyland was accused of slapping a 66-year-old guest during a dispute on hotel grounds. The guest, Betty Anderson, said Hyland became enraged when she tried to redeem a coupon for a free dinner.

The owners have had their share of financial woes. Dryburg and Hyland have been accused of failing to pay nearly $3,000 in tourist tax, prompting the county to file a lien against the property.

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