Built by industrialist Henry B. Plant, the Belleview Biltmore Resort in Belleair, Florida, is recognized on the National Register of Historic Places. The Belleview is undergoing restoration (as of September 2010), with completion expected in 2012.
The Belleview Biltmore opened January 15, 1897. Constructed from heart pine harvested in Florida and Georgia, the original four-story structure was painted white by the start of the 20th century--earning it the nickname "White Queen of the Gulf." The grounds included a bicycle track (used for horse races), a nine-hole golf course and a private winter cottage for high-profile guests.
By the early 1900s, an additional wing was constructed to double the hotel's capacity. Italian tile experts were hired to hand-decorate a new Olympic-sized swimming pool, and the grounds included boating and bathing facilities, museums and an antique shop. By the 1920s, the Belleview operated its own police and fire services.
As VisitFlorida.com reports, the Belleview Biltmore "has hosted the rich and famous while welcoming everyone." Famous guests have included Henry Ford, the Vanderbilts and Studebakers, Babe Ruth, Thomas Edison, the Duke of Windsor and Margaret Thatcher.
By 2007, the Belleview had won accolades and undergone millions of dollars worth of renovations. Legg Mason Real Estate Investors purchased the property on June 20, 2007, and closed it for a comprehensive restoration.
