The brainchild of Gilded Age railroad and steamship tycoon Henry Plant, the Belleview Inn dates back to 1897. Plant had a dream of developing Florida’s rail network and making the state a popular vacation spot. His idea worked. In the early 20th century, guests would travel from parts further north to vacation at the stately Queen Anne-style inn, with its romantic peaked gables and sprawling verandas. At 400,000 square feet, the Belleview was the largest wooden structure in the state of Florida. A telegraph in the lobby, electricity, and even the inn’s…
