A Florida landmark with a dynamic past reopens after years of neglect, honoring a reputation of opulence that spans more than 120 years. As you step through the front door of the Belleview Inn, the hotel’s namesake waltz emanates from a player piano, setting the tone for a relaxing retreat amid traces of Gilded Age glamour and Old Florida charm. Original details, painstakingly refurbished, and commissioned artwork give voice to countless tales of the past while also contributing to its modern-day pizzazz.
Railroad and steamship tycoon Henry Plant opened the Hotel Belleview in 1897 as a winter retreat for fellow industrialists and New England socialites. As the railways expanded into central-west Florida’s wilderness, Henry envisioned his new property as a landmark that would pave the way for tourism in what now encompasses the Belleair community and neighboring Clearwater. Rare for the time period, each of the 145 guest rooms was equipped with three steam-powered electric light fixtures. Restored and reopened in 2018, the Belleview is the only one of Henry’s eight Florida resorts still operating as a hotel. Portions of the Belleview were destroyed over the decades, but the current 38,000-square-foot version is an authentic remnant. The signature façade of the premiere Queen Anne-style structure remains, including peaked gables, dormer windows, and a wide wraparound veranda.
Just two years after the Belleview debuted, Henry’s son, Morton, took over operations in the wake of his father’s death. It was Morton who gave the structure a green tile roof and brilliant white coat of paint, a facelift that earned it the moniker “White Queen on the Gulf.” At the insistence of his second wife, Maisie, Morton added an Olympic-size swimming pool, lined with more than one million pieces of Italian ceramic tile.
Whether teeing off on either of the two 18-hole golf courses designed by Donald J. Ross or simply relishing upscale leisure, notable guests of the Belleview over the years include Jimmy Carter, Babe Ruth, Fred Rogers (who reportedly taught swimming lessons in the 1950s), Bob Dylan, Tony Bennett, and wealthy families such as the Vanderbilts and DuPonts. The grande dame even housed U.S. Army Air Corps soldiers during World War II. The Belleview changed hands and names numerous times after Morton’s death in 1918, retaining its lavish allure until it eventually fell into disrepair and closed in 2009.
With support from Belleair residents to restore the iconic site at the heart of their historic neighborhood, a local developer revived the Belleview to its former grandeur while outfitting it with 21st-century amenities. There are 35 well-appointed rooms and suites in the updated inn, a cozy seating area overlooking the picturesque lawn and pool, and a café named for Maisie. For recreational activities, fine dining options, spa facilities, and beach access, guests have exclusive access to the Belleair Country Club (a short walk from the inn) and the Belleview’s sister property, Sandpearl Resort in Clearwater Beach (15 minutes by car).
Today, the inn encapsulates the enduring legacy of Henry Plant, who dreamed that his beloved Belleview would help Florida’s West Coast “blossom as the rose.”
