Florida Gilded Age Hotel Getting a Second Chance at Greatness

  • April 19, 2012
Florida Gilded Age Hotel Getting a Second Chance at Greatness
Built in 1897 by railroad tycoon Henry B. Plant, the Belleview Biltmore has hosted world leaders, U.S. presidents and hundreds of celebrities through the decades. It was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1979, closed in 2009, and is now one of the National Trust for Historic Preservation's most endangered sites.

On March 31, Belleview Biltmore Partners, LLC signed a purchase and sale agreement with Kawa Capital, the hotel's current owner, for acquisition of the hotel, golf course, and cabana club properties. This agreement gives Belleview Biltmore Partners six months to perform due diligence and close on the purchase.

Redevelopment plans include restoration of the historic 260-room hotel, construction of a new 153-room east wing, and restoration of the historic Magnolia, Palm, and Sunset Cottages. The plan also includes improvements to the Biltmore Golf Club, which has remained open, and development of the beachfront Cabana Club property into a 38-room boutique hotel. All structures on the hotel property that do not contribute to the hotel's historic designation will be removed, including the existing lobby and spa.