I stayed at a Florida Gilded Age hotel loved by the Vanderbilts, DuPonts, and Fords. It felt like traveling back in time.

The Belleview Hotel opened in 1897 as a luxurious retreat for America's elite during the Gilded Age. Constructed by railroad magnate Henry B. Plant, the hotel attracted visitors traveling by train to the Tampa Bay area. It was originally designed to accommodate 400 guests in a sprawling wooden structure, making it one of the largest of its kind. The hotel welcomed affluent families such as the Vanderbilts and Fords, as well as notable figures including US presidents. Today, only a small portion remains as a luxurious inn featuring 35 rooms.

The hotel was constructed as a way to attract visitors to the Tampa Bay area, where Plant had expanded a railroad system. Visitors to the hotel arrived directly by rail and could disembark the train and immediately check into the resort once nicknamed the "White Queen on the Gulf."

The Belleview Hotel, later known as the Belleview-Biltmore, quickly became a favorite for America's Gilded Age millionaires, hosting families like the Vanderbilts, DuPonts, and Fords and figures as prominent as US presidents.

Read at Business Insider