The Belleview Biltmore Resort and Spa is a large historic hotel located in Belleair, Florida, in the Tampa Bay, Florida Area. It is a well known landmark and is one of the oldest existing structures in the area in which it is located, thus it considered by many to be of great historical value and significance. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, being listed in 1979. A resort is a place used for relaxation or recreation. ... see also SPA The term spa, derived from the Belgian town of Spa, is traditionally used to mean a place where water that is believed to have special health-giving properties occurs. ... A hotel is an establishment that provides lodging, usually on a short-term basis. ... Belleair is the name of some places in the United States of America: Belleair, Florida Belleair, Virginia There are also, spelled differently, Bel Air (as well as Bel-Air, Florida, with a hyphen), and places named Belair, Bel-Aire (as well as Bel Aire, Kansas, without the hyphen), and Bellaire. ... State nickname: Sunshine State Other U.S. States Capital Tallahassee Largest city Jacksonville Governor Jeb Bush (R) Official languages English Area 170,451 km² (22nd)  - Land 137,374 km²  - Water 30,486 km² (17. ... Tampa Bay is a large natural harbor and estuary on the western coast of Florida. ... The National Register of Historic Places is the USAs official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects worthy of preservation. ... This page refers to the year 1979. ...

The large 820,000 square foot (76,000 m²) hotel was built in 1897 by railroad tycoon Henry B. Plant. It is the last remaining grand historic hotel from its period in Florida that exists as a resort, and the last standing hotel constructed by the Plants still being used as a resort. The building is well known by many for its architectural beauty, with its unique green sloped roof and white wood sided exterior, and extensive hand crafted woodwork inside the hotel. It regarded to be the largest occupied wood frame structure in the world, and is constructed out of native virgin Florida pine, which is termite resistant, and which is now very rare. 1897 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... This is the top-level page of WikiProject trains Rail tracks Rail transport refers to the land transport of passengers and goods along railways or railroads. ... A business magnate, sometimes referred to as a mogul or a tycoon, is a person who controls a large portion of a particular industry and whose wealth derives primarily from said control. ... Henry Bradley Plant was involved with many transportation projects, mostly railroads, in Florida. ...

The hotel is situated on Clearwater Bay, with views of the bay and the Gulf of Mexico. The hotel property consists of 160 acres, including swimming pools, a beach club, restaurant, and a golf course. The hotel has ballroom facilities and is a popular location for weddings and other gatherings. Gulf of Mexico. ...

The Hotel is thought by many to be the site of ghost sightings and other paranormal events. The Hotel was featured in a segment on the Weird Travels series on the U.S. TV network The Travel Channel, which was filmed in March of 2004 by Authentic Entertainment. Reputed ghost of a monk. ... Anomalous phenomena are phenomena which are observed and for which there are no suitable explanations in the context of a specific body of scientific knowledge, e. ... ... See TV (disambiguation) for other uses and Television (band) for the rock band European networks National In much of Europe television broadcasting has historically been state dominated, rather than commercially organised, although commercial stations have grown in number recently. ... The Travel Channel is a cable television network that features documentaries and how-to shows related to travel and leisure around the United States and throughout the world. ... March is the third month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... 2004 is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

History

The Belleview Biltmore was constructed by Henry B. Plant as an end point for one of his railroad lines and to increase tourist traffic on the railroad network that he was constructing in Florida. The railroad would take guests from northern parts of the country to the hotel where they would vacation. Henry Bradley Plant was involved with many transportation projects, mostly railroads, in Florida. ... State nickname: Sunshine State Other U.S. States Capital Tallahassee Largest city Jacksonville Governor Jeb Bush (R) Official languages English Area 170,451 km² (22nd)  - Land 137,374 km²  - Water 30,486 km² (17. ...

During World War II, the hotel served as lodging for servicemen who were stationed at Macdill Air Force Base in Tampa. World War II was a truly global conflict with many facets: immense human suffering, fierce indoctrinations, and the use of new, extremely devastating weapons like the atom bomb World War II, also known as the Second World War, was by far the bloodiest and most expensive war in history, estimated... MacDill Air Force Base (MacDill AFB) is a base of the United States Air Force located in Florida, 8 miles south of Tampa at the tip of the Interbay Peninsula. ... Tampas skyline For alternate meanings, see Tampa (disambiguation) Tampa is a city located in Hillsborough County on the west coast of Florida. ...

The hotel has hosted many famous people, dignitaries and world leaders through the years, including U.S. Presidents George Bush, Jimmy Carter, and Gerald Ford, Joe DiMaggio, Babe Ruth, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and the Duke of Windsor. ... George Bush may refer to: People: George W. Bush, George Walker Bush, the 43rd and current President of the United States (2001–present) George H. W. Bush, George Herbert Walker Bush, 41st President of the United States (1989–1993) George P. Bush, George Prescott Bush, son of Jeb Bush George... James Earl Jimmy Carter, Jr. ... Gerald Rudolph Ford, Jr. ... Joseph Paul DiMaggio, born Giuseppe Paolo DiMaggio (November 25, 1914 – March 8, 1999), was an American baseball player. ... George Herman Ruth, (February 6, 1895 – August 16, 1948), better known as Babe Ruth and also commonly known by the nicknames The Bambino and The Sultan of Swat, was an American baseball player and United States national icon. ... The Right Honourable Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, LG, OM, PC, FRS (born 13 October 1925), is a British stateswoman and was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990, also Leader of the Opposition from 1975, and the only woman to date to hold those positions. ... Thomas Alva Edison Thomas Alva Edison (February 11, 1847 – October 18, 1931) was an American inventor and businessman who developed many important devices. ... Time Magazine, January 14, 1935 Henry Ford (July 30, 1863 – April 7, 1947) was the founder of the Ford Motor Company and is credited with contributing to the creation of a middle class in American society. ... King Edward VIII King of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, King of Ireland Emperor of India His Majesty King Edward VIII, (Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David), later His Royal Highness The Duke of Windsor (23 June 1894 – 28 May 1972) was the second British monarch of the House...

Ownership of the hotel has passed between different hands over the years, recently it was owned by a Japanese company, Mido Development, who purchased it in 1991 was later sold in 1997 to hotelier Salim Jetha. 1991 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1997 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The current owners of the hotel are Urdang and Associates and Belleview Biltmore Resort, Ltd.

In late 2004, a development company named DeBartolo Development attempted to purchase the hotel, demolish it, and build hundreds of condominia on the site. The deal flopped in January of 2005 however after public outrage over the plan, the developers citing lack of public support. 2004 is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Insert non-formatted text hereInsert non-formatted text here--163. ... January is the first month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar and is the current year. ...

However, April of 2005 it became publicly known that the DeBartolo group was once again planning to purchase the hotel, and had it under contract with Urdang and Associates, leading to questions about the intentions of the developers, and considering the previous attempt to demolish the hotel, raising great concern among historic preservationists. April is the fourth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of four with the length of 30 days. ... 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar and is the current year. ...

On April 21st, of 2005 it became known that the DeBartolo Development Group filed a demolition permit with the Town of Belleair to demolish the Belleview Biltmore, including all buildings and structures on the site. April 21 is the 111th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (112th in leap years). ... 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar and is the current year. ...

Demolition attempts and recourse

The Town of Belleair, where the hotel is located, did not as of late April of 2005 have the legal authority to block the demolition of the building. There have been frantic attempts in the Town of Belleair by preservationists to help the town acquire the legal authority to halt such demolish and protect historic structures, however they had not yet materialised at that time. Belleair does have a Historic Preservation Board, however, they had no power to block these demolitions at the time. April is the fourth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of four with the length of 30 days. ... 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar and is the current year. ...

Pinellas County, as of April of 2005 did not have any established legal authority at the time to protect the structures. Pinellas County is a county located in the state of Florida. ...

This is despite a well established precedence of towns and cities acquiring such power to protect structures deemed historic, and this has been done many times in many jurisdictions.

Preservationists also cited many cases where similar hotels of similar and older ages have been quite successfully restored in their historical state while offering updated services and amenities. Such examples include the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island in Michigan, the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego, and the Williamsburg Inn in Williamsburg, Virginia. Grand Hotel may refer to Grand Hotel in Sopot Grand Hotel, an art deco hotel in Sopot, Poland. ... A view of downtown Mackinac Island and the harbor. ... State nickname: Wolverine State or Great Lakes State Other U.S. States Capital Lansing Largest city Detroit Governor Jennifer Granholm (D) Official languages English Area 250,941 km² (11th)  - Land 147,255 km²  - Water 103,687 km² (41. ... Hotel del Coronado- Coronado, San Diego County, California. ... San Diego County in the Southwest corner of California. ... Williamsburg is a city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. ...

External links

• Belleview Biltmore Official Site
• Save The Biltmore Pro-Preservation Website