Lined up side by side along Florida’s prime and ample (read: coastal) real estate, it’s a rare time indeed when one finds a resort community where privacy and solitude are measured by more than the height of the gate and its surrounding walls. The Belleview Biltmore Resort, a half-hour drive from the arrival terminal at Tampa International Airport, was the site of railway magnate Henry Plant’s leisure dreams. Finally completed in 1897, the resort’s history as a getaway for prominent socialites is a rich and illustrious one. Dignitaries, celebrities, and business folk of varied accomplishments and acumen flocked in their personal railway cars to the expansive white wooden building, with its signature green roof radiating classic Victorian charm. 105 years later, the Belleview Biltmore retains the same esteem and grace, drawing on the glamour of its memorable history and exclusivity on 21 secluded areas bordering the Intercoastal Waterway in Clearwater, Florida.

A decidedly American chapter in the Belleview’s history came during the Second World War, when the United States Army leased the resort for use as a barracks. As a consequence of its time and patriotism, much of the original resort’s luster was lost to the wear of time and use. Today, the final touches of an extensive renovation to the entire grounds are nearing completion, preserving the turn-of-the-century elegance and rich traditions enjoyed by the hotel’s very first guests. The final improvements are ongoing this spring to the resort’s 246 rooms and suites, including 15 sun parlor suites and the 3,400 square-foot Presidential Suite, which occupied the hotel’s top floor and features three bedrooms, spacious living areas, and panoramic views of both the golf course and crystalline Clearwater Bay. In keeping with the same leisurely pace that passenger trains kept to ease into the local station, the décor and style of the Belleview Biltmore’s rooms are casual and stylish, replete with soft woods, fabrics, and hues. In perfect counterpoint to the demands of today’s travelers, each is also now equipped with the most modern amenities, including custom Aveda bath products in each washroom, and high-speed Internet access and data ports in each room’s office space, along with premium cable and pay-per-view movies. For guests who need further business amenities, the Belleview’s newly expanded business center has fax and photocopy equipment available in a professional yet informal lounge area.

With a host of great dining options, the Belleview Biltmore’s Palm Grill and Palm Terrace is its standout dining room, where continental cuisine is served up in the warm Victorian décor of the main room, or outdoors on the grand veranda, overlooking the expansive back lawn and pool with waterfall. Fresh seafood is the standout on the menu here, but the continental menu is sure to satisfy anyone’s tastes, from its pastas, innovative salads, and renowned beef tenderloin entrée. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily, this centerpiece of the Belleview Biltmore dining experience is the most popular restaurant for guests, particularly for the famous Sunday brunches. For more casual dining, the resort’s pool grill serves up classic coastal fare infused with international flair, including lump crab cakes, sesame-encrusted yellowfin tuna, and modified “Floridian” pub fare like fried grouper sandwiches, and after the round, the golf club bar features traditional clubhouse fare. There’s also an ice cream and coffee bar, as well as a gourmet market and bakery. Down at the Cabana Grill & Bar at the newly renovated Belleview Biltmore Beach Club, this beachfront restaurant and adjacent Tiki Bar overlooks the shimmering Gulf of Mexico, and offers incredible sunset views for evening diners.

Donald Ross’s recently restored 1925 masterpiece is the main leisure draw for guests to the Belleview Biltmore, but the resort’s other amenities and the surrounding countryside offer numerous different ways to enjoy the pristine West Central Florida weather. For sun lovers, the venue is distinct and unavoidable; the Belleview Biltmore’s 200,000 gallon pool with tanning island and whirlpool is one of the most impressive anywhere in the state, while the coral-accented indoor pool is lit through a broad, decorative skylight. Tennis players can hone their strokes on one of four classic red clay courts, or polish up on their game with lessons from the resort’s own licensed instructors. For the fitness enthusiast, there is the gym, with both strength training equipment and aerobic and yoga classes, as well as the 34-mile Pinellas County Trail, where hikers, runners, and mountain bikers can trek over some of the Gulf Side’s more interesting terrain. And of course, the Biltmore’s history is one of its great drawing cards, and taking the grand tour of the property to see how guests of generations past saw the Biltmore, from its opening date in January of 1897 to the present. Highlights include learning that the Belleview actually had a waltz composed in its honour, and guests can visit the little red schoolhouse used for children of the Belleview’s clientele who wintered there.

For today’s guests, one of the most distinct renovations to this old favourite is the Eclips Spa & Salon, where one can experience 21^st-century luxury in a classic 18^th-century setting. Combining traditional treatments, aromatherapies, and wraps, with salon services like manicures and pedicures, the new spa, at 15,000 square feet, is the most impressive addition to the Belleview Biltmore Resort, and yet another reason why 110 years later, travelers with distinguished tastes still flock to this oceanside paradise.