Opal Destination Gems | Blog Archives

The Hotel Today: Part 2

Simultaneously, while Belleview Inn’s restoration was being done, master Florida artist Christopher Still was conducting his own elaborate history project to create these commissioned works for the hotel. Read More

A large, elegant resort-style hotel with green roofs and white exterior sits behind a serene pool. Palm trees flank the building, and lounge chairs are arranged around the pool area under a partly cloudy sky.

The Hotel Today: Part 1

While the hotel is obviously not the same as it was when it was first built in 1897, there are so many preserved portions and unique nods to the past scattered throughout. You just need to know where to look. Read More

A grand hotel with multiple gables and white facade stands behind a pool area. The pool is oval-shaped with a smaller circular pool in the center. Palm trees and lounge chairs surround the pool, and the sky is partly cloudy.

The Project

Before the crumbling Hotel Belleview could be renovated and reborn as Belleview Inn, she needed to be moved to her new foundation. So how do you move a 1,750-ton structure the distance of roughly the length of a football field? Read More

Memories of the original belleview inn illustrated with vintage postcards, old photos and memorabilia

#MyBelleviewMemory

If these walls could talk, they’d whisper stories about past presidents wandering these halls, weddings taking place generation after generation within the ballrooms, special anniversary dinners, and more. But alas, walls cannot talk. Luckily, these longtime locals can. Read More

Aerial view of a large, historic resort with multiple rooftops surrounded by lush greenery. There are trees, pathways, and several docks by the water, suggesting a waterfront location.

The Belleview Inn Story: Part 2

While Henry Plant’s Victorian hotel has seen a lot of change in her 120 years, one thing that has always remained consistent: her glamour and grace. Read More

A historic black and white photo of a large, multi-story Victorian-style building with multiple gables and chimneys. The foreground features manicured gardens with various plants and flowers. Trees frame the building on both sides.

The Belleview Inn Story: Part 1

Henry Plant didn’t just build the original iteration of the hotel that is now The Belleview Inn. He’s the little-known individual responsible for kick-starting the development of Florida. Read More

A woman stands in the lobby of Samoset Resort.

A Lobby That Holds History: The Story of Samoset Resort’s Salvaged Wood

The story of the recycled lumber and reclaimed wood that lines every crevice and corner of the lobby at Samoset Resort. Read More

HBO's Succession Filmed at Lake Placid Lodge

Always Camera-Ready Lake Placid Lodge Appears on HBO’s Succession

HBO's Hit series Succession, the 2020 Emmy Award Winner for Outstanding Drama Series, filmed a season two episode on location at Lake Placid Lodge. Read More

A couple drives a golf cart past a large, elegant white Victorian-style building with multiple gables and a covered driveway. Its a sunny day with a few clouds in the sky, and the surrounding landscaping is lush and well-maintained.

A Couple’s Guide to a Golf Getaway

Golf activities aren’t just reserved for trips with your buddies. When planned correctly, a weekend golf getaway can be a wonderful experience for you and your significant other. Read More

A couple holding hands walks up a grassy hill at dusk, their eyes set on a large, illuminated building that echoes the classic architectural style reminiscent of Lake George history. The roof's cupola is silhouetted against a sky gracefully transitioning to night.

Unexpected Lake George History

Lake George is known for its French and Indian War history, yet there’s more to the region’s past than muskets and Mohicans. Its timeline of local A-listers ranges from Georgia O’Keeffe to Rachael Ray. Read More

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