Constructed in 1897 by railroad tycoon Henry Plant, the 400,000 square foot Belleview Biltmore Hotel was once the largest occupied wood framed structure in the world. The Belleview was built as a tourist attraction, meant to increase traffic on Plant’s railway system. It quickly became a hot spot for high-profile celebrities because of the “train-to-door” service that took guests straight from the train to a private entrance. The Belleview’s guest book boasts an extensive list of celebrities such as Babe Ruth, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, the Vanderbilts and many U.S. Presidents. Aside from being a major tourist attraction, the Belleview was used to house and train U.S. troops during WWII.