The Famous Slept Here
by m.s.wardrip
Along a deserted stretch of Highway 1 in Northern Florida, a small two-room cabin sits in a pine thicket, with the roof, windows and doors all rotted away. All that remains standing is the concrete blocks. This was once home to famous people, the elite, the rich.
The Belle Terre Cabins were the secret of those in-the-know back in the 1930’s. The wealthy, the sharp businessman, the travelling rich and those who simply had the money and knew what a good deal it was. There was a regular motel there for walk-ins, and it was called The Popcorn Motel. Belle Terre Cabins were exclusive and kept separate with reservations only. Mail-In, telegraph or telephone reservations were accepted Monday through Friday. The office was closed on the weekends and holidays.
Conveniently located, with Georgia to the North and the larger cities in Florida to the south, the cabins were in the perfect place to take a break on a long drive across Florida. The cabins were small one bedroom, one living room and one bath units. They were luxurious on the inside and very plain on the outside. A hot shower was a welcome treat at the end of a long day of driving or riding in a car. Amenities included a delicious home-cooked meal at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Radios and all electrical conveniences were included with the room. These included electric air conditioning/heating and electric refrigerator, lights, oven and fans. Laundry services were available along with, dry cleaning, shoe-shining, car washing, auto maintenance or errand service to bring ordered supplies. A modest pool was maintained for the guests. Very nice modern showers were included in all of the four cabins. They were simply labeled Cabin A,B,C,or D. The big rustic keys corresponded. Each cabin had a stocked bar and snack entertainment center. The rates were triple what the average motel room went for, but these were exclusive for the classier guests. The way it was set up, no one would ever know it was there, as it was tucked away in behind the regular motel. It looked like a maintenance road with only one little sign at the end of the lane near the cabins that read, “Welcome to the secure peace of Belle Terre! Enjoy your stay and be sure to Come Back!”
Movie stars, politicians, businessmen, kings, queens, diplomats, dukes and duchesses have stay here along with famous musicians, actors and actresses. Steel mill owners, railroad owners, ship builders, engineers, scientists, bankers, lawyers, doctors, professors, millionaires, governors and celebrities have stayed here. This was the secret hideaway of the elite. Belle Terre was the secret jewel in the jungle. It was the perfect stopping point for weary travelers.
Slowly, through the years, the reservations dwindled in favor of new, luxurious accommodations getting on the bandwagon and expanding all over Florida. The little Belle Terre Motel was gradually abandoned. The one thing that remains unchanged is the beautiful peaceful sunrise that still peaks over the horizon every morning.
John D. Rockefeller used to really enjoy his occasional morning hike through the brush that was behind the little Cabin D. on his jaunts of travel through North Florida near his home in Ormond Beach to the South. John used to skip rocks over the little pond that was back there. John, when alone, would do a little dance and skip along for a moment when no one was looking. He delighted in this little private playtime of his. All the money in the world couldn’t buy that kind of happiness. There was a little yellow bird that used to sing so pretty and stay nearby. The little yellow birds are still singing and sitting on top of the old Belle Terre Cabins.
The yellow bird calls out. “Passing through, passing through. What a joy it is to be passing through.”
John D. whistles and skips as he sings along with the little yellow birds to this happy song. “Passing through, indeed!” He smiles.
