CLEARWATER, Fla. - Before the age of theme parks and endless dining chains, one Clearwater spot defined a unique brand of Florida opulence: the Kapok Tree Inn.

Local historian Bill DeYoung describes the Inn as "The fanciest place in town. Unlike anything else," as it draws in visitors from around the globe with its promise of wonder.

The vision belonged to Richard Baumgartner, who in the 1950s, constructed the massive restaurant around a gigantic, original Kapok tree that had been planted in the late 1800s.

The resulting structure was a 79,000 square foot architectural marvel, often likened to a "Roman Holiday transplanted to the Florida tropics." Its success was astounding, with some reports claiming it served over 17,000 people in a single day—a feat that current owner Evan Rubens

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