Or should we say, “what NOT to expect”…

  Our lovely little village is not a restored turn of the century mansion meticulously restored to its former glory, a la Biltmore Estates in Asheville, Pinewood in our own Lake Wales or the DuPont Mansion in Kentucky. It is not a recently constructed or pristine luxury accommodation utilizing the talents of structural or ergonomic engineers and haut couture interior designers surrounded by lush gardens of dense tropical foliage, all envisioned by a team of landscape architects and land planners as you may find in The Breakers, Disney World, Hilton Resorts or Grand Hyatts.

Though our service is friendly and professional, please don’t anticipate that your every need will be catered to. We do our best to make you feel at home and to meet your needs, but you might find that you’ll have to open an occasional door on your own, run your own bath, or sometimes even transport your own luggage.

When you visit the Chalet Suzanne what you should expect to see is an historic example of one determined young woman’s struggle to survive the challenges of the Great Depression of the 1920’s and 30’s, alone except for her two young children. Ours is the story of a loving family, now into their fifth generation, that was raised on the property and grew to become a part of its heritage. We are an internationally recognized historic property, but our history is one of change- of one family’s attempt to meet the challenges that the world has placed before them, not with the ease of generational wealth, but with a passion for life and a desire to make our little part of the world just a little better, day by day.

Most of our structures are old and some are new. The older buildings that make up the Chalet Suzanne were not envisioned to last the more than three-quarters of a century that they have endured. Through the decades, hurricane, fire and flood have taken their toll on this property, but family and staff continue to work hand-in-hand through each challenge we encounter, constantly improving on what each of us considers the little treasure that our predecessors have left us.

There are many people involved in this quest of love. Some are helpful guests that became enchanted with the village and were drawn to action. Some are descendants of founder Bertha Hinshaw but most are people pulled in from the local area and from all walks of life. Each has added their own special touch to the buildings, the landscaping, the menu and the design. Due to this variety of influences, Chalet Suzanne is “eclecticism” defined. It is a collection of memories. It is a playground for the eyes… everywhere you go you’ll find things that may seem distantly familiar, but you’ll also discover wondrously interesting things that have been lovingly collected from around the world and brought back to our little piece of paradise.

So, what is Chalet Suzanne? It’s a place where children dream, exploring the hidden little alcoves and creating fantasies. It’s a place far from the hustle of a hectic world, where the days are long, the activities few. It’s a destination that rejuvenates the soul and restores ones confidence, but once the spirit is restored, it’s a place in the middle of everything, just a short drive or an even shorter flight from all the wonders of the South.