#360 - The Hibiscus House in Fort Myers, FL

First Time

This was our first visit to the City of Palms. Sadly we had less than 24 hours to enjoy.

Our reason for the Fort Myers stop, was to see family. Our welcoming stay at Hibiscus House, ended up making me extra eager to return.

​Palms

I lived in Tallahassee as a kid, but never made it to the City of Palms. 

Actually I didn't even know about that nickname when we drove into the city, on McGregor Blvd. The historic boulevard was lined with Royal Palms. Evidently 1,800 of them!

Hibiscus B&B on the Boulevard
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Our cozy House-Turned-B&B-Oasis was waiting for us, right on McGregor.

The Florida pine house looked quaint and homey, under those towering palms.
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Over a Century Old

​We learned later that the house was built in 1912... or 1923 depending on what you read. The home however was not built at this Mc Gregor Blvd location, (south side of the Caloosahatchee River)  A framed article  inside the inn, explained!

The house was built by W.H.Dowling, on north side of the river. After Dowling (the owner of the successful lumber company) died in 1944, his widow Hallie had the house moved across the river.

Split in Half... then Worse

​This 2009 article explains how the house was sawed in half and carried on barges... until both "sank in the river"! 

Luckily the tide rose and freed the structures. Wow!

Coffee Corner

Today the white house on the corner is a B&B, with 5 guest rooms and a coffee shop. 

The entrance to the Hibiscus House is on the north side. We were intrigued to see steps on the side facing Clifford Street. There were no doors at the top of the stairs, like in the old photos.
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4:00

We arrived around 4. Our host had texted a few helpful tips before we parked in a tidy parking lot behind the inn.

We found a walkway to the right that took us to the east side of the house.

There were 2 sets of stairs leading to second floor rooms.

Our door was tucked in beside the second set. I love second story rooms, but my lazy side on that day was happy to have only 3 steps.

Flamingo Room

Of course I booked the pink and turquoise room filled with flamingos! I love a colorful theme!

I counted over 20 flamingos in our room.

The comfy room had Old Florida charm, with its pine walls and ceiling, painted white. 

Our room felt fresh and clean, despite the fact it was over 100 years old.

I appreciated having a fridge and 2 soft chairs with a table.

... a dressing mirror and a bookcase. Even a handy door draft stopper, which could also be used for blocking light or sounds from the hall.

Snazzy Bathroom

I started to add another flamingo when I saw the stained glass in the bathroom. That's actually a heron, but it was a colorful & tropical addition! 

There was ample space for holding "stuff". And the deep bath with jets was another added treat for me.

Stepping Outside

It was nice having a door to the hall, plus another door to slip out of easily, for a walk, or a trip to the car.

There was a sitting space just steps from our room.

I explored and noticed that all the rooms had some kind of outside sitting area. That's always a plus.

This sitting space on the opposite side, was very close to a lovely hibiscus  plant. I was glad to find some on the property! 
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Interior

When we opened our other door, we found a hall with more painted pine and a staircase. We learned later, that the narrow carpet covers a slight lump, where the 2 house haves came back together after their river journey.

Right beside our door was a welcoming surprise. Words on a blue sign invited us to borrow towels or sunscreen products, if we were going off for a beach day. Even a "Boogie Board" was available. What a generous gesture from our hosts!

​Reunion Time

At 6:30 Don and I slipped off to meet my Uncle Dave and my cousin and her son. 

We drove just a few miles south on McGregor and suddenly found ourselves at a table with this sweet trio. Dinner at Christoph's.  This is what the whole roadtrip detour to Ft Myers was all about. It couldn't have worked out better.

Peaceful Night

Once we were back at the Hibiscus House, I regretted having only one night. 

Our little reunion had been far too short. And I could have happily enjoyed this pleasant peaceful house for a few more nights.

Hibiscus Latin Cafe

Early the next morning, I could smell coffee brewing. The little coffee shop in front, was open for business. 

What had once been a sunroom, had recently become a coffee shop with Cuban-inspired flavors.

The evening before I snapped a photo after it closed.

Don and I headed out of our room at 8:00 and there were a few locals placing orders.

Complimentary Breakfast

​Don and I found a table in the breakfast room next to the coffee shop.

We had the place to ourselves and felt pretty delighted to have quite a few options with our breakfast.

Chatting with Lisette

After we helped ourselves to coffee and juice and an assortment of breads, yogurts, meats and cheeses, we met our host, Lisette.

Lisette let us know that as guests we were welcome to place a complimentary order from the coffee shop as well. I so wish we hadn't already filled up. 

The smells of coffee and Cuban pastries and sandwiches were tempting. But we'd already satisfied breakfast craving. We chatted instead.

It was nice to get some of the inside scoop about our hotel from Lisette. She purchased the hotel with her husband and daughter in 2023. They've done an amazing job of restoring the property.

Less Than an Hour

We had less than an hour before we needed to hit the road. After hearing from Lisette about the Historic River District surrounding H House.  I had to give myself a quick tour.

I threw on my running shoes and crossed Clifford Street and headed down McGregor to catch a glimpse of the historic winter estates of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford!

On my way back to H House, I detoured a couple blocks to see the Caloosahatchee River!  So much to see within a couple miles of our inn. 

What's Notable?

This historic little house was absolutely perfect for our needs. Charming, clean, quiet and comfy along with great history and a convenient location.

I'm so glad we got to meet Lisette, who made us even more appreciative of this little gem, in such a great little city!  We need to come back and enjoy  a longer visit next time!
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