Victorian Splendor and A Secret Tunnel: A Stay at Palatka’s Grand Gables Inn
Historic Mansion Lodging, Queen Anne Architecture, and Hidden Underground Secrets
When you visit Palatka’s south historic district and step foot into the Grand Gables Inn (also referred to as the Sherman Conant House), you’ll feel like you’ve taken a step back in time to the 1800s. This elegant home has been restored to all of its original glory, while still maintaining many intricate details. Even better – you can actually stay in this home and enjoy the entire mansion with your friends and family. It has received multiple TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice awards and was ranked in the top 10% of all lodging in the world. You can have an up-close-and-personal experience with this mystifying piece of history and even learn about some of its hidden secrets – like a hidden underground tunnel.
The history of Grand Gables Inn
The home was originally built in 1884 by retired Civil War Major, Sherman Conant. He was sent to Jacksonville by President Johnson to try to get things under control in Florida – rumor has it that it had become the Wild Wild West of the East Coast. Like many who visit this scenic part of Florida though, he didn’t want to go back home.
Of the places he explored, one place stuck out to him – Palatka. It’s a special place today, and was in those days as well. Tate Miller and his wife Jessie are the current owners of Grand Gables Inn and shared, “Palatka may be the most important historical city in Florida that you've never heard of. At that time, the city had the only deepwater port and the only train in the state. It was thriving and actually became very close to becoming Florida’s state capital.“
Conant saw an opportunity and liked what he saw so much that he decided Palatka would be the spot where he laid down roots. He hired the famous New England architect, Rufus Sargent, and brought him to Florida. For someone who had never designed a home in the Sunshine State, it’s amazing how much care he took to create a home that perfectly embraced Florida’s climate. For example, Queen Anne estates are usually built with a 10-foot ceiling, but the one at Grand Gables Inn extends to 12 feet. Why? Well, there wasn’t any air conditioning at that time. (Don’t worry – there is now.) Tate Miller explained, “Conant wasn’t accustomed to Florida’s heat, and this was a strategic move that allowed the heat to rise even higher.”
Restoring the home to all its original glory
To see the home in its pristine condition now, you would never be able to imagine that it was almost lost forever. After building his dream home, Conant was unfortunately only able to enjoy it for four years before his death. It went through several owners and the city even took ownership and boarded it up at one point when it was abandoned.
The neglected home sat there in disrepair until some concerned residents jumped into action. In 1991, June Teuton Thompson led an effort called “Save the Queen.” The successful effort led to it being sold to Pauline Pellicer for $50,000. She and her husband owned Walt’s Bar-B-Que, but restoring this historic home became her new passion project. It’s estimated that she spent about a million dollars on the renovations and her goal was to be able to share the home with others by turning it into a bed and breakfast. Health concerns stopped her from completing her mission.
For about 15 years, nobody lived in the home on a full-time basis, but eventually the current owners stepped in to fulfill her dream. Miller said, “Pauline had this great vision, and nobody finished the vision for her. So I said, ‘Let's buy this and open it as a B&B. Let's fulfill her vision.’ And that's what we did.” When you visit the home now, you’ll see the Ladies’ Parlor is named after her.
When you’re there, keep an eye out for some of the intricate details that remain from the 1800s as well – like the woodwork on the staircase banister. Above the entryways you can see the colorful French leaded glass that’s been there since the home was built. You’ll also see trim made from Curly Pine. Miller said, “That's probably the rarest wood in the house.” He also said the double-layered wood flooring is original to the home and shared what makes this unique Clear Heart Pine special. “The boards were all at least 15 and 20 feet long. That was rare – even in that period.” He added, “This is old growth Clear Heart, which is considered the absolute pinnacle of flooring wood.”
Take a tour of the tunnel and tower
While most homes in Florida don’t have basements, this one is the anomaly. Most homes also don’t have secret tunnels that lead from the home to the river, but this home was built with that unique feature as well. Although there’s no official documentation stating the reason for this, Miller has his own theory. “I'm fairly certain that it was primarily for bringing goods in and out,” he said. “You've got this incredible shipping traffic on this river, but you also have high tariffs. You're a rich guy, and you can continue making a lot of money by simply bringing goods in and sending goods out using your secret tunnel.”
Miller’s speculation makes perfect sense to explain the original reason it was built. However, when he was hosting an open house a few years ago, the great-grandchildren of one of the former owners attended and shared another way it was used. He said, “They told me their granddad used the tunnel during prohibition and brought a lot of booze in and out.”
When you stay at the home, Miller will give you a personal tour of some of the home’s secret areas – including the tunnel. There’s another unique amenity that this home boasts as well: the tower. Miller said, “We've been told that there used to be a spiral staircase in the tower that led up to a little door, which went out onto the roof. Women would wait on the roof for their husband's ship to return. We've also been told that the tower was also the marker for ship’s captains.”
Staying at one of Florida’s most palatial homes
The home has been called one of the most palatial homes in Florida, and as soon as you drive up and see the wraparound porch, you’ll see why. The massive three-story house has eight bedrooms with a total of 13 beds, and six and a half baths – four with clawfoot tubs. There’s a wheelchair ramp leading into the home, and there’s also one ADA compliant bedroom. Although there are several great restaurants in Palatka, there’s also a fully-stocked kitchen that has everything you need to prepare meals at the house.
Grand Gables can accommodate up to 21 overnight guests, and is welcoming to all – including the furry members of your family. This is a great pet-friendly place to stay in Palatka and your furbabies will have plenty of space to play. As a courtesy though, check with the owners first if your pets are over 35 pounds.
If you’re looking to just book one room though, you won’t be able to do that. Part of the experience of this house is being able to have the whole place to yourself. Even if you’re not bringing a larger group though, you should at least include it in your research when you’re looking at places to stay in Palatka. Surprisingly, you’ll often be able to rent this entire home for less than what you would pay for one hotel room in some other destinations. (You can check out their current rates HERE.)
It’s also available for special events
If you’re looking for a place to hold a small, upscale event, you may want to consider this as a venue as well. Since this is a historic home full of antiques, this isn’t a great place for a frat party, but it’s a wonderful spot for birthday parties, baby showers, family reunions, corporate retreats, and wedding receptions. Brides have also used the home as a place for bridesmaids to get ready. The home exudes feelings of romance, and photographers love it – you can’t find a more picturesque location for those pre-wedding shots. For special events, the home can accommodate up to 55 guests inside, and up to 100 when utilizing both indoor and outdoor space.
Local tips: Tate's suggestions for things to do in Palatka
The home is a destination in and of itself, and many people visit the area just to have the opportunity to stay there. When you visit Palatka though, there are several fun things to do. You’ll definitely want to take a walk around the city’s historic districts – they’re listed on the National Register of Historic Places. You should also download the Visit Putnam FL app for Apple or Android to learn more about all of the great things to do in Palatka.
As a local resident, Tate Miller also enjoys sharing some of his favorites. Here are a few of his personal picks for the top things to do in Palatka, Florida: