Yes, Grafton, Vermont.

One of my sisters is the local MD.
I'm playing Mr. Fix it on her 'farm'.

Grafton is the home of the awful move 'Funny Farm'

Cold as Hell tonight, but I do like it!

Don't know of many businesses other than the Cheese Company..??...

Just Another Ho Hum Day On D Planet

Yes, I agree. Not much of anything in Grafton except really good cheese, lots of mud during off season, and skiing, but there is a small audio-visual company probably under the name of VCom now. I think their name was Whole Educational Suppliers at one time...not sure. My husband's company bought them years ago. He talks to them all the time.

Enjoy your time there. It certainly is different than the island but an interesting and beautiful experience, just the same.

[www.vrbo.com]

Life is not a child's game of follow the Leader. Instead, life is more about finding one's own purpose in life....your life's plan, and then making a positive difference on earth.

Reading these posts has brought back many memories both positive and negative. I was a General Manager of LBC and recall the challenges of being responsible to Conrad but also to the owners, a French banking company. I agree with many of the posts in recalling the beauty of the property, especially the guest rooms. I'm glad I found this site.

Welcome Frank!

It's been a long time since our days at LBC.

Just Another Ho Hum Day On D Planet

My wife and I spent our honeymoon at La Belle in October, 1988. I remember it as a beautiful place with great rooms, a great breakfast buffet and a bartender at the pool bar who made his own concoction, an "Angel Gabriel."

We had a couple dinners there as well, and I remember enjoying them as well.

We'd start our afternoons in a small cafe in Marigot, then explore the French side or maybe cross over to the Dutch side and hunt for jewelry.

Saddened to discover that La Belle is no more.

Hi Neil,


Time has indeed passed. I also enjoyed my time in Aruba and St.Thomas but there was a beauty and uniqueness to St. Martin and St. Maarten.

Who is the current owner of this hotel?

That is a GOOD question.....anyone???

Just Another Ho Hum Day On D Planet

[barcann.livejournal.com]

well, what do you know.
according to The Daily Herald, La belle creole, now called La Belle Creole Estate, is owned by
Trown Associates from Aspen, Colorado.
It will become luxury villas, starting construction next year.

TDH article La Belle Creole

[barcann.livejournal.com]

And from the description of that article, it truly sounds like what I had envisioned in 2008 when this thread began.

[www.vrbo.com]

Life is not a child's game of follow the Leader. Instead, life is more about finding one's own purpose in life....your life's plan, and then making a positive difference on earth.

About time!!!

Just Another Ho Hum Day On D Planet

just went to la belle today. pretty sure there were squatters in the tower. was wondering if anyone knows how to get into the 'elaborate cistern network' that was mentioned in one of these posts? pretty sad development, but hoping that the rumors of a fixup happening within a year or two is the truth.

location is amazing and the architecture is crazy nice, hoping that whoever renovates it keeps as much as possible.

anyone with questions about the current condition, i guess that i could be a good person to answer them for you

The cistern network is mostly in the buildings on your right as you drive into the main plaza, and some dead ahead too. Look for small doors at ground height on the sides of the buildings. One small building is an on site filtration plant.

The raw cisterns are filtered and flow into the largest 'clean' cistern for actual distribution. If there is not enough water in the main cistern then a valve opens and city water flow into the last 'raw' cistern, which is filtered and then flows into the 'clean' one.

Not too much to see, since I lived on site I was often woken early to deal with tempermental valves.

Just Another Ho Hum Day On D Planet

Does Hilton still own this property, and if so what on earth will they do about fixing it up; and if not, who does own the property and what are any plans for fixing it up to be a pleasant resort again?