The Hotel

From Oyster Workers to Boutique Suites

Apalachicola’s oyster industry helped shape the town, and the Baltimore Building is part of that story.

Around the turn of the 20th century, the arrival of the railroad made it easier for experienced oyster workers from Baltimore, Maryland, to travel south. According to local historians, these workers came to help develop Apalachicola’s growing oyster industry, sharing their knowledge with local workers. But they needed somewhere to stay.

The Baltimore Building was constructed in 1908 to accommodate them and their families. It originally had 16 small rooms upstairs, additional rooms downstairs, and shared bathrooms. Nothing fancy, just practical lodging for the hardworking people helping build Apalachicola’s oyster industry.

Bringing the Baltimore Building Back to Life

Over the next century, the building changed very little. Eventually, it was used for storage before being left vacant.

When our family took on the restoration, we wanted to preserve as much of the building’s original character as possible. Over two years, we carefully brought it back to life.

The original exterior metal remains, and the windows were restored to their original sizes and locations. We added a surrounding deck where guests can enjoy views of downtown Apalachicola, and some of the furnishings were handcrafted using reclaimed materials from this and other historic buildings.

Today, the space that once held 16 small upstairs rooms is home to four spacious suites, with a fifth suite downstairs. Each has its own private bathroom and modern comforts, while still retaining pieces of the building’s remarkable past.