Beau Fleuve's History

Beau Fleuve (pronounced Bo Fluhve) means Beautiful River. It was the name said to have been given to the area by early French explorer-traders. Because non-French speakers had trouble pronouncing it, Beau Fleuve became simplified to Buffalo. We honor in our themed rooms five important immigrant groups that in the 19th century helped Buffalo to flourish as the “Queen City of the Great Lakes.” Thus, a stay at the Beau Fleuve is also a pleasant stroll back into history.

Guest Refreshment Center

The Inn is located in a grand Stick-style residence in Buffalo's Linwood Historic Preservation District.

Built circa 1882–83, the interior, with its unique oak fretwork staircase and thirteen colorful stained glass windows, reflects the Aesthetic Movement, which is based on artistic and naturalistic themes and is a companion of Arts and Crafts. Its signature motif, the sunflower, appears in the house in both woodcarvings and art glass.

The house’s first residents were Mr. Albert Jay Wright, dean of Buffalo stockbrokers, and his wife Gertrude Bent Wright, who lived here for about eleven years.

In 1895 the house became the home of Col. Charles Lee Abell, a successful grain executive and descendant of a Mayflower pilgrim. The Abell family lived in the house until the late 1930s.

During World War II the house was leased by the U.S. government and converted into two apartments on the second floor and doctors' offices on the first. It remained so until about 1986, when a new owner began restoration work to return the house to single-family occupancy.

In 1989, Ramona and Rik Whitaker became the new owners and have continued the process of rehabilitating this grand house inside and out. In March 1990, they inaugurated the Beau Fleuve Bed & Breakfast Inn, opening one guest room each year as restoration was completed. The Whitakers have added bathrooms and remodeled all existing ones. In late 1999, their “magnum opus,” a beautiful, architect-designed, professional Arts & Crafts kitchen was completed.