History
Nestled atop Belmont Hill, this historic red brick home holds a rich legacy. Philip Wolff, a third-generation brickmaker and mason contractor, realized his dreams of a brickyard and a winery here in the late 19th century. Today it stands as a cherished retreat, welcoming guests since 1997, following a loving restoration by Ken and Shelley.
Since becoming a bed and breakfast, Belmont Hill's more modern history intertwines with the challenges and triumphs that nature has brought to the Cedar Rapids area. In 2008, the bed and breakfast was saved by its fortuitous hilltop location, narrowly escaping the devastating floods that engulfed much of Cedar Rapids below. Perched atop a hill, it was able to become a sanctuary for FEMA agents, who spent 11 months utilizing Belmont Hill’s strategic location to orchestrate the city's recovery efforts.
However, in 2020, Belmont Hill faced a much more threatening adversary – the catastrophic winds of the derecho. While Philip Wolff's 14-inch solid masonry walls successfully weathered the storm's fury, the towering trees which had stood for over a century bore the brunt of the assault; and it was the destruction of these which ultimately ended up causing moderate damage to the house and carriage house.
Yet, like the resilient spirit of Cedar Rapids, Ken and Shelley refused to be defeated. They embarked on the journey of rebuilding, knowing that some losses, like those of the ancient trees, are irreplaceable in their lifetime.
Nonetheless, hope persists, symbolized now by the nurturing of sapling trees that will grow into the new canopy in generations to come. Shelley's gardens produce a profusion of blooms, thriving under sunnier skies and embodying the spirit of perseverance. Garden fountains offer coolness and respite to help offset the partial loss of our canopy of shade.
The vegetation, the manmade structures, and the people of Belmont Hill all stand as a testament to tenacity, reminding us that even in the face of adversity, hope and renewal endure. By choosing Belmont hill, you are supporting a local establishment that continues to rise again through adversity, to reinvest in the city it calls home, and to enrich rather than take advantage of the local economy.
