Our Story

The visionary behind the Chateau Avalon Hotel, Steve Beaumont, dreamed of bringing the best of Europe to the Midwest. It all began in 1999 with the vision of a French chateau sitting upon a hilltop beside a beautiful fountain. And now that the Chateau Avalon has brought that to life, what completes the dream? An orangery. 

Orangeries first emerged in the 16th century in the gardens of Italian homes. The purpose of the structure was to house exotic plants from the weather and allow for a healthy growing environment, similar to a greenhouse. Such plants included citrus trees, like orange trees, thus where it gets its name. Over time, orangeries became more popular throughout Europe as glassmaking technology improved to make more impressive structures. Because of the price and commodity of the materials, orangeries became symbols of wealth, sitting proudly in the gardens of country homes and castles.