Francis Ford Coppola turned abandoned Belize lodge into 20-room resort

In 1981, American filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola bought an abandoned hunting lodge in the forests of western Belize. The private retreat for his family later became Blancaneaux Lodge, a 20-room resort surrounded by pine forests, rivers and waterfalls. The property, which the Coppola family used for years before opening it to visitors, continues to retain much of its original character.Located in a forested area of Belize, Blancaneaux Lodge was initially a place where Coppola and his family could spend time away from their regular lives. His children grew up visiting the property, swimming in the river and exploring the surrounding forests.