[1] Her best known work, Bruno, told the Dewey's story of early pioneering days in central Florida.

They bought 20 acres (8.1 ha) of land in Zellwood intending to grow vegetables and raise an orange grove.

Fred sailed across Lake Worth each day to the tiny settlement of Palm Beach to do bookkeeping or carpentry work.

Byrd Spilman Dewey's first known work appeared in the Florida Farmer and Fruit Grower newspaper in 1887.

[8] She contributed to the column "Our Home Circle" by Helen Harcourt under the pen name Aunt Judith Sunshine.

In the period between 1889 and 1895 she published a series of articles in Good Housekeeping, mostly short stories on a variety of moral and home topics.

This book told the stories of the cats and dogs that graced the Dewey home in West Palm Beach, Florida during the 1890s to early 1900s.

This book is set at the beginning of the Dewey's adventures in the nascent Palm Beach County during the time from 1887 to 1893.

Ben Trovato served as a focal point for national dignitaries including Henry Phipps, Richard Watson Gilder, and Mr. and Mrs. Woodrow Wilson.

Her cat and dog stories could be compared to the work of contemporary authors such as Gwen Cooper or John Grogran.

As Dewey's authorship earnings increased, she began to invest in land in the exploding South Florida real estate market.

In 1892 she purchased a tract of land, 160 acres (65 ha) at the south end of Lake Worth, from George H. K. Charters for US$700 (equivalent to $23,738 in 2023).

[14] The story of the Deweys' role in the founding of Boynton was featured in the Florida Legacy Productions documentary, Solving the Mystery of Birdie S.

When the 1897 lawsuit was settled, money that William S. Linton had collected was turned over to the Deweys and they issued deeds.

Adjacent to the home, Fred Dewey planted the first orange grove in Boynton along the coastal canal, where today's Sterling Village development stands.

Health concerns forced them to move to Tennessee, where Mr. Dewey entered a Civil War soldier's home in Johnson City.

[20] The 208-room hotel was inspired by the hospitality and home of Byrd Spilman Dewey and her estate Ben Trovato.

Dewey's silhouette is featured in the resort's signature original artwork, showing her likeness painted onto the spines of antiquarian books.

The Dewey portrait is also featured on the hotel's exclusive elevator to the top floor restaurant, bar and pool area.