VILANO BEACH, Fla. – The Magic Beach Motel, a Vilano Beach staple since 1951, will close at the end of September, with demolition expected before the end of the year.
St. Johns County issued a demolition permit in August to clear the property for new development, despite efforts by locals to save the historic motel.
Michelle Murphy, president of Vilano Beach Main Street, acknowledged the bittersweet moment.
“It’s a sad thing when something’s seen its time, and that goes for anything when it’s seen its better days,” she said.
The motel, once known as the Blue Ocean Motel, gained its current name from the 1990s television show “Safe Harbor,” which featured Golden Girls actress Rue McClanahan. More recently, it appeared in the Netflix series “3 Body Problem.”
Joy Schimborski, who stayed at the motel while visiting her daughter at Flagler College, said she was drawn to its charm.
“It had a really cute vibe to it. I love the architecture,” she said.
Despite being listed as a significant cultural resource in 2021, the motel faces challenges due to code violations. That led the county to approve the demolition permit.
“When you’re looking into properties that have some history, like this one, you have to weigh the good and the bad, and new isn’t always better,” Schimborski said.
Linda LaCerva, executive director of Vilano Beach Main Street, explained the difficulties in preserving the motel.
“It would need somebody who really wanted to bring it back to how it originally was, and unfortunately, you’d have to raise it. It’s in a flood zone. There’s a lot of things that would have to happen. It would be so cost prohibitive,” she said.
The developer plans to replace the motel with condominiums and retail space. LaCerva expressed hope that the new project will maintain the community’s character.
“I think it’s going to take the community’s involvement. Everybody needs to come together and work with Mr. Johnston and figure out what he can and can’t preserve to keep it looking and feeling like it is,” she said.
Retail options could include a salon, veterinary clinic, or gymnasium, reflecting the community’s needs, LaCerva added.
“This community likes staying on this island as much as we could do to prevent having to go over the bridge,” she said.
Some elements of the motel will be preserved and incorporated into the new development, including the iconic sign, flamingos, and murals from inside the rooms.
Murphy said Vilano Beach Main Street is working with a photographer and the developer to preserve as much as possible.
“We have a plan… hopefully preserving everything that we possibly can,” she said.