ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – The Magic Beach Motel, established in 1951 in St. Augustine, has become a well-known tourist destination in Northeast Florida -- but its future is in doubt.
The decision about its future is once again up in the air after county leaders voted to defer any decisions over its possible demolition. This decision came after nearly three hours of questioning and public comments.
Most of the people who spoke said they want to see the motel stay, saying despite its changing appearance over the years, it’s been a fixture in the Vilano Beach community. But others News4JAX spoke to said they’re looking forward to new possibilities.
The management of the iconic motel, along with a contractor, filed a demolition permit in January, and developer Rick Johnston has presented renderings and plans to transform the motel into townhomes.
St. Johns County commissioners were tasked to decide whether to approve the demolition plan for the Magic Beach Motel, but couldn’t come to a decision.
The board said more information was needed from the developer to get the final approval.
The motel has made its mark with appearances on television, including the show Safe Harbor, featuring actress Rue McClanahan, and exterior shots were used in Netflix’s series The 3-Body Problem.
Despite renovations in 2012, locals believe the motel has retained its charm with its art deco vibe, red and blue lights and white bunny rabbits on its sign.
The significant piece of Vilano Beach’s character draws affection and nostalgia from visitors, like Robert Whitmore.
“It just looks cool,” Whitmore said, expressing his opinion that the building should be preserved. “It adds character to the downtown area. It’s a classic, like an old Route 66 (motel). There’s just enough townhomes already.”
Throughout the presentation, the developer, architect, and at times, the current owner of the motel said there were problems with the building. Even at one point saying the building is not salvageable. And the board members said they wanted to see evidence of that before they made any decisions about whether or not to tear it down.
