- April 25, 2024
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Just a few days before this year's Biketoberfest, Volusia County placed a "Road Closed To Thru Traffic" sign on N. Beach Drive approaching Tomoka State Park, affecting the inflow of people into the park who stop by the Tomoka Outpost, a locally-owned business that had hoped to draw in some bikers.
“It’s definitely a bummer considering the timing," said Capt. Scott Cornelius of the Tomoka Outpost.
His store was significantly impacted by Hurricane Irma seeing as it is located inside Tomoka State Park, which was closed for three to four weeks after the storm due to safety. The recent floods in the surrounding area haven't helped either. The county places road signs warning people of the closures due to water coming over the roads, and Cornelius said it happens a couple of times a year but there's not much they can do about it.
Tomoka Outpost was just starting to get momentum again after the storm when Cornelius and his wife Ashley Cornelius came to work on Thursday and saw the sign blocking half of the right lane on N. Beach Street.
“It was like, you got to be kidding me,” Ashley Cornelius said.
To try to resolve the issue as quick as possible, Scott Cornelius called the city to see if they could move the sign, but since the street is a county road, he was redirected to Volusia. He spoke to the county road officials on the phone and they moved the "Road Closed To Thru Traffic" to the side of the street and added an electronic road sign off Granada Boulevard by the bridge that reads Tomoka State Park is open despite the road closures.
Scott Cornelius said that has been a major help. Though Tomoka Outpost has yet to see many bikers stop by, they are doing everything they can to try to draw them in. The store is advertising their Riverfront Beer and Peanuts, lowered beer prices and $1 hotdogs.
“We’ve been looking forward to Biketoberfest because this will be another little boost for us to get us going again,” Ashley Cornelius said.
Last year, Scott Cornelius sat in a rocking chair where the current traffic sign sits in order to let people know the Tomoka Outpost was open for business. This year, that's not possible.
With the road closures, Ashley Cornelius said they've had to extend their signs to where the "Road Closed To Thru Traffic" signs are located at the far end of the residential area on N. Beach Street.
“With that sign that says ‘no thru traffic’ you have to catch them over there because that’s where they’re starting to turn around," Ashley Cornelius said.
Scott Cornelius said the Tomoka Outpost and the state park are not the only places affected by the flooding and road closures. He estimated up to 100 businesses would be impacted, especially those who take the flooded roads to service residences in the area. He also said bikers participating in Biketoberfest would be affected, since they can't complete the scenic ride on Beach Street.
As for their business, the pair remains optimistic and now with the county's new sign, they're hoping bikers looking to relax will keep them in mind.
“We’re hoping for a decent show-up, but we’re also kind of just protecting ourselves from it a little bit," Scott Cornelius said.
