Volusia County places historical panel at Argosy Beach Park

The Argosy Motel was built in 1953, and was torn down after the county purchased the property in 2014 to build an off-beach parking lot.

By Jarleene Almenas
| 1:00 p.m. August 20, 2020

Three generations of the Clark family attended the unveiling on Aug. 19, along with Volusia County Councilwoman Heather Post. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Volusia County Councilwoman Heather Post speaks during the unveiling at Argosy Beach Park on Wednesday, Aug. 19. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Gregory Clark, last owner of the Argosy Motel, speaks during the unveiling at Argosy Beach Park on Wednesday, Aug. 19. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Three generations of the Clark family attended the unveiling on Aug. 19, along with Volusia County Councilwoman Heather Post. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Gregory Clark points out bits of history to his grandchildren during the unveiling at Argosy Beach Park on Wednesday, Aug. 19. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Ormond Beach Observer
Neighbors

The Argosy Motel might be gone, but its history lives on.

The county unveiled a new interpretative panel at the Argosy Beach Park on Wednesday, Aug. 19, to pay tribute to the motel that occupied the space for 61 years. The 42-space park, located at. 1255 Ocean Shore Blvd. in Ormond-by-the-Sea, was opened in February 2019 after the county bought the property for $1.25 million in 2014 to expand off-beach parking.

The Argosy motel was built in 1953 and was owned by three generations of the Clark family. The last owners of the motel were Gregory Clark and his wife, Sharon. At the unveiling, Clark thanked the county for buying the property and his daughter Bethany for championing the idea to name the park after the "mom-and-pop" motel.

“Seeing as I was the third-generation owner, and now all of us are the fourth generation owner, I welcome you once again, in my opinion, to one of the best and most beautiful beaches you could ever be part of," he said.

The Argosy Motel was built in 1953. In this postcard, Gregory Clark appears as the child with the beach ball by the pool. Courtesy photo

The panel was designed by Volusia County Public Historian Tom Baskett and provides a brief glimpse of the impact the Argosy had on the coastal history of Ormond-by-the-Sea.

Volusia County Councilwoman Heather Post welcomed the several members of the Clark family and thanked them for their contribution to the county, and remarked on how highly utilized the park is daily.

“It’s a terrific resource for the community," Post said. "It’s a terrific remembrance for the community."