Retirement in Ormond Beach, FL

Located on Florida's East Coast, the city of Ormond Beach is best known for being located just north of the much larger, much busier Daytona Beach. However, there is quite a bit more to Ormond Beach and simply being “Daytona Beach Light“.

The community contains a perfect mixture of modern art and culture, storied history, untouched nature and wildlife, championship golfing, and some of the best small town shopping and dining you will find anywhere!

History

The Ormond Beach area was original settled in the mid-1600s by Quakers who were headed for New England but ended up in Florida. After the local Timacuan Indians destroyed most of the original Quaker settlement in the early 1700s, the area was then settled by the Spanish and sea caption James Ormond.

Like its neighbor, Daytona Beach, the city of Ormond Beach has a rich history of automobile racing and has long been a favorite winter home for many famous residents, the most significant being John D. Rockefeller.

Culture

One of the most popular historic and cultural attractions in the Ormond Beach area is The Casements, which was the former winter home of John D. Rockefeller. Known as “The Jewel of Ormond Beach,” The Casements was purchased by Rockefeller in 1918. After multiple other owners, the building eventually deteriorated and was left vacant until it was purchased by the city in 1973 and restored by The Casements Guild.

Other cultural venues in Ormond Beach include the Ormond Memorial Art Museum & Gardens and the Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center. The Ormond Memorial Art Museum & Gardens is known for displaying the work of many outstanding local artists, and the 600-seat Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center hosts all types of local cultural events.

Nature

While the local history and culture are great, one of the best things that Ormond Beach has to offer is the way that it combines civilized amenities with the raw natural beauty of the Atlantic Coast. The city is located near dozens of state parks, community parks, and local waterways that all make for great places to relax and observe the local wildlife.

The Loop is a famous stretch of roadway that extends about 15 miles north of Ormond Beach and then circles back around to the city. Along this path of more than 30 miles you will find stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean, Tomoka State Park, Bulow Creek State Park, and a number of other local attractions.

With all of the local parks and natural waterways in the areas surrounding Ormond Beach, canoe and kayak trips are extremely popular among local nature-lovers. There are local tour guides that will take you on canoe or kayak trips along the Tomoka River State Canoe Trial or along Pelilicer Creek in Faver-Dykes State Park. There are also tours that combine kayaking and fishing enabling residents to get the most out of their local waterways!

Golf & Real Estate

As is required of any Florida Retirement Spotlight community, the city of Ormond Beach offers plenty of excellent opportunities for great golfing.

One of the more prominent golf communities in the area, Plantation Bay offers its residents access to 45 unique holes of championship level golf in an unbelievably peaceful setting.

This magnificent community embodies exclusive, country club living at its best; and its sparkling new facilities include two fantastic clubhouses, a magnificent 7,000 square-foot spa and fitness center, 10 lighted and championship quality Har-Tru tennis courts, and three golf courses.

Plantation Bay offers townhomes, single-family and large estate homes from the mid $100′s to $1 million-plus on a wide variety of lots, including coveted golf course lots, lake views, nature preserves and everything in between.

If 55+ condo living is more to your liking, check out Ormond Renaissance, a 55+ condo community that offer a unique combination of luxury, location and lifestyle.

Shopping & Dining on Granada

When it comes to shopping and dining in Ormond Beach, the downtown area is the place to be and Granada Boulevard is main street. Here you will find an outstanding collection of more than 70 small boutique shops and 18 local restaurants. You can treat yourself to a high-end meal at Stonewood Grill & Tavern, take in some of the history of Billy’s Tap Room, catch a game at Houligans Irish Sports Pub, or just grab some casual fried seafood at Hull’s Seafood.

When considering retirement options around Florida, many different areas offer similar amenities with some more focused in specific areas than others. Part of the appeal of Ormond Beach is that this community offers just about everything you could possibly want without the hustle and bustle that typically comes with that many options. This is truly a small town beach community that just happens to offer big city amenities!