Before the end of segregation, the Campbell Hotel was one of the only places Black people could check into in Daytona Beach. Condemned in 2023, its fate has remained uncertain, but the community is pushing hard to see it restored.
Many residents want to see the hotel repurposed in a way that breathes new life into the boulevard while honoring its deep roots.
“Maybe a museum; there are restaurants around here that could go in there,” Caine said. “Something’s got to be done about it to where it’s going to benefit everybody. But if not, it’s like forgotten history, and that’s not what we want either. If no one is here to tell our story, we won’t even know where we come from.”
“It is very important because I would like for my kids to see my black history and see the beginning of when Mary McLeod came in. I would love to see all the kids come in and see that,” Johnson said.
The Daytona Beach Community Redevelopment Agency is set to receive a presentation on the Campbell Hotel during its Wednesday night meeting.