QUICK VIEW:
The Casements mansion in Ormond Beach was once the winter home of John D. Rockefeller. This sprawling estate lies on the banks of the Halifax River—and is open to the public.
At Hacking the Road, we are dedicated to finding ways to help people live a Better Life ... on the Road! We are full-time travelers and experience seekers, and we want to share our journey with you. We believe that travel opens hearts and minds, and makes the world a better place. Join us as we explore each new destination.
We are Rainman and Tricia ... and we are the Road Hackers!
As Road Hackers, we specialize in building itineraries that allow us to discover diamonds in the rough all over the world.
These amazing places are usually well known to local communities, but tend not to make most tourist itineraries. The Casements is one of these overlooked diamonds in the rough!
The Casements property was the winter home of John D. Rockefeller and his family, and is now open to the public
If you are interested in American history, local culture, natural beauty, and exhibits of civic pride, then The Casements should be on your itinerary.
Join us as we share our experience exploring The Casements. This great attraction is located only 6 miles/10k north of Daytona Beach--right in the heart of Ormond Beach.
Our visit to The Casements was one of the highlights of our 11-week stay in Ormond Beach, Florida.
Reading the history of this special place had us hooked from the beginning:
Ormond Beach Cultural Center ... Jewel of Ormond Beach ... Rockefeller's winter home ... famous visitors like Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Roy Rodgers ... beautiful gardens ...
With highlights like that, who wouldn't want to visit?
The historic Casements building and manicured grounds
Background on The Casements
The Casements name originates from the "large hand-cut casement windows" built into this magnificent early century mansion. Entering the reception area, one can't help but feel the history of the place.
The Casements Guild has done a marvelous job restoring and decorating everything.
The mansion was first built in 1913 by a local clergyman and his wife.
John D. Rockefeller, Sr., bought this prime piece of property in 1918 and made it his family winter home.
The original property sat on about nine acres of beautifully landscaped land, bordered by the Halifax river on the west side.
The property lies on the banks of the Halifax River, with a view of the Granada Bridge
The Atlantic Ocean lay only a few blocks to the east. The Rockefellers had their own private access trail to the ocean. The original Rockefeller gardens were, by all accounts, quite inspiring. Today's gardens follow closely in those footsteps!
Rockefeller relished the chance to play golf and watch the automobile races on the beach when he came for his winter escape.
The family loved to entertain the rich and famous. Movie stars, racing celebrities, barons of American industry, and the politically powerful were frequent winter visitors to the estate. Their legendary Christmas parties were an annual spectacle to behold.
The Rockefeller Room at the Casements is preserved as it once was
Rockefeller died at age 97 in his beloved Casements home in 1937.
The Casements was sold by the Rockefeller family in 1940, and converted into the Casements Junior College through 1951.
Over the ensuing years, The Casements also served as an extension of the Ormond Hotel, a retirement facility, and a school. This magnificent facility was even used as a hotel for transients at one point.
The Casements was put on the U.S. National Registry of Historic Places in 1973, and later designated as a Florida Heritage Site.
The stunning contrast of wood and glass in the entrance of the Casements building
The City of Ormond Beach finally purchased The Casements estate in 1974. The property had significantly deteriorated over the previous 20 years. The City proudly restored the complex to its former glory with the help of federal grants.
The Casements Guild was formed in 1979. Today, the Guild members serve as docents and tour guides on the premises. One can feel a strong sense of community ownership and civic pride at The Casements.
Today, The Casements serve the public as the Ormond Beach Cultural Center.
This Florida Heritage site was put on the National Registry of Historic Places in 1973
Exhibits at The Casements
Given its cultural and historical designation, The Casements is much more than just the Rockefeller winter residence. Today, the third floor of the mansion houses two permanent community-sponsored exhibits:
A historical exhibit of Boy Scouts memorabilia is housed on The Casement's third floor
The Boy Scout Historical Exhibit was originally part of an Eagle Scout project created by an Ormond Beach resident, John Slaughter. This is one of the largest Boy Scout exhibits in the southeastern United States!
The exhibit showcases the history of the Boy Scouts. Memorabilia include vintage uniforms, old scouting manuals, achievement patches, Jamboree scarves, and scouting equipment.
Today, the exhibit is overseen by local Troop 403. Keep up the good work!
Having been involved with the Boy Scouts, Brownies, and Girl Scouts in our younger days, we were quite interested in the history and great artifacts on display.
The vibrant collection of authentic Hungarian folk art and hand-stitched costumes
The Hungarian Folk Exhibit displays a great variety of Hungarian folk art. The collection was curated by the Horvath Family with the support of the Cardinal Mindszenty Foundation.
The exhibit is full of beautifully embroidered, colorful pillows, throws, and costumes. Many of the artifacts were actually hand-stitched by Mrs. Horvath.
The ornate traditional costumes on display represent the historic districts in Hungary. Again, these costumes were all hand-stitched!
Cultural Mission of The Casements
The Casements welcomes the public as part of its cultural mission
The Casements has a very active cultural mission today and generous hours.
Summer Hours:
Guided and Self-Guided Tours in the Summer:
The Casements offers a wonderful free Summer Concert Series, featuring local musicians. The North Lawn becomes a concert space on these Friday evenings.
The Casements lawn becomes a music venue for summer concerts
The cultural calendar has a robust schedule with all kinds of offerings, including classes in art, fitness (yoga & pilates), language, and cooking. Free movies on the river are offered to the community at the beginning of each month.
Special events and wedding can take full advantage of the facilities. The Rockefeller Gardens are the perfect backdrop for these special occasions, and rental prices are very reasonable.
The grounds and gardens are a beautiful setting for community functions
For us, the most fun cultural event was the annual Ormond Beach Original Music and Art Festival. The festival features up-and-coming musicians playing on more than a dozen stages scattered around the sprawling Casements Estate.
The event usually takes place during the last week in September. Don't miss it if you're in the area!
The Casements hosts a Summer Music Festival on the grounds, featuring up-and-coming local musicians
There's so much more, but you get the picture. The Casements is a special place!
A Few Final Words
Learning about the history of a community is an important part of discovering the true heart of each place we visit. Today, The Casements continues to play a central role in defining the City of Ormaon Beach. In some ways, The Casements is the heart of Ormond Beach!
The Casements now honors this community by bringing the past into the future. The estate is a real jewel for the City of Ormond Beach.
A visit to the Daytona area should include a visit to The Casements!
