ORANGE CITY, Fla. – A Volusia County hotel remains visibly damaged months after a truck crashed into it forced dozens of people out of their rooms and disrupted their lives.
Repairs are now underway at the 1876 Heritage Inn in Orange City, but the upheaval continues for former extended-stay residents who are still trying to find stable housing.
Georgia Wiseman said her family has been searching for somewhere to live for more than nine weeks since a truck struck the hotel in February.
“They said no later than a week. A week has turned into three months,” Wiseman said.
City officials deemed the building unsafe because of the damage.
“It’s been an emotional roller coaster. It’s been crazy,” Wiseman said.
Wiseman said she has not been able to access belongings left behind, including vital documents.
“Birth certificate, Social Security cards — everything has been in that building, and I haven’t been able to touch any of it,” she said.
Police said the crash happened in the parking lot while the driver was trying to get water out of a truck bed and repeatedly shifted between drive and reverse before hitting the hotel.
Owner Stacy Conte said repairs began Tuesday after the city approved the permit within the last week.
“Navigating the process with the city, we waited a month and a half for them to approve our permit,” Conte said.
According to Orange City officials this how the process unfolded:
Timeline
February 24, 2026: The first permit application was filed with the City.
March 11, 2026: William Varney of Varney’s Construction, the original contractor for 300 S. Volusia Ave., was emailed and advised that Permit was ready for pickup, pending payment.
After March 11, 2026: Permit was never paid for and therefore was not picked up.
April 10, 2026: Ms. Conte filed to cancel the original permit for Varney’s Construction.
April 10, 2026: After 4:00 p.m. Hammer Pro Inc., a new representative/contractor for Ms. Conte, inquired about a permit for the address and submitted a new permit application.
April 13, 2026: The cancellation of the original permit was approved.
April 13, 2026: The new permit remained under review and was anticipated to be ready for pickup either that day or the following day.
The city allowed Wiseman and other displaced residents to retrieve belongings Friday and Saturday with Orange City Police after signing waivers. Wiseman said she hopes to be reimbursed.
“It would be nice for us to get at least a week’s money back,” she said.
“Everybody has been credited back on their portal,” Conte said. “If they decide they want to check out and turn in the keys, then we’ll process refunds.”
Wiseman said she would consider returning only if she has no other option. “If I have nowhere else to go, then probably. I’d rather not,” she said.
Conte says many residents are weigh their options whether to return or find new housing.
Conte said the hotel hopes to finish repairs and reopen within two months.